Right, well when I stumbled upon this 2024 adaptation of works from writer H. P. Lovecraft, then of course there was no doubt about me sitting down to watch it, nor a single moment of hesitation. Sure, I wasn't really harboring much of any grand expectations to writer and director Chad Ferrin, given the fact that 90% of all movies based on the writing of H. P. Lovecraft is dubious and questionable at best. But still, I gave Chad Ferrin the benefit of the doubt and sat down to watch "H. P. Lovecraft's the Old Ones".
Writer and director Chad Ferrin, whom was basing his writing on the works of H. P. Lovecraft, put together a fair enough script and storyline. I will say that the movie proved watchable and entertaining enough for what it was, but it was by no means an outstanding foray into the universe created by H. P. Lovecraft. And at times it felt like Chad Ferrin was just trying a bit too hard, because it felt like he was trying to cram as much of H. P. Lovecrafts elements into the 84 minutes runtime. There were bits and pieces plucked and borrowed from the majority of H. P. Lovecraft's various stories. Sometimes less is more, you know?
This is what happens when you pour all stories into a single pot and try to make a tasty soup from all those elements. Sort of a erratic and chaotic mess in a way.
The dialogue throughout the course of the movie was somewhat of a mouthful to sit through. Much of the dialogue just have you chuckling and wondering 'who talks like that?'
Needless to say that I wasn't familiar with a single actor or actress on the cast list in this movie. And that is actually something that I do enjoy when I sit down to watch a movie. And it should be said that the acting performances in this movie were actually fair. The only thing that was missing, was either Jeffrey Combs or Barbara Crampton showing up for a cameo appearance.
The character gallery in the movie was okay. But there were some problems with the writing at places. Especially with a character like Russel Marsh, whom was thrusted 90 years into the future, because he didn't feel at all perplexed with modern society, technology and evolution.
The movie did have a bit of gore, and that definitely counted for something. And the effects in the movie were actually good. I was rather surprised with the level of special effects in the movie. The practical effects were good and I definitely liked the creature effects, such as the Old One and the Shoggoth. Thumbs up to the special effects department for managing to pull that off so well.
Something that the movie could have done without was the pointless full nudity scenes. Those particular scenes would have worked equally well even if the actress was dressed. Having full body nudity in the movie just sort of added a very unnecessary immature and sleazy aspect to the movie. While I am not a prude, I just don't think that having a naked lady in the movie helped to further the narrative one bit.
"H. P. Lovecraft's the Old Ones" was a fair attempt at a modern adaptation of H. P. Lovecraft's work, and it is worth checking out, no doubt about that. I will say that I found "H. P. Lovecraft's the Old Ones" to be far better than I had expected it to be. However, I have to say, as I mentioned earlier, sometimes less is more.
The movie is made with a love of the work of H. P. Lovecraft, I will say that much. And that is definitely a factor that helps keep the movie afloat.
While I did manage to sit through the entire movie, I was only mildly entertained. But this is hardly a movie that will find its way back to my screen a second time.
My rating of "H. P. Lovecraft's the Old Ones" lands on a five out of ten stars.
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