Alright guys - you, err - you had a lot to say about Part 1 of this list.
And, that’s to put it lightly anyways.
It’s incredible to see how passionate you all are about Lovecraft, and horror cinema
as a whole - so much so, that we just have to do a Part 2 - because as you all so fervently
pointed out - there were some that didn’t make our last list that deserve a spot, and
of course - I hear you.
There’s a lot of horror goodness to go around - I’m just keeping it fresh.
Fresher than a newly grown amorphous tentacle - oh I don’t know.
Hello horror fans, and welcome back to the scariest channel on YouTube - Top 5 Scary
Videos.
Where, of course, we say that as a hyperbole that should by no means be taken as a weighted
ranking system.
As always, I’ll be your horror host Jack Finch - as we once again, soar through the
silver skies - and take a look at the Top 5 Lovecraftian Horror Movies - Part 2.
Roll the clip.
For the curious amongst you, that clip was from 2017’s The Void - which may or may
not be on this - oh, who am I kidding - of course it’s on this list.
Spoilers.
Although, I’m sure you’ll all be happy to hear it.
Now, there are a few honorable mentions that need to be touted, because if I’m being
honest, they’re not good enough to slip through my filter of cosmic horror greatness
- but I figure it’ll make you all happy.
So - in no particular order, Dagon, The Unnameable, The Dunwich Horror, Devil’s Mile, The Ruins
- yeah, you get the picture.
Kicking off at Number 5 - The Mist
Haha.
What a great scene.
And as my guy roguefish66 so astutely pointed out in the comment section of our previous
video, Stephen King, through his work - wrote love letters to Lovecraft, and by proxy - his
work is directly inspired by the O.G’s of cosmic horror.
Tentacles wrapped up in some foggy mist?
Yeah, it’s Lovecraft.
2007’s The Mist, written and directed by Frank Darabont and based upon the fantastic
1980 horror novella by Stephen King - is a stark, visual representation of Lovecraftian
themes at a human level.
Also, it stars Thomas Jane - and as we all know, Thomas Jane is awesome.
First released in November 2007, The Mist focuses on the members of a small town of
Bridgton, Maine - who after a severe thunderstorm, flee to the towns only supermarket to stock
up on supplies.
Initially unbeknownst to them, a strange, terrifying cosmic mist descends on the town
- concealing vicious and hungry Lovecraftian monsters.
What plays out is a visceral demonstration of exactly what happens when shit hits the
eldritch fan and humanity succumbs to the threat of insignificant annihilation.
Darabont is also one of the few filmmakers able to nail King’s work - and somehow managed
to pen an ending that even terrified the grandmaster of horror himself.
That’s quite the accolade.
Coming in next at Number 4 - The Whisperer In Darkness
Talking about Love Letters to Lovecraft.
This is exactly that, and in my opinion - perhaps one of the most faithful, endearing, direct
depictions of H.P Lovecraft’s fiction.
Which is to be expected, as it’s one of the few films to be independently produced
and distributed by the H.P Lovecraft Historical Society.
It was also financially backed by Sandy Petersen, the author of the awesome tabletop RPG - Call
of Cthulhu.
So, it kind of comes with the territory, really.
The film itself was shot on Mythoscope, with the intention of authentically capturing that
distinct, black and white, 1930’s B-movie vibe - and it does exactly that.
The Whisperer In Darkness, for the most part, focuses on Lovecraft’s short story of the
same name, and we get to see one of Lovecraft’s most excruciatingly likeable characters, Albert
Wilmarth, unravel the plot of the Mi-Go and their desire to stick all of our brains in
jars.
There’s not much more to this movie, other than it being a cut for cut, shot for shot,
faithful adaptation of Lovecraft’s work - albeit with a better ending that probably
ties things together in a much better way for the silver screen.
Who knew?
Next up at Number 3 - The Endless
Oh man - if you’ve managed to already notice, this film also made my top spot on the list
for The Top 5 Horror Movies That You Missed - Part 2.
And it’s also making this list - because it’s so damned good.
I know a lot of you also felt the same way, but The Endless just manages to capture that
weird sense of uncertainty that regularly encompasses the best of sci-fi horror.
