New Goodies

Lord Bassington-Bassington mentions in his blog that Kim Holm will shortly be releasing a graphic novel adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's story 'Pickman's Model' (and also links to where it can be read online for those of you unable to immediately pick it up on release).

IDW Comics has announced a sequel to last years Infestation crossover, in which a supernatural threat ran simultaneously through several of their comics. This year the threat is the Old Ones, and they'll be invading Transformers, DND: Eberron, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, G.I. Joe, Star Trek, Ghostbusters, as well as a one shot featuring Bat Boy from the Weekly World News and Archibald from Groom Lake. I thank goodness I'm not the editor in charge of continuity for this...They will also be releasing a comic adaptation of the Dunwich Horror.

This month Fall River releases H.P. Lovecraft Goes to the Movies, a historical retrospective of films based on Lovecrafts works. It picks a handful of Lovecrafts stories, and proceeds to discuss each (as well as the films inspired by it) one at a time.

The Orphan Palace.............. .your room is ready

Chomu Press has released my new novel THE ORPHAN PALACE.
And what is it you ask?


It is NOT Sugar & Spice & everYthing nice . . .
Here is a ‘Route 66′ synopsis in exactly 66 words:
“Cardigan heads east through the night-bleak cities of America. His destination? Zimms County Home for Orphaned Children, the palace of dementia where Dr. Archer, ‘Lord of Chaos’, evilly presides – a trap baited with memories. Fires blaze in the rear-view mirror. On the roadside, ghosts, bounty hunters, mermen, Ghoul Hotels. Will D’if, the talking rat, help Cardigan escape this maze, or do all roads lead to madness?”


And here are the blurbs of two highly-respected weird fiction authors:

“Joe Pulver is like the answer to some arcane riddle: What do you get when you cross one of Plato’s Muse-maddened poets with a Lovecraftian lunatic, and then give their offspring to be raised by Raymond Chandler and a band of Beats? His work caters to a literary hunger you didn’t even know you had, and does it darkly and deliciously.” - Matt Cardin

“The Orphan Palace kicks you in the face and doesn’t stop. Pulver’s prose sees the world through a cracked lense of 60’s hedonism and 70’s grit, with a side order of unshakable terror. A serial killer novel that explores the dark side of America via Kerouac in a shell of cosmic horror. What he does is electrifying. I’ve never seen anything like it. My hair is still standing on end.” - Simon Strantzas
And you can sign up [until NOV 2] to enter the "Prize Draw for uniquely inscribed copy of The Orphan Palace". Where?

http://chomupress.com/news/the-orphan-palace-a-road-trip-to-madness/

And what do you get?
                                        The CP “contest ed” will contain –
          postcard(s) [with a note~.S.~] from Carcosa East

                                                                              signed & dated{RIP}
an unpublished poem/tExt;;;; or 2 . ?. ?.

                                  a “few” special annotationS sprinkled here & there . . {in REDink? ??}.

a drawing of a RAT [this is good for a laugh as P’ull-yverre can’t draw! !!]

                                                                                         an illo of a bEastie [see above]
a TOP bookmark [one of only 25 made]
                                          a "selections" from the TOP "SOUNDTRACK" CD -- I'll BURN~ ~~ it just for you! !! [Yes, there's a soundtrack for TOP~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Did you have anY d;o..u\b/t? ??]

[& maybe some stickers?/rubber stampings??/
. . . .................. and only CTHULHU knows what the hell else? ??]

Here's the CHOMU PRESS page for THE ORPHAN PALACE

http://chomupress.com/news/the-orphan-palace-a-road-trip-to-madness/

I hope you read it/like it/share it/tell Ma/tell Pa/.............. I hope it bothers you! !!

See you in Carcosa............... .~ ~~~~~~~~ ~ ~.~..
                                                    yer bEastie


http://www.amazon.com/Orphan-Palace-Sr-Joseph-Pulver/dp/1907681116/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3EQO0NH83VTHU&colid=2F4V4U3J4GAY8

http://www.amazon.com/Orphan-Palace-Sr-Joseph-Pulver/dp/1907681116/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3EQO0NH83VTHU&colid=2F4V4U3J4GAY8

Uncle Kitty vs the Thing

Spoony gives a decent, if profanity filled review here.


