Before AIP’s The
Dunwich Horror, a 1970 film adaptation of H.P.
Lovecraft’s horror novella The Dunwich Horror from 1929, not a whole lot had
been done yet to try and bring Lovecraft
to the screen. The Haunted Palace from
1963 is partially based on The Case
of Charles Dexter Ward; Die, Monster,
Die! from 1965 is a loose adaptation of The Color out of Space; The Shuttered Room from 1967 is an adaptation of August Derleth's story of the same name that was inspired by Lovecraft, and The
Crimson Cult from 1969 only takes mild inspiration from Dreams in the Witch House. As far as I
can tell, The Dunwich Horror is the
first film to be a faithful attempt at a direct title adaptation of an HP Lovecraft story. Not surprisingly some
liberties were taken with this film, such as updating it for the late '60s, early '70s, but that’s always to be expected. I do
think the The Dunwich Horror movie, for
its era, does do Lovecraft justice,
even if it doesn’t quite live up to the novella.
It was filmed in Mendocino
California, a small coastal community that kind of passes for a New England
looking town. I don’t think there was any kind of ocean near Dunwich in the
original story, but the seaside connection is suitably Lovecraftian and serves
the film well, as it’s usually filmed at night to look dark and ominous with
unseen horrors.
The stylish occult and satanic animated intro credits set to
the classical and catchy main theme by Les Baxter
is a great start that gets you into both a ‘70s and a Lovecraft mood. It has a cartoony and imaginative way of painting
the ceremonial birth of the main character Wilbur Whateley on Sentinel Hill. Even the film's detractors agree that this animated segment is terrific.
