Twelve Lovecraft Cocktails

My reveal of the 12 Lovecraft cocktails from this year's HP Lovecraft Film Festival at Tony Starlight's: http://bit.ly/4eHQDL

Aaron

PS-Recap of fest and film reviews coming soon.

Mortis Rex finds a producer...

Bloody-disgusting.com reports that Jim Jacks (producer of the Mummy francise) has signed on to produce Peter Briggs Lovecraftian thriller Mortis Rex. Principal photography will begin in spring 2010 (in the UK, Italy and Eastern Europe)...

Check out the concept art (by Stuart Jennett) below, and head over to bloody-disgusting.com for more...

About the film: In 122 AD, a disgraced Roman war hero is sent to defend a Roman garrison stationed in remotest Scotland from a spate of mysterious killings. The hero reclaims his rightful warrior status by vanquishing a terrifying supernatural beast with the help of a beautiful local Druid maiden...


(Thanks to www.bloody-disgusting.com)

Lovecraft comic news...

Here's a round-up of the latest Lovecraft related comic news and reviews...

Fangoria.com reviews issues 1-4 of Aaron Williams and Fiona Staples North 40 (Wildstorm) here...

About the comic: Somewhere in Midwestern America was a place called Conover County. When the old book was opened, and the runes therein used in haste and ignorance, a place of farms, simple folk, and small-town dreams became a den of monsters and nightmare. North 40 is the story of those who survived and came to confront an even greater evil on the horizon – one that wouldn't just consume their flesh, but their souls as well. Heroes arise with power to bring against the dark: Wyatt, an unwilling protector of his former tormentors; Amanda, an apprentice to forgotten arts; and Sheriff Morgan, whose bonds with Conover County go back farther than even he can remember...

North 40 writer Aaron Williams and artist Fiona Staples are interviewed by the USA Today here...

"I think the best description I've ever heard of North 40 is that it's like My Name Is Earl as if written by H. P. Lovecraft."

- Aaron Williams


Next up is an artist spotlight on Adam Byrne, cover artist/producer for The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft. Check out the Los Angles Times Entertainment blog for a look at the evolution of one of Adam's Lovecraft covers...


And last but not least, fangoria.com reviews issues 2-4 of Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash: The Nightmare Warriors (Wildstorm) here...

"Thrown in the middle of it all is Ashley Williams, aka The Chosen One to battle the Necronomicon. And after successfully defeating the two monster machines in the first comic book series, poor old Ash finds himself back at square one after Jason Voorhees finds out where he lives, and takes care of his girlfriend."

- Mike Fish


(Thanks to www.fangoria.com, www.usatoday.com and latimesblogs.latimes.com)

Lovecraft documentary a DVD pick of the week...

Frank H. Woodward's Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown, released on DVD yesterday, is one of Harry Knowles DVD picks of the week over at Ain't It Cool News...

"A very well made Documentary on the life of HP Lovecraft with folks like Guillermo Del Toro, Neil Gaiman, John Carpenter and Stuart Gordon chiming in. The DVD is currently out of stock at Amazon, but for those that lovers of Lovecraft this is something to educate your friends with – and you'll enjoy it too."

- Harry Knowles

(Thanks to Frank H. Woodward)

New Sleeping Deep teaser screenings...

The promotional teaser for The Sleeping Deep will screen next Thursday, November 5th as part of a Filmmaker's Showcase (hosted by Rhodywood.com) at the Brooklyn Coffee & Teahouse in Providence, Rhode Island...

The teaser will also be screening at the Killer Film Festival in Foxboro, Massachusetts Saturday, November 7th at 5:30 pm. Click here for details...


(Thanks to Jeffrey B. Palmer)

New Altitude image and one-sheet...

Bloody-disgusting.com has the first official still (check out part of it below, or click here for the full image) and updated promotional poster from Kaare Andrews' Altitude, starring Jessica Lowndes and Julianna Guill...

About the film: After a mysterious malfunction sends their small plane climbing out of control, a rookie pilot and her four teenage friends find themselves trapped in a deadly showdown with a supernatural force...