Obviously both it and this review will contain spoilers. Spoony gets it pretty much right on the money, so be sure to watch his review.

Let's compare the two films shall we?

Atmosphere: The original Thing began with a sense of isolation, which quickly devolved into paranoia, mystery, and a foreboding sense of doom. In the new film you don't feel any isolation at all until maybe halfway through the film. But once the monster escapes, the paranoia has a brief moment before it turns to relying on jump scares, and then devolving into an action film cliche of a badass woman with a flamethrower gunning down aliens in the third act. It's not an exact comparison, but think Alien vs Aliens. One is a horror film, one is a monster/action film. This Thing is not truly a horror film, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead definitely doesn't have the presence of Sigourney Weaver.

The cast: The original film took some critical flack for lack of character development, but personally I think that was undeserved. All of the original actors were veteran character actors, and you could see the personality of their characters in the way they reacted to the situation they were in. In the new film you don't really get a glimpse of the personality of any but three characters, and it's a very shallow glimpse. If you asked me what either of the three were I'd answer by the job title they held in the film, because that's as far as it gets. Hell you don't even know the name of half the Norwegian victims. Whereas in the first film you felt something for the characters, in the new one they quickly get separated into three faceless groups: heavily bearded Norwegian victims, beardless American victims, and lightly bearded pompous Norwegian pricks who deserve what they have happen to them. By the end of the film you aren't even sure what happens to some of them because the monster rampages after the leads and you don't learn of their fates.

The Monster: Hoo boy. In the first film the monster was sneaky, and didn't want to be found. You don't see the monster much, it takes a different form each time, and it's smart. Obviously it learned from this film. Because in this one it takes time to transform, it's loud, and it's a rampaging Hulk. Once it's on screen, it's constantly on screen. And there's less imagination used because it tends to repeat itself when appearing. There's always a giant mouth erupting from someone's body, or placed somewhere on the critter form. Basically, it's dumber, it's slower, it's louder. You can't develop paranoia and suspense when there's a giant freak roaring it's head off crushing things and running about. You always know where it is.

The Setting: In the original there was a storm on the way, and it was apparent going outside was deadly. You don't get that feeling here. People go outside all the time with no repercussion. Also the alien ship is visited. In detail. Because the alien tries to use it to escape (isn't it supposed to be a wreck?). In the original it was established the ship was in a crater because the Norwegians were excavating it with thermite, but in this one it's apparent it's in a crater because the alien fires the ship up melting the ice above it. Also with it being the size of Times Square you'd think someone would have noticed. The American camp for example.

The Effects: There are a few practical effects in this film, and they aren't bad. Don't get used to seeing them. Once the alien is revealed we go cgi, and the cgi varies from being pretty good in the quick cut scenes to absolutely piss poor when it needs to stand out. Once you get to the ship, the Thing basically becomes a cartoon. Granted it's an icky, Lovecraftian inspired cartoon, but it's not scary.

Overall: This was originally intended to be a remake before they made it a prequel, and it shows. It shows really bad. You have newer versions of several scenes from the classic (the autopsy, the failed blood tests, etc), and you have nods to the first film in that they show how some of the Norwegians die but not others (implying deleted scenes). Instead of building characterization and paranoia, the first half is exposition. Some of which is pointless. If you've seen the first movie, you know whats happening. If you haven't, the film has no subtlety, so you don't need it explained. It kind of exists to 'explain' the first one, and only succeeds in demythologizing it. It also mentions a Russian base 50 miles from the Norwegian one, setting up a sequel as you never find out the fate of the female lead (although by all rights she should freeze to death in the snow). Then they tie it to the first film with a scene shown after the credits.

