10 Best HP Lovecraft Movies That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

Best HP Lovecraft Movies

Although the sight of H.P. Lovecraft’s monster may be enough to drive a person insane, viewers won’t be driven insane by these flicks.

It is impossible to argue that H.P. Lovecraft is not one of the greatest horror writers of all time. From literature to films to games, Lovecraftian horror has established a distinct subgenre because of his distinctive representations of the human mind and creatures who attempt to destroy it.

As with Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen King, his work has been sifted through by filmmakers in an effort to convey some of the fear. Almost every item he wrote has been adapted, with some altered multiple times. A few versions have succeeded in portraying the legendary cosmic dread, while others have been panned for going too far. Lovecraft adaptations with the highest IMDb rating are listed here.

10. The Shuttered Room (1967) – 5.9

The Shuttered Room (1967)

Even though this short story by Lovecraft served as the title story for an anthology, it still received a film adaptation less than 10 years after its release. When a woman is attracted back to the house where the supernatural thing that terrifies her reigns, she finds herself unable to escape her family curse.

There are many modifications taken from the original plot in the film, which has actually become more popular in retrospect than when first released.

9. Castle Freak (1995) – 5.9

Stuart Gordon’s schlocky slasher, based on Lovecraft’sThe Outsider, is a rip-off.

It is not long before a family inherits a 12th-century castle and discovers that they are not the only ones living there.

There aren’t as many Lovecraftian horror elements in this picture as you might expect, but there is one wonderful thing about this splatter flick: the malformed creature pursuing and slaughtering its prey in an enormous gothic castle.

Fangoria has announced a remake of Castle Freakhas, the cult classic horror film, for this summer.

8. Dagon (2001) – 6.2

Dagon (2001)

Lovecraft adaptations were definitely Stuart Gordon’s specialty, as he had made five films based on the author’s works. The fact that he combined two stories, The Shadow Over Innsmouth and Dagon, shows just how talented he is.

One of Lovecraft’s most well-known stories is the one about a fishing hamlet hiding a horrific secret, and Gordon does a wonderful job of bringing it to life. Sea-human cult is visually impressive and the film’s world-building is on track, creating a sense that there could be hundreds of such beings lurking out in the oceans.

7. Color Out Of Space (2019) – 6.2

Strange things happen after a meteorite hits a tiny town, and writer/director Richard Stanley was not satisfied with previous adaptations of this story. He signed up with SpectreVision because he promised to make the most faithful rendition of Lovecraft’s works yet.

No one can say for sure whether or not he was successful, but the Nicolas Cage-led film is an exhilarating trip that depicts cosmic dread in a manner that no other film has. It was a big smash at festivals last year and was only recently made available on digital platforms.

6. The Resurrected (1991) – 6.3

The Resurrected (1991)

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward is the first of two films on this list to be adapted from the novel by Return of the Living Dead director Dan O’Bannon, and it is filled with the kind of gory special effects and villains that O’Bannon is known for using in his films.

While investigating her spouse at a remote cabin, a lady learns that her husband is hiding an awful secret that would only get worse without her intervention.

5. The Whisperer In Darkness (2011) – 6.6

It’s safe to presume that the first people who will be offended by the film’s departures from the source material will be the filmmakers themselves, seeing that its adaptation is a direct result of collaboration with the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society. Through the lens of the 1950s, this film examines the stories of strange animals sighted in the Green Mountain State.

There is no doubt that the filmmakers did an excellent job of reproducing a vintage look that is more in keeping with the source material itself than a picture set in the present day would be. Though the scares are unclear, the film is a faithful adaptation of Lovecraftian horror short stories.

4. From Beyond (1987) – 6.7

From Beyond (1987)

Adapting the nebulous sense of cosmic dread that many associate with Lovecraftian horror is the second of Stuart Gordon’s works on this list. It’s terrible to think that there are forces at work that we can’t comprehend, yet it’s tough to convey this in a film.

Gordon’s strategy is outlandish, but it seems to be working. Terrifying physical things and human distortions are shown by him in the form of monsters and horrors. Splatter films are fun, but they can’t quite capture the sense of being a little cog in something much larger that permeates so much of Lovecraft’s writing.

3. The Haunted Palace (1963) – 6.8

One of Roger Corman’s best pictures, and a true anomaly in B-movie horror, this is a true oddity in B-movie horror. Even though it’s named after an Edgar Allen Poe poem, The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, it’s actually a legitimate adaption by H.P. Lovecraft.

In order to avoid any confusion, the film’s distributor, American-International, decided to name it after the poem, saying that it was based on it.

In spite of the title, the picture attempts to bring Lovecraft’s chilling fear to life, in part thanks to Vincent Price’s impressive work.

2. The Call Of Cthulhu (2005) – 7.2

The Call Of Cthulhu (2005)

As far as Lovecraftian terror goes, Cthulhu is the most recognizable monster. In the short story by Lovecraft, many have claimed and continue to argue that the creature is unadaptable. The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society, on the other hand, was unfazed by the challenge.

Filmed in black and white, the movie depicts a guy who begins to lose his sanity as he discovers the existence of other forces in our universe. In general, the picture is hailed as the most faithful Lovecraft adaptation ever made.

1. Re-Animator (1985) – 7.2

As a result, Lovecraft’s version of Frankenstein is a stark contrast to its gothic predecessors.

A medical student’s obsession with a discovery is less sinister than the typical depiction of a crazy scientist. Herbert West is an exception. In his eccentricities, West creates a unique character that is rarely seen in horror films. ”

The film by Stuart Gordon is a rollercoaster of the best kind. Gore and bodily mutilation are done with superb realistic effects in many scenes, and the film’s last moments are truly terrifying when the turmoil reaches its climax.