(Thanks to www.bloody-disgusting.com)

New film uncovered: Vigor Mortis...

Vigor Mortis is a Dutch language thriller, shot in Turnhout, Belgium, based on HPL's The Hound that tells the story of Edgar, a young man who, under influence of his charismatic but decadent friend St. John, is dragged into that most heinous of crimes: grave robbing.

On one of their nightly excursions St. John and Edgar find an amulet of exotic design in a freshly unearthed coffin. After returning to their mansion, the grave robbers soon learn that they are no longer alone. Strange noises and disturbing events herald the dreadful curse that is descending upon them.

In an attempt to escape his grisly fate, Edgar returns to the cemetery to restore the amulet to its rightful resting place. But it appears that that is easier said than done…

Written/directed by Kristof Mateusen and co–directed/shot by Frederic Cervini, Vigor Mortis stars Kenneth Coremans and Frederick Van Peer. Music for the film was provided by Art of Empathy...

Check out the official site (in Dutch) here...


(Thanks to www.myspace.com/artofempathy)

Whisperer update...

There's a lot going on over at the Whisperer in Darkness production blog, so head on over and check it out! According to the latest updates, only 6 pages of the 94 page screenplay remain to be shot...

image © HPLHS

(Thanks to www.cthulhulives.org)

Silver Key details surface...

Further details have surfaced regarding Conor Timmis and Gary Fierro's adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's The Silver Key including new actors and location information...

According to the latest information provided by Conor Timmis, the film will also star Ian MacDonald, Dave Tonucci and Garret Birdsey and will be shot in and around New Haven and New Britain, Connecticut this November...

The film, described as dreamlike by Conor, will be a modernized retelling of the last few pages of the story told through music and visuals...

(Thanks to Conor Timmis)

Even more Nevermore...

Stuart Gordon and Jeffrey Comb's one-man stage show Nevermore has been extended for a fourth time! The show will now run Fridays and Saturdays through December 19th at the Steve Allen Theater in Los Angles. Ticket information for the latest run aren't online yet, but seats are still available for the October shows (including the Halloween show) and can be purchased here...

(Thanks to Dread Central)

Lovecraftian anime announced: Moé Lovecraft...

The always great Grim Reviews blog has learned that Flash animation production studio DLE (Eagle Talon) will produce an anime adaptation of Manta Aisora's series Haiyore! Nyaruko-san, published by Softbank Creative, titled Moé Lovecraft. The novel series revolves around a high school boy named Mahiro Yasaka who encounters the Cthulhu mythos god Nyarlathotep, who inexplicably chooses to appear as a cute silver-haired girl. The third book hits shelves this month (along with a drama CD)...

Other examples of anime influenced by the works of HPF include Iczer-One, Armitage the III, Digimon, Dirty Pair, Demonbane and Soul Eater...


(Thanks to Grim Reviews and animenation.net)

New Ivan Zuccon interview and DVD info...

There's a new Ivan Zuccon interview over on the Behind the Couch blog...

"Lovecraft created chaotic worlds that scare all of us. Day by day the real world is becoming more similar to the scary and chaotic worlds of HPL. For this reason his work is even more immediate and appealing to cinema audiences."

- Ivan Zuccon


Ivan has also announced, via his facebook account, that Colour from the Dark is now available on DVD in Germany. It can be purchased through Amazon.com here...


(Thanks to Behind the Couch and Ivan Zuccon)

Frightmare - Tales of Horror and Hysteria...

For Immediate Release:

Coming this Halloween! Time and Tide Theatre Company presents 'Frightmare - Tales of Horror and Hysteria'

Adapted from the short stories of horror writers Edgar Allan-Poe, H. P. Lovecraft and Charlotte Perkins Gilman Time and Tide Theatre Company have created an evening of theatre to chill you to the bone.

Shudder...as the demonical cat wreaks its terrible vengeance!
Tremble...when the stranger's monstrous secret is revealed!
Gasp...as you witness a shocking descent into madness!

