Necronomicon (1993)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Directors:

Christophe Gans
Shusuke Kaneko

Writers:

Brent V. Friedman (screenplay) (parts 1-3 and wraparound)
Brent V. Friedman (story) (part 3 and wraparound)

Release Date:

29 July 1994 (UK)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

From the master of terror comes a chilling tale of unspeakable evil.

Plot:

H.P. Lovecraft, the well-known horror writer, is looking in the late thirties after the book 'Necronomicon'...

Plot Keywords:

H.P. Lovecraft | Anthology | Necronomicon | Blood Splatter | Straight Razor

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Jeffrey Combs	...	H.P. Lovecraft (wraparound)
Tony Azito	...	Librarian (wraparound)
Juan Fernández	...	Attendant (wraparound)
Brian Yuzna	...	Cabbie (wraparound)
Bruce Payne	...	Edward De Lapoer (part 1)
Belinda Bauer	...	Nancy Gallmore (part 1)
Richard Lynch	...	Jethro De Lapoer (part 1)
Maria Ford	...	Clara (part 1)
Peter Jasienski	...	Jethro's Son (part 1)
Denice D. Lewis	...	Emma De Lapoer (part 1)
William Jess Russell	...	Doctor (part 1)
Vladimir Kulich	...	Villager (part 1)
David Warner	...	Dr. Madden (part 2)
Bess Meyer	...	Emily Osterman (part 2)
Millie Perkins	...	Lena (part 2)

Also Known As:

H.P. Lovecraft's Necronomicon, Book of the Dead (USA) (video title)
Necronomicon: Book of Dead (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for horror violence and gore, and for language.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Brazil:16 | Australia:M | UK:18 | USA:R

Company:

Davis-Films

Trivia:

Director Shusuke Kaneko did not speak any English at the time of filming his segment with an all American cast.

Movie Connections:

Version of "Night Gallery: Cool Air/Camera Obscura/Quoth the Raven (#2.12)" (1971)

Soundtrack:

Because The Dawn

Lovecraft in the flesh

Brian Yuzna's Necronomicon features a wraparound in which Jeffrey Combs portrays H.P. Lovecraft, circa 1932. Prosthetic makeup, in combination with Comb's naturally high voice, results in what is probably the best portrayal of H.P.L. we're likely to see. However, those familiar with Lovecraft's life will be amused (or perhaps annoyed) to see him depicted as an occult believer/action hero who gains access to a copy of the Necronomicon through subterfuge. A somewhat similar liberty was taken by novelists Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson in their 'Illuminatus' trilogy; and, of course, Robert Bloch based a character in 'Shambler From The Stars' on Lovecraft. (With H.P.L's permission, however.)

Necronomicon is a melange of Lovecraftian characters, stories, and themes. The Deep Ones, Cthulhu, the strange high house in the mist at Kingsport Head and, of course, the dreaded Necronomicon itself are all reasonably well treated. H.P.L.'s short story 'Cool Air' provided some inspiration for one of the film's segments.

Lovecraft's stories - notoriously short on dialog and female characters - do not easily lend themselves to direct cinematic adaptation. Consequently, Brian Yuzna deserves credit for extracting many essential elements from the Mythos and presenting them in a way contemporary horror audiences can appreciate. Necronomicon may offer a bit too much gore for some tastes; but as far as I'm concerned, even loose adaptations of Lovecraft's work are better than none at all.