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The
Lovecraft Syndrome (2004)
The
story of a graduate student working on her Lovecraft thesis
while working through several recent traumas takes an
early twist and gets darker and darker in mood and tone
while managing to not go over the top and become too much.
Indeed, everything in this film is "just right".
The pacing is wonderful, the casting is perfect, and I'm
astonished by the quality of the visuals.
Few
Lovecraftian shorts manage to escape that feel of failed
derivation, The Lovecraft Syndrome escapes that
trap. The film's atmosphere is one of hungry malevolence,
and kept me on edge from start to finish with a stunning
array of visuals.
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The
cast of this movie, while small, deserves special mention. Kathrynne
Ann Rosen manages to portray a feeling of fear and confusion
that carries the full weight of real emotion. You don't believe
Evie is feeling such emotions you know it. Such real emotion
is refreshing in a Lovecraftian short.
Amy Harmon (who was both brilliant and damned frightening in
"Grave Invitations") brings a certain level
of credibility to her role as Allison, the concerned friend.
It is interesting that Ms. Harmon resembles nothing short of
a feminine Lovecraft and, whether or not this was intentional,
it lends the film an almost eerie validation.
Maurice
McNicholas managed to make my blood run cold every time he was
on screen. He exudes such a presence of darkness, in what appears
to be an effortless fashion. Seeing him silhouetted at the mouth
of an alley, with his head low and his face hidden is an image
that takes on its own life and burns into your mind.
If you will indulge me for a moment, there is a fourth "character"
in The Lovecraft Syndrome. A character darker and more
sinister than McNicholas' "Fedora Man", the
amazing score by Chris Fuller. The soundtrack oozes and creeps,
providing a dark atmosphere that is as sinister as it is alien.
If one closes their eyes and simply listens to the soundtrack,
one can envision strange vistas and cyclopean towers with loathsome
inhabitants.
The
film itself most likely won't be released to dvd until after
Mr. Schmidt's next project is completed but trust me, for Lovecraft
fans it is worth the wait. From opening shot to closing credits,
this film kept me in my seat and the ending gave me chills up
and down my spine.
Delightful.
Even
though the film is not yet available for purchase, you can track
its progress via Sword
and Cloak Productions' website and more of Chris Fuller's
work can be found at his website.
- Bob Brinkman
