Tired of watching a horror film and just getting it? Sitting down to some spooky cinema and simply Understanding? Are you tired of comprehending horror?
What about some horror beyond your comprehension? Yes, that incredibly clunky lead-in was a segue for me to talk to you about cosmic horror movies. Beyond just Lovecraft, there are some amazing examples of it scattered through the horror genre, so here are three to add to your list!
The Void
I am never going to stop banging on about The Void! This bizarre piece melds cosmic horror with a Silent Hill-esque monster design and some brilliant performances that leads to a mind-melding finale. What makes it so special, though, is how it builds the cosmic horror as part of several character arcs for flawed, hubristic, and engaging non-cosmic humans. I’m always surprised to see this film doesn’t get more love, with its rich lore and memorable visuals, so consider this my invitation – nay, order – to finally get around to it.
From Beyond
It would be illegal to put together this list and not include a single direct adaptation of HP Lovecraft, right? Director Stuart Gordon might have taken some liberties with Lovecraft’s story of the same name, but what he comes up with is a perfect cinematic adaptation. It’s such a strikingly nasty little movie, packed with gore and knuckle-whitening real effects that stand up even to today’s standards. Jeffery Combs returns to Lovecraft after his iconic turn in Re-Animator for an intense and genuinely really unsettling leading role, and Ted Sorel makes a rare but much-appreciated movie appearance.
Underwater
The barren horror of outer space? Bah. It’s been done. Now, the barren horror of deep water? That’s something I can get behind! This tight Kristen Stewart-led thriller leans more to the action side of things but takes a big swing for cosmic horror in the final act, and the underwater setting gives it a unique and distinctly claustrophobic feel (deep sea gives me the ick, and I maintain that I’m completely justified in that) I’ve made not bones about the fact that I’m a huge fan of Stewart, too, and it’s great to see her in a leading role here.
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By Lou MacGregor
(header image via Substack)
No But Listen 