Created and performed by:

Emma Reade-Davies
David Sayers
Louisa Chadderton

Monday 26th - Saturday 31st October at 19:30 (Saturday matinee at 14:30)
Tickets: £12 (includes £2 drinks voucher if you travel green)

The Red Hedgehog

255-257 Archway Road, Highgate

London, United Kingdom
www.theredhedgehog.co.uk


(Thanks to Andrea Bonazzi)

Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown review...

Check out She Never Slept.com for a review of Frank H. Woodward's documentary Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown. The doc features Ramsey Campbell, John Carpenter, Guillermo del Toro, Neil Gaiman, Stuart Gordon, S.T. Joshi, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Andrew Migliore, Robert Price and Peter Straub and will be released on DVD October 27th...

"The row of heads is impressive indeed...

...and they are clearly the right ones to be hearing from, each being experts or scholars in their own way."

- Shane Nitzsche


(Thanks to sheneverslept.com)

Colour screening this weekend...

Ivan Zuccon's Colour from the Dark will screen as part of Gloucester, MA's Shocktoberfest. The screening will take place at the Cape Ann Community Cinema (21 Main Street, 2nd floor) on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 10 pm...

Click here for details...


(Thanks to www.fangoria.com)

Conor Timmis has found the key to the gate of dreams...

Conor Timmis will produce and star in an adaptation of HPL's The Silver Key. The film will be directed by Gary Fierro, who previously worked with Conor on Pickman's Model, Re-Animator: 1942 and In Sheep's Clothing...

Watch this space for more...

(Thanks to Conor Timmis)

Lost Land is now online

official website for upcoming film Lost Land is now on blogger.com:

click here for details

The website will be the main source for production updates, as well as behind the scenes photos and production stills. Lost Land, inspired by lovecrafts, "The Statement of Randolph Carter," is scheduled for completion by the end of this year.

Joseph Nanni opens another terrifying vista of reality...

Joseph Nanni and Bad Advice for Good Times have done it again! The third short film in their HPL inspired unholy trinity, titled The Necronomicon, is now available for viewing on YouTube. Joseph reports that the main prop from the film, a very impressive looking necronomicon, is making a dry run for its feature film debut (more news on that later)...

About the film: Do you want to be a nicer person? Are you looking for inspiration to do good things? Well keep looking. But if you're into opening up terrifying vistas of reality then the Esoteric Order of the Old Ones and Cthulhu Cultists want to help. Contact us today to find out how...


(Thanks to Joseph Nanni)

Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom...

Bruce Brown, writer of Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom, sends word that the graphic novel (which is suitable for all ages) is now available for pre-order through Amazon and eBay. Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom tells the story of a young Howard Lovecraft, who after visiting his father in Arkham Sanitarium, ignores his father's warning and uses the legendary Necronomicon to open a portal to a strange frozen world filled with horrifying creatures and grave danger...

Written by Bruce Brown and illustrated by Renzo Podesta, the 96 page graphic novel will be released by Arcana Comics in March of 2010...

(Thanks to Bruce Brown)

Dunwich Horror on Syfy...

Leigh Scott's adaptation of The Dunwich Horror, starring Dean Stockwell and Jeffrey Combs, airs tonight on the Syfy channel as part of the networks 31 Days of Halloween. The airing takes place at 7:00 pm (Eastern). Check local listings for the airtime in your area...



(Thanks to Nocturne and www.syfy.com)

Madness Out of Time: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward...

For Immediate Release:

H.P. Lovecraft's only novella is brought to the stage in this world-premiere adaptation by area playwrights Dustin Engstrom & Ron Sandahl.

Something is desperately wrong with Charles Dexter Ward. Always a delver into the past, his search for info about an ancestor lead ultimately to madness, horror, and perhaps the extermination of all life on the earth.

A riveting night of mystery and horror by the acknowledged master of the macabre, H. P. Lovecraft.

