The Dunwich Horror (1970)
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Wilbur Whateley wants the book called “The Necronomicon” to finish what his ancestors started: bringing “the old ones” back to Earth. But Dr. Armitage is prepared to go to any lengths to stop him but a young innocent woman named Nancy could get in the way...
Overall: Well the outline of the film is supported by HP Lovecraft’s story but in full, the film really diverts. The story is ½ about Wilbur who grows at an exponential rate mainly because he's not entirely human. The 2nd ½ of the story follows Wilbur’s death and deals with an invisible creature which terrorizes the countryside until the late fall of 1928 when the full “Dunwich Horror” takes place and the battle beings. So compared to the film which basically ends with Wilbur’s death and no real conjuring of special creatures, the film takes the 1st ½ of the story and adds a cute lady for good measure. Notice the appearance by “Gidget” (Sandra Dee) as well as Talia Shire. I will say that Lovecraft was such a genius in so many ways that any true adaptation in his work would be basically downright impossible. However they spend a lot of time in this film focusing on Wilbur and the chanting and I thought they really did a lot of good here to make a dent towards Lovecraft’s creepiness…one of the better attempts at Lovecraft. Comparison: The Terror meets Horror Hotel |
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