My Impression: This was kind of rushed. The cgi doesn't seem finished in some scenes, you never find out what happens to several Norwegians (implying scenes were cut for time or to keep an R), and there are huge gaping plot holes. It's a mediocre alien monster film. Accent on mediocre. If they'd tightened up the script, and took their time with the effects, and established some characters it could have been great, or at least a worthy sequel to the original. This just feels like they got lazy or ran out of money. So all in all the monster of the film is like a metaphor for the movie itself. It makes an imperfect copy of it's target that doesn't stand up to serious scrutiny. Much of what made the original special is gone, and you are left with only an imperfect copy without the soul of it's predecessor.

Also on a side note, after the boring expositiony bit when the monster is on the loose, this movie is LOUD. At least it was in the theater I saw it in. Avoid sitting near speakers or you will leave deaf.

First Devil's Mile still appears...

Back in August we told you about a new Lovecraftian thriller called The Devil's Mile, and now we can tell you that the film has wrapped and the first image has hit the web! Written and directed by Joseph O'Brien, the film stars Maria Del Mar, Casey Hudecki, David Hayter, Samantha Wan, Amanda Joy Lim, Frank Moore, Craig Porritt and Shara Kim. Look for it to be released sometime in 2012...

About the film: A relentlessly-paced hybrid of gritty crime thriller and Lovecraftian supernatural horror, The Devil's Mile follows a trio of kidnappers who take an ill-advised detour en route to deliver their hostages - two teenage girls - to their mysterious and powerful employer. When they accidentally kill one of the girls during a botched escape attempt, their simmering mistrust explodes into shocking violence. But what they thought was their worst case scenario is only the beginning, as they are engulfed by the hellish forces that haunt the road - a road they realize they may never escape. Now captors and captive must fight together to escape the monstrous forces pursuing them and somehow survive, The Devil's Mile...

(Thanks to Dread Central)

Pickman's Models: The Lands of Dream...

As we mentioned back in September, Jason B. Thompson started what has turned into an extremely successful Kickstarter funding drive to turn his out-of-print Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath comic book into a graphic novel, and he's just revealed the latest artwork to be included, an insanely detailed map of H.P. Lovecraft's Dreamlands! Self-published in the late 90's, the mini series was a 122-page, five-issue all-ages adaptation of Dream-Quest, drawing inspiration from underground comics and classic children's books and the "naive fairy-tale wonder-spirit" that Lovecraft, in his own words, was trying to capture...

The graphic novel will include all five issues along with his adaptations of the Dreamlands stories Celephais, The White Ship and The Strange High House in the Mist! It will also include concept art and the following map of the Dreamlands, 176 pages in all...

Check out the image below, and head over to Kickstarter for more info...

(Thanks to Jason Thompson)

The latest issue of Strange Aeons is out now...

There are very few magazines worth waiting by the mailbox, or dimensional doorway, for, but Strange Aeons is definitely one of them! Featuring a gorgeous cover by Mike Dubisch, Strange Aeons Magazine #7 is 52 pages of amazing B&W and color comics by Rob Corless (Hell Dorado), Lee Davis (Bloodworm), Vincent Ferrante (Witch Hunter and the Harbour Master of Innsmouth), and Tim Sparvero (What the Moon Brings), and short fiction by S. G. Browne and Robert M. Price, accompanied by illustrations by Ben Hansen and Nick Gucker. The magazine also includes book and game reviews, an artist spotlight, an exclusive ruleset for Strange Aeons, the eldritch miniature game, and the latest limited edition 'Lost Lovecraft Film' mini movie poster replica...

Pick up your copy through the official site here, or ask your local comic book retailer to carry it...

(Thanks to Kelly Young)

The 2011 Portland H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival Wrap-Up, Part Two

(From Plan D: The Official Website of Derek M. Koch)


The second day of the H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival started the same way - a gathering at Magnolia's beforehand (this time for a scheduled reading with author Jenna M. Pitman that I missed out on as I ended up writing a bit myself while waiting outside the Hollywood - hey, when the muse calls, one must answer!), a long line forming in front of the Hollywood and another sold out night.

