The Cthulhu King Lives On

Not long ago, I watched a documentary on Amazon Prime Video about H. P. Lovecraft titled Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown.  And though this was is an older film (2008), and I am at a loss as to how it slipped under my radar, watching it was time well spent.

This documentary is worth the time as it presents a complete composite of the man, the writer, the recluse, and his work. And while we cannot ignore his bizarre phobias, creepy looks, and white supremacist ideology (which, of course, I do not condone), this film addresses all of that while providing a sincere glimpse into the secret world of the controversial writer who influenced generations of authors, artists, moviemakers, animators, and more.

According to Stephen King, “Now that time has given us some perspective on his work, I think it is beyond doubt that H. P. Lovecraft has yet to be surpassed as the twentieth century’s greatest practitioner of the classic horror tale.” King goes on to clarify in the article, The Man Who Can Scare Stephen King by Kurt Wohleber, that “Lovecraft opened the way… his shadow looms over almost all of the important horror fiction that has come since.”

Perhaps the best reason to watch this documentary is the ensemble cast of creative minds who lend their expertise and insights to create a compelling portrait of an icon. Neil Gaiman, Guillermo Del Torro, John Carpenter, Peter Straub, Ramsey Campbell, Caitlin R. Kiernan, and others paint a thorough, brutally honest, yet balanced portrait that is as much a critical analysis of his life and psyche as it is of his work.

​Rightfully dubbed as the man who took Edgar Allan Poe’s legacy to the next level and beyond, Lovecraft’s bizarre but resident mythology has influenced countless creative minds and continues to do so today.  

This documentary is also on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGIH2nVRcIQ . Watch it and let me know what you think in the comments.  
   
Rs
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