Faithful, though a bit pedestrian, adaptation of HP Lovecraft's 'The Case of Charles Dexter Ward'. Heavily compromised by studio interference, Dan o'Bannon has his private director's cut 'The Ancestor' which still hasn't seen the light of day.
This Lovecraft film, (Based on the story, 'The Strange Case of Charles Dexter Ward') is a more accurate account of the original tale by Lovecraft than 'The Haunted Palace'. Chris Sarandon really flexes his acting muscles playing the dual identity of two characters...still not an exact Lovecraft story on film, but close enough, slowly paced, but done quite well, It is essential to any Lovecraft Fans film library... Gorewhore Out.
A particularly solid Lovecraft film that treats the material far more like the author did himself than someone like Stuart Gordon (love his work, but he does get uber-sleazy). O'Bannon shows still he's a far better writer than director, but he did some amazing touches with this film that is another great example of early-90s B-movie coolness. Unpretentious, great effects, Chris Sarandon as a psychomaniac, mad scientist work, and a gothic atmosphere transposed to modern times. Good times for those who dig Lovecraft stories and hate that there's still not enough good adaptations of his work. It ain't perfect, but it sure as hell beats the usual crap named after his masterpieces.
The Resurrected begins with the taint of TV-movie, through its low budget set design, 90s costumes, and hoary voice-over. Chris Sarandon is terrific in his dual roles, though. Once the story goes underground to the evil Curwen's caves, the movie becomes one freak-out after another.
MCT:May 27, 2008
MCT:May 26, 2008
MCT:March 30, 2008
MCT:July 14, 2007