The Shorts Block began with a repeat showing of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" before a recorded message from Roger Corman as he was presented with this year's Howie Award for his contribution to Lovecraft cinema. He told an abbreviated story of the events that led to his 1963 film The Haunted Palace being promoted as an Edgar Allen Poe film upon its initial release even though it's clearly derived from the original Lovecraft story "The Cast of Charles Dexter Ward." (A lot of this was also covered in the special feature A Change of Poe from the DVD release of The Haunted Palace.) The short films included:

The Window Into Time (dir. Thomas Nicol) - This was one of my personal favorites of the festival. William Kephart plays Dr. Schenker, a scientist working with an old classmate . . . in a lab . . . studying old formulas and old books . . . with conequences involving an encounter with things from another world. This is a period piece, set sometime within the past forty-or-so years (in the days of reel-to-reel personal tape recording), and handles this period setting gracefully. It's not over-the-top in design or performance. It easily could have been a film that's been locked away somewhere for the past forty years and just recently dusted off for the festival.

Haselwurm (dir. Eugenio Vallani) - This was interesting, had some good-looking monster effects, but ultimately I think will suffer with most American audiences. It's steeped deep with a "rural legend" story of Italy by way of Lovecraft, and while I don't have a problem with foreign films, I feel Haselwurm short 16-minute running time didn't give us enough time to bridge the culture gap.

Black Goat (dir. Joseph Nanni) - This short was slick, it looked good, it "felt" good . . . but it was a little empty. The HPLFF program included a synopsis for each of the shorts, and the blurb about Black Goat gave us more story than the film itself did. What ended up on screen felt like the opening of a longer film I'd LOVE to watch, but it ended just as it was getting good! The film's website - http://blackgoat.ca - tells us there's a feature on the way, and if it's as engaging as this taste was, it should be good! (I just wish there was something in this short proper to indicate that it actually was just a teaser!)

The Island (dir. Nathan Fisher) - Less Lovecraftian and more post-apocalyptic, The Island tells the story of a man who's managed to find a bomb shelter while the rest of the world struggles to survive in a world overrun by . . . something. It's never quite explained, and that's okay, because that's not what the story's about. The story is about how this man reacts when a woman comes banging on his door for help . . . and how she reacts when he doesn't turn out to be the hero she was expecting . . . and then how he deals with that!

Static Aeons (dir. Gib Patterson) - There didn't seem to be a lot of animation this year. There were the stop-motion pieces, Call of Nature and this one. With most animation, it's possible to put anything on screen ; there aren't any real-world budgetary restrictions. What's interesting here is that Patterson didn't let this "anything goes" approach creep into Static Aeons. The short is a series of images depicting an empty earth after the worst of Lovecraft's bestiary has had its way with humanity while a single narrator provides an epitaph for all mankind. It's a restrained bit of storytelling that left the audience with a sense of dread.

Shadow of the Unnamable (dir. Sascha Renninger) - I remember seeing a trailer for this years ago. It's a rather straight-forward telling of "The Unnamable" whose strength lies in the performance of Robert Lyons as Carter. As it's fairly accepted that Randolph Carter was Lovecraft's surrogate, Lyons brings a sense of odd to his portrayal that made this short enjoyable.

The Shorts Block ended with a recorded announcement from Guillermo Del Toro who chose Static Aeons and Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" as his favorites. After one final stroll by the vendors' tables, it was time for the final feature of the night.

"The Colour out of Space" is my favorite Lovecraft story (for now - ask me again in a month or so from now and I might have shuffled something else into the top spot!). It's creepy, it's evocative, it's distrubing, it's just GOOD . . . which, of course, means Hollywood can't get it right when it comes to trying to adapt the story as a film. (Not that Hollywood's had a stellar record when it comes to bringing Lovecraft to the screen, but that's besides the point!)

