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DAGON
Title:
H. P. Lovecraft's Dagon (American title),
2001.
Producers:
Brian Yuzna, Carlos Fernández, Julio Fernández
& Miguel Torrente.
RT:
approx. 98 minutes.
Director:
Stuart Gordon.
Writers:
Dennis Paoli (screenplay) & H. P. Lovecraft (original
stories: "Dagon"
& "The
Shadow Over Innsmouth").
Production
Designer: Llorenc Miquel.
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Cinematographer:
Carlos Suárez.
Special
Make-up Effects: David Martí & Montse Boqueras.
Special
Effects: Gloria Bernabeu & Jaume Vilaseca.
Music:
Carles Cases (original score).
Cast:
Ezra Godden (Paul Marsh), Francisco Rabal (Ezequiel), Raquel
Meroño (Bárbara), Macarena Gómez (Uxía
Cambarro), Brendan Price (Howard), Birgit Bofarull (Vicki).
REVIEW:
The
plot of this combination adaptation of HPL's 1917 story "Dagon"
and the longer, more powerful "The Shadow Over Innsmouth"
from 1931 has adequately been told elsewhere on this site, so
I won't go much into that, here. (See Charles P. Mitchell's
review.) Instead I will talk about
what I think works and doesn't work in this surprisingly effective
film by old Lovecraft adapter ('Re-Animator,'
if you will pardon my pun), Stuart Gordon. And let me tell you
from the start that precisely because of the good, solid elements
in the movie I am left rather frustrated - because it could
have been even better! The potential is there, all right.
The
opening scenes had me thinking this looked like just another
"teenage-horror-movie-flick," which in my opinion
is not a good thing. Yes, that is an element which continues
throughout the complete movie; however, Gordon manages to downtone
this aspect where it matters. The opening scene and a few other
scenes aside, with an amazing sleight-of-hand directing he steers
away from the worst clichés in this category. Sure, there
is some girl nudity and the occasional dumb, flat "one
liners" one expects in that kind of movie; but as the story
progresses-which is to say, from around the first time we set
foot on Imboco (the film's equivalent to Innsmouth)-atmosphere
takes over, and the horrors lurking in every corner in the filthy,
incomprehensible and claustrophobic village build the bridge
to a kind of film which is much more faithful to Lovecraft's
ideas to what constitutes a truly weird tale. I suddenly caught
myself in the grip of the tale as it unfolded before my perceptions.
Remarkable.
It
goes without saying that this blend of two Lovecraft stories
and Gordon's more, ahem, earthly focal points (how come so much
female nudity is present here, in stories originally not containing
any?) makes a strange hybrid - the rule more than the exception
in movie adaptations, depressingly enough. As such that's to
be lamented, of course. The positive aspect - besides the nudity
itself, if one fancies such things per se - is that it can also
help the plot moving forward and help 'reaching the audience.'
After all, it is easier to be caught up in a story, if one can
somehow relate to the main characters. The best end to this
means is always good acting.
Are
there good actors in this movie? Probably. However, in Dagon
the acting is generally mediocre, I think. Too much emphasis
on stereotypes for my taste: the young, not too smart, teenage
couple; the spooky local Innsmouther - er - Imbocolian; the
sexy-bordering-on-vulgar female 'witch' etc., etc. This I can't
really blame on the actors, I know, and they make the best of
it, I am sure - they follow the script as written and directed.
And, after all, what can one expect, in such kind of film? It's
just a shame - because there are glimpses from time to time,
where the acting raises above the stereotypes, after a fashion.
Francisco Rabal's mad gibbering and (justly) paranoid behavior
is the shining example of this! Ezra Godden's hectic breathing
and eyes running wild in the frantic chase scenes is another
good example; in fact, his acting in general improves so much
as the story unfolds that he has much credit for one ending
up believing in it and being caught in the story.
First
and foremost, of course, is the simple fact that Gordon and
his teammates have done an exemplary work of creating atmosphere.
They did not have an abundance of finances, yes, that shows,
but boy, have they managed to use the means they had at their
disposal to its utmost. From the setting of "Innsmouth"
itself to the dire (if a little too clichéd) ceremony
in honor of Dagon a creeping, dark atmosphere oozes out of every
shadow and corner.
When
Dagon does make an appearance it is so perfectly timed and lifelike
animated that one really gasps out loud! Do not cheat yourself
of that experience. Furthermore, the final scene of Dagon
is among the most beautiful ever seen in a Lovecratian film,
and also so unexpected that it's worth watching for that alone.
All
in all - if you want to support Lovecraft adaptations, Stuart
Gordon's Dagon is one worth supporting.
-
Henrik Harksen
http://www.lovecraft.dk/