Directed by: Gary Zinter

Written by: H.P. Lovecraft

Running Dates: October 9 - November 14, Thu.- Sat. @ 7:30 Sun. @ 4pm

Cost: $15, Students/Seniors (with ID): $13, All Thursday shows are Pay-What-You-Can Special

Gala Party Halloween Night Sat. Oct. 31

Cast & Crew:

Jen: Elizabeth Adkisson
Charles: Brandon Jepson
Dr. Willett: Lantz Wagner

Crew Members:

Aaron Allshouse: Stage Manager
Ron Sandahl: Adapter, Set Design
John McKenna: Sound Design
Dustin Engstrom: Adapter
Jeff Hughes: Stage Manager

Click here for details...


(Thanks to www.octheater.com)

2009 H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival report...

Head over to the always entertaining and informative She Never Slept blog for Sarah Gerhardt's 2009 H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival and Cthulhu Con report! The report contains 10 interviews, 1 full panel and over 50 photos from the event...

If you've never attended the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival, this is proof positive that you should be making plans to attend the 2010 edition...


(Thanks to Sarah L. Gerhardt)

Updated: New Lovecraft audio recordings...

A repost with updates...

Please welcome guest blogger MorganScorpion who shares her audio recordings of H.P. Lovecraft...

I became disabled a few years ago, and as a result of having to give up work, I turned to daytime television. It was hell. So I turned to audiobooks and embroidery to pass the time. Eventually I discovered Librivox; an online organization dedicated to recording out-of copyright books and putting them online for free distribution. Librivox uses volunteers, and always needs new ones. After downloading and enjoying their recordings for over a year I began to feel I should give them something back for all the entertainment they had given me. In short, I volunteered out of guilt, intending to record a few chapters then go back to just listening. To my surprise, I enjoyed myself. I've been a regular contributor ever since. Lovecraft fans are really in love with the man's work. They can't get enough of it. But there is a dearth of his later works available online, as the copyright status of his later work is uncertain. So I thought I'd fill in the breach, so to speak. I hope in time that a professional actor, like Jeffrey Combs or John Lithgow will do Lovecraft full justice.

MorganScorpion's Lovecraft audio recordings are linked below...

- The Festival
- The Hound
- Pickman's Model
- The Lurking Fear
- Dreams in the Witch-House
- The Unnameable
- From Beyond
- The Shunned House
- At the Mountains of Madness (part one)
- At the Mountains of Madness (part two)
- At the Mountains of Madness (part three) NEW
- At the Mountains of Madness (parts four and five) NEW
- At the Mountains of Madness (parts six and seven) NEW
- At the Mountains of Madness (parts eight and nine) NEW
- At the Mountains of Madness (part ten, eleven and twelve) NEW
- The Case of Charles Dexter Ward (chapter one) NEW


(Thanks to MorganScorpion)

Pickman's Muse review...

Horroryearbook.com reviews Robert Cappalletto's Pickman's Muse here...

"...it is clear that it has been a passion project of Cappalletto’s for some time, which shows in the film."

- horroryearbook.com


(Thanks to Robert Cappalletto)

Sleeping Deep trailer and more...

The trailer for Jeff Palmer's award winning screenplay, The Sleeping Deep, is now online (watch it below)! TSD has also placed in two more screenplay contests, as it is a Finalist at the Horror Screenplay Contest and Semi-Finalist at Screamfest 2009...



(Thanks to Jeff Palmer)

Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown DVD delayed...

The Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown DVD has been delayed by Cinevolve Studios. Originally scheduled for an October 13th release, the DVD (and Blu-ray) will now be released on October 27th...


(Thanks to Frank H. Woodward)

Edgar Allan Poe...

On this day in 1849, Edgar Allan Poe passed away at the age of 40...

Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849)

The Curse of Yig has begun...

The official site for The Curse of Yig, the forthcoming Lovecraft adaptation from Paul von Stoetzel (Asleep in the Deep) and Tim Uren (Chuck and Dexter), is now online (webdesign courtesy of Richard Molby)! The film, scheduled for production in January of 2010, can also be found over on facebook...