Written and directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, who also, as chance would
have it - are the lead actors of the film - the film focuses on the story of two brothers
who decide it's a great idea to revisit the cult that they once belonged to.
Spoilers - that’s never a good idea.
Honestly, like before - I really don’t want to give away too much about this film, because
going into it with zero expectations like I did is the best way to experience The Endless.
Also, it’s testament to the films creators that this entire film was made on a shoestring
budget - and it’s living proof that if you have a good idea and a smart script - you
can make something as complex as Lovecraftian fiction seem effortless.
Swinging in at Number 2 - In The Mouth Of Madness
And yes - rest easy.
John Carpenter is here, with what some of you consider to be the height of cinematic
Lovecraftian horror.
And as a huge John Carpenter fan myself, I’ll say that you’re not far off, because In
The Mouth Of Madness is an onscreen onslaught of why science fiction and horror go together
like peanut butter and jelly - or John Carpenter and a camera.
It’s also one of the only films where I believe that Lovecraft’s true intentions,
as well as the horror greats before and after him, were fully realised for a mainstream
audience.
And uhh - the existential levels to this film kind of blow my mind all over again every
time I think back.
Since the dawn of human literature, writers have mused on the notion of being a character
in their own novel - and the blurred sign posts that point between our reality and something
not quite our own.
Carpenter addresses all of this - and then some - all while managing to pay tribute to
Lovecraft himself through the works of the mysterious Sutter Cane.
Also, it stars Sam Neal at his 90’s peak - and even has a supporting role from Charlton
Freakin Heston.
Released in 1995 - In The Mouth Of Madness, written by Michael De Luca and directed by
John Carpenter, for all intents and purposes was a financial disappointment, middled out
at the Box Office and was received poorly by critics.
But just like Lovecraft, that doesn’t stop it being a collosal of horror cinema, and
the final part in a trilogy of Carpenter’s finest work.
And finally, at our Number 1 spot - The Void
Here’s why this film is awesome, and here’s why it hits the number one spot on this list
- and proves that sci-fi horror is alive and writhing in the world of cinema - The Void,
written and directed by Steven Kostanski and Jeremy Gillespie, was inspired when Gillespie
was working at Pinewood studios and overheard that the main man himself, Guillermo del Toro,
was working on At The Mountains of Madness on the floor above him.
Of course - unfortunately, we haven’t heard a sniff about del Toro’s Lovecraftian adaptation
- but from that exact same creative spark, came 2016’s The Void - and we as horror
fans are all better off for it.
I love this film - because it makes no grand claims of being something that it’s not.
It’s humble in its approach to the same greats of horror that it builds its vision
around, all while offering a few fresh twists and turns in an otherwise beaten out narrative.
Essentially, The Void is a crowdfunded film - yet the practical effects in this film are
astounding, and instead of relying on quick cuts and badly-cobbled together CGI, we see
exactly why the likes of Carpenter’s The Thing and Clive Barker’s Cenobites had so
much weight in horror cinema.
Also, it had some of the most beautiful promotional graphic design I’ve seen in a long time.
Hey, I’m a sucker for a good poster.
Give The Void a watch, because it’s fun as hell, and worth every second of your time.
Well - that’s my list horror fans, why don’t you let us know your thoughts in the comment
section down below.
Before we depart though, let’s take a look at some of your more creative comments from
over the past few days.
Hen ja says -- This isn’t the most scary channel on YouTube.
T-series is.
-- Well, Hen Ja - if that’s the case, then how do you explain this?
Next up, Lean Party says -- awesome video man, I always like and I work night shift
from 6pm to 3am and I watch your videos all night -- Well Lean Party, my good buddy, that’s
some incredibly high praise - thank you very much.
I used to work a night shift between 9PM and 8AM and it was …. Pretty damn spooky, I’ve
gotta say it.
You stay strong buddy, there’s some creepy stuff on a night shift.
Well, there we have it horror fans - cheers for sticking around all the way until the
end.
If you were a fan of this video, please be a dear and hit that thumbs up button - as
well as that subscribe bell, and I’ll be seeing you in the next one.
As per usual, I’ve been your horror host Jack Finch - you’ve been watching Top 5
Scary Videos - and until next time, you take it easy.