The HP Lovecraft Film Festival premiered The Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulhu on 3 October 2009. Other than film festivals, I don’t think the film ever got a proper theatrical release.

I love this film. It is so much fun. Outlaw Films made it on a shoestring. That is probably why no one has seen it. Most people only watch well-advertised films.

Regardless, The Last Lovecraft brings up an interesting question. Why is Lovecraft’s work the basis for so many great films? It’s similar to Philip K Dick. Both writers had good ideas. Neither was a very interesting writer.

Not that The Last Lovecraft takes that much from the author. Basically, it just grabs the fish-based mythology. And it doesn’t have nearly the budget to do more than putting a silly mast on Star Spawn.

Lovecraft inspired technically better films. In particular, there are Re-Animator and In the Mouth of Madness. But neither of these nor any others are any more fun than The Last Lovecraft.

The film stars Kyle Davis and Devin McGinn. The latter also wrote the script. But the standout here is Barak Hardley. This is the first film I saw him in. But I’ve seen him in much more since. In particular, he has a great section in The Mortuary Collection. He’s also been in a series of commercials. Why? Because he is the perfect uber-nerd. Guys like me identify with him.

The Model II Uber-Nerd, Martin Starr, is also in this film. But he has a small part. He’s also done a lot of commercials.

Anyway, if you like psychotronic film and fun, you need to watch The Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulhu. And here it is:

Other 3 October Anniversaries

Filmmakers

• Warner Oland (1879-1938): Actor known for a long series of Charlie Chan films.
• Henry Hull (1890-1977): Character actor who starred in Werewolf of London.
• Gertrude Berg (1899-1966): Actor known for the long-running comedy series (first on radio than on TV) The Goldbergs.
• Michael Hordern (1911-1995): Character actor I know best as the first victim in Theatre of Blood.
• Harvey Kurtzman (1924-1993): Founder of Mad magazine.
• Jessica Harper (1949-): Actor known for Suspiria and My Favorite Year.
• Hart Bochner (1956-): Character actor known for Terror Train and Die Hard.
• Clive Owen (1964-): Actor known for Children of Men, Intruders, and more.
• Neve Campbell (1973-): Actor best known for the Scream franchise.
• Lena Headey (1973-): Actor best known for the role of Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones but I know her mostly from the title role in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Films

• Blithe Spirit (1945): A newlywed couple is haunted by the ghost of the groom’s first wife.
• Zotz! (1962): A college professor gets special powers but the US doesn’t care. The Soviets on the other hand…
• Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965): A woman says her daughter is missing — but she never had one.
• Repulsion (1965): A shy woman goes insane.
• Twins of Evil (1971): Third of the Karnstein Trilogy.
• Funeral Home (1980): A funeral home is turned into a bed and breakfast where the guests die.
• Terror Train (1980): Slasher on a train.
• Near Dark (1987): Traveling vampires bite a farmboy.
• Abominable (2006): Bigfoot monster film.
• Dark Paradox (2007): A man discovers a cult that is trying to open a portal into an evil world.
• Red Hook (2009): Scavenger hunt in New York turns serious.
• RoboGeisha (2009): Sister cyborg assassins.
• Annabelle (2014): An evil spirit takes over a doll.

The Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulhu poster via Wikipedia under Fair Use.