In other Yig news, actor Conor Timmis (Pickman's Model, The Whisperer in Darkness, Re-Animator: 1942) has been cast in the role of Joe Compton and Amy Schweikhardt, who starred in the two person stage version of The Curse of Yig with Tim Uren, will be playing the duel roles of Zealia Bishop and Audrey Davis. Tim Uren, who is also writing the script, will be playing the roles of Dr. McNeill and Walker Davis...

The film, based on the short story by H.P. Lovecraft and Zealia Bishop, centers around a couple, newly arrived in Oklahoma around 1880, who learn about the local legends surrounding the "Snake God" Yig, who takes vengeance on those who kill serpents by killing them or turning them into half-snake monsters...

The husband who has Ophidiophobia (a fear of snakes), which isn't helped by his wife disturbing a nest of rattlesnakes, and his wife go through rituals to keep Yig away, but they fail in the end, and in fear the woman kills her own husband, thinking he is Yig...

In the end, the woman is taken to an asylum and dies there...but not before giving birth...


(Thanks to Paul von Stoetzel and Conor Timmis)

At the Reefers of Madness teaser trailer...

The teaser trailer for Brian Clement's Lovecraft-influenced stoner comedy At the Reefers of Madness in now online (watch it below)! The film stars Luke Marty, Calwyn Shurgold, Jeff Orchard, Dan Pagett, Kyle Maguire and Danielle Barker and revolves around modern college students attending Miskatonic University who find themselves in possession of the ancient book of evil, the Necronomicon and what happens when they use it to conjure more weed for themselves...

teaser © 2009 Frontline Films

(Thanks to Brian Clement)

Sylvester Stallone talks Poe biopic...

Sylvester Stallone has again expressed interest, this time during a talk with Empire Online, in directing a film based on the life and times of author Edgar Allan Poe! While discussing his upcoming film The Expendables (and a possible Death Wish remake), Stallone had this to say about the project, "I keep telling my producer Avi Lerner, 'Make Edgar Allan Poe!' He says, 'Does he have a gun?' 'No, he doesn't have a gun', 'Can he throw a knife?' I say, 'No, he writes poetry!'"

While this seems like an odd pairing, Stallone's passion for Poe might just make this a film worth waiting for...

(Thanks to Dread Central)

Erich Zann online...

Jared Skolnick's adaptation of The Music of Erich Zann, which is screening at this weekends HPLFF, is now available on Vimeo.com in HD! You can check out part one here, and part two here...

About the film: A young student of metaphysics is forced to take the only lodging he can afford, a crumbling and decrepit building in a strange part of the city. Every night, he hears strange and unusual music coming from the room above him, music he cannot describe and cannot ignore...

He finds that the music above is being played by Erich Zann; a mute and eccentric German man who plays at night in a local orchestra. Fascinated by the man’s genius, the student tries to befriend Zann and understand why such a great talent chooses to live in such squalor. Eventually, Howard learns of the secret behind Zann’s music, one too terrifying to imagine...

Based upon the short story by legendary author H.P. Lovecraft, "The Music of Erich Zann" is a horror film of haunting beauty and terrifying poetry, filmed in the style of the German Expressionist films of the 1920's...


(Thanks to Jared Skolnick)

Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown DVD update...

For Immediate Release:

Director Frank H. Woodward's award winning documentary Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown debuts on DVD and CineBlu Blu-ray October 13th! Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown is a chronicle of the life, work and mind that created the Cthulhu Mythos as told by such dark fantasy standouts as John Carpenter (The Thing), Guillermo Del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth), Neil Gaiman (Coraline), Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator), Caitlin R. Kiernan ("Daughter of Hounds") and Peter Straub ("Ghost Story")...

Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown was produced by Wyrd and is available exclusively from Cinevolve Studios. DVD and Blu-ray extras include 70 + minutes of extended interviews, a stills gallery of artwork inspired by H.P. Lovecraft and a short film by the composer MARS of Dead House Music...

The DVD trailer can be seen below, or click here for a recently uploaded YouTube clip...




(Thanks to Frank H. Woodward)