(I actually have a soft spot for Die, Monster, Die!, but I will be the first to loudly criticize it for botching the source material! The less said about The Curse, the better . . . )

Die Farbe (dir. Haun Vu) pulled it off. This German production follows American Jonathan Davis (Ingo Heise) as he searched for his missing father in the forests of Germany. His father served in World War II, and Davis' search has brought him to a small village where his father encountered . . . Lovecraftian.

The execution is smart and subtle. The choice to present the film in black-and-white was an inspired one. I overheard Festival Director Brian Callahan telling the director (who was at the festival for a question-and-answer session after the film) that Die Farbe wasn't just "good for an independent film," but that it was "good for any kind of film." I have to agree, and I immediately bought the movie from the H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society's table after the film.

The festival ended with another after-party at Tony Starlight's (and more of that "Midnight Special: The Legendary Performances" DVD in the background). Old friends ate and drank, and congratulated Brian and Gwen on a job well-done running the festival.

Sure, it's different. There's a different vibe, and I missed having more features, any panels and more vendors (I start saving around mid-summer because I know I'm always going to find something at the festival that needs to come home with me!), but it's still the H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival, and it was still a lot of fun. The Callahans have a passion for the festival, and it's in good hands.

I'm looking forward to the next go-'round. The Daily Lurker - the festival's newspaper-like program - announced that the next HPLFF will take place in May ("when the stars will be right . . . again!").

I know I'll be there.

The Raven trailer debuts on the anniversary of Poe's passing...

Edgar Allan Poe died on this date, October 7, 1849...

The trailer for James McTeigue's forthcoming film The Raven debuted today (check it out below), the 162nd anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe's passing. The film, which hits theaters on March 9th, 2012, stars John Cusack, Luke Evans, Alice Eve, Brendan Gleeson and Oliver Jackson-Cohen...

About the film: A detective partners with Poe to search for a serial killer who has kidnapped the Poe's fiancee and has gone on a murder spree that mimics the author's work...

(Thanks to Dread Central)

The Elder Sign, and Other Games

The people at Fantasy Flight Games are turning out more Lovecraftian goodies for gamers this month. Aside from the usual stream of new expansions for their Call of Cthulhu LCG, Arkham Horror novels, and Mansions of Madness, they have put out a new game: Elder Sign.

Ostensibly it's a rewrite of Arkham Horror of a sort, in that it's more a card/dice game than a board game. AH fans will recognize many aspects of play, and will take to the rules readily, but it's different enough to require them to learn the new rules set. It's also somewhat less complex will make it easier to teach the little one, and costs less than Arkham Horror. It's for 1-8 players too, so you can do it solitaire.



You may also wish to take a peek on Kickstarter for the Miskatonic School for Girls deck-building game. They're making decent headway on their goal, and the card game looks to be a hilarious take on all things Mythos set in (obviously) a girls school.


And finally on a side note, for those of you whose fandom extends into Kaiju territory, in a month or two you should be able to get Destroy All Monsters and Godzilla vs Megalon on DVD and Blu Ray from Tokyo Shock.

Charles Band announces the release of The Evil Clergyman…

The Holy Grail of Lovecraftian Cinema, the Empire Pictures short film The Evil Clergyman, is finally seeing the light of day according to cult filmmaker Charles Band, and he's released footage of the film to prove it! Produced and directed by Band as part of his Pulse Pounders anthology in 1988, the film is a who's who of Lovecraft film veterans including writer Dennis Paoli (Re-Animator, Dagon), the Re-Animator trio of Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton and David Gale (who plays Brown Jenkin, borrowed from Lovecraft's Dreams in the Witch House), and genre favorite David Warner (The Unnamable, Cast a Deadly Spell). I've asked Charles many times over the years about the film, and he's always said that he would love to release it, but was unable to because of legal issues, but it looks like he's finally found a way to make it happen...

The film will make its debut on FullMoonHorror.com, which launches at 7:00 pm on October 21st, but you can get your first taste of The Evil Clergyman in the clip below! A specific screening date has yet to be announced, but watch this space for details...

(Thanks to Shawn Francis)