H.P. Lovecraft Archives | Otaku No Culture

Revisiting Dreams in the Witch-House: A Lovecraftian Rock Opera, and 2018 Updates

Fans of the rock musical genre will be lured to sleep, perchance to dream of forgotten places where the sounds from the gods of heavy metal reign in a brilliantly conceived album, Dreams in the Witch-House: a Lovecraftian Rock Opera.

Dreams in the Witch-House By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Fans of the rock musical genre will be lured to sleep, perchance to dream of forgotten places where the sounds from the gods of heavy metal reign in a brilliantly conceived album, Dreams in the Witch-House: a Lovecraftian Rock Opera. When I want my spirits lifted away, I listen to this album originally released in 2014.

When Bruce Kulick (Grand Funk Railroad and formerly with KISS), Douglas Blair Lucek (W.A.S.P.), Nalle Påhlsson and Johan Koleberg (Therion) are part of this album’s showcase of talent, heavy metal fans will be pleased. While I would love to see this group perform, but sometimes these concerts may have house musicians to take their place. But to hear the original musicians provide a musical discourse that tells of Walter Gilman’s (Mike Dalager) descent into madness only has me feeling excited. This character is an overachiever, and what he aspires for requires making a pact with the dark forces residing in the building he lives in.
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The Call of Charlie is a Fun, H.P. Lovecraft Inspired Short

The Call of Charlie is a wonderfully whimsical short film written by Nick Spooner (who also directs), Guy Benoit and John Simpson who brings the scares in a different kind of way.

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Disclaimer: a preview was provided by the director.

You never know where to find cultists from the Esoteric Order of Dagon (ala H.P. Lovecraft). The Call of Charlie is a wonderfully whimsical short film written by Nick Spooner (who also directs), Guy Benoit and John Simpson who brings the scares in a different kind of way. Why fight it when you can embrace it? This short film is making its rounds at select horror film festivals and comic conventions around the world. A schedule can be found on this film’s Facebook page.

Although never explicitly said, I’m guessing Mark (Harry Sinclair) and Diane (Brooke Smith) are from that cult. They seem like everyday folks who invited a friend, Charlie (Sven Holmberg), from work to dinner — or so they say. They are setting him up on a blind date. But when old friends Jay (Evan Arnold) and Virginia (Roberta Valderrama), unexpectedly show up, the night is going to hell in a hand basket in a downright hilarious way!

The scares are jovial in nature and the gore is handled with simple off-camera shots to convey a sense of you must not look lest you lose your mind. Jay is the only character who shows signs of wavering sanity as the evening can only go one way. Arnold conveys a charm to show he’s the only character who realizes what’s going on. The hosts handle the “threat” well, and they act like this occurrence is not above the norm. When you’re a cultist honoring an Elder God at home, common courtesy is a must!

5 Shoggoths out of 5

The Call of Charlie Trailer

Changes are in Store for Howard Lovecraft and the Undersea Kingdom

Revisions are in store in Arcana Studios next film, Howard Lovecraft and the Undersea Kingdom.

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Revisions are in store in Arcana Studios next film, Howard Lovecraft and the Undersea Kingdom. The original comic book story had two companions helping the boy travel to this new world to rescue his family. With only his mother and aunts, life may seem easy. But after the events from Frozen Kingdom, he better look out! His father broke out of his asylum prison so both he and Constable Smith (who finds the boy without a home) can help. The gun-touting action and violence in this edition works, but in a product targeting a general audience to enjoy, it has to be changed.

“The guns and grenades being used in Undersea Kingdom were an immediate offside from numerous distributors,” revealed Sean O’Reilly, co-founder of Arcana Studios. “Losing that character [of Smith], and replacing him with a character that H.P. Lovecraft created in Dr. Henry Armitage, put us in a direction towards Miskatonic University. This then leads to building out the world that the author created.”

Both this studio and Shout! Factory announced the voice cast a few days ago, indicating that progress is on track for a Q4 direct-to-video release. Mark Hamill will be playing the role of the prestigious doctor. Best known as The Joker in Batman: The Animated Series, this talent can do more than swing a light saber in Star Wars. Also set to play a bigger role is Jeffrey Combs as King Abdul, the primary antagonist for this second film. When he kidnaps his mother and aunts, the young lad has to get Spot to help him travel to the Undersea Kingdom to rescue them. But he can not do it alone, and to see what O’Reilly has to alter in series creator, Bruce Brown’s work, will have followers curious.

Using the original graphic novel as reference, the monsters we will get to see include Shoggoths and Deep Ones. With luck, maybe a Mi-Go or two will help out.

Returning talents include Christopher Plummer and Doug Bradley as Dr. Herbert West and Nyarlathotep.

Netflix’s Movie “Spectral” is More than Meets the Eye

spectral

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

*Mild Spoiler Alert

The producers behind Netflix’s Spectral must be fans of H.P. Lovecraft and players of Pagan Publishing’s Delta Green RPG. This horror based role playing game takes concepts from this seminal author’s works and places them in a military setting, where covert operations are the. are of the game. In this game world, agents (who were once FBI, ATF, CDC or DEA) deal with threats from within and afar. The cosmic terrors that come to plague humanity are different in the film, and when dealing with the paranormal — ghosts especially — just how can you shoot one down? Bullets do jack.

The special effects are really cool in bringing to life these wraiths. The animators have them jump about like Power Rangers and vaguely move in humanoid fashion.

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Dark Horse Comics to Release Calla Cthulhu Summer 2017!

unnamed

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

When a webcomic I have not heard of before gets the attention of Dark Horse Comics to publish, I will be callin’ for a preview online. Calla Cthulhu is a digital comic readers have to subscribe to on Stēla (iOS) — a mobile entertainment reader. While not everyone can hop onto every online service out there for their nerdy fixes, to hear some titles are getting a wider distribution makes this fanboy very happy. They are becoming more accessible.

Like other fond favourites which I try to keep up with on the Internet side — Young Lovecraft (sadly it’s finished) and Girl Genius — I find owning a print version better. Being the H.P. Lovecraft fan that I am, to hear about this title coming to print is my dream come true. This latest title influenced by Lovecraft’s work can sit side-by-side with other comics like Littlest Shoggoth and Where’s My Shoggoth? A bigger volume that sits in my comic book section is The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, and all of these are recommended reading.

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Young Lovecraft’s name is Howard in Shout! Factory’s “Frozen Kingdom” Release

unnamed By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

From José Oliver (Author) and Bartolo Torres (Illustrator) web comic Young Lovecraft to Sean Patrick O’Reilly (Arcana Studio)’s Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom, both illustrative products have redefined who this seminal master of the macabre is for people of all ages to enjoy.

While there’s no new material for the Young series and The Frozen Kingdom saw an evolution with a film, thankfully to see the latter product get animated has this fan excited. I enjoy both works, and the teaser offered during Free Comic Book Day made me glad a trade paperback of the Frozen Kingdom is getting reprinted and offered late October at comic book stores near you.

The animated version is being released by Shout! Factory September 27, 2016 just in time for my birthday. I could not be any more thrilled. It will be made available on DVD, Blu-ray, VOD and Redbox. The combo pack will include bonus content such as an audio commentary and featurette. More details will be forthcoming as the date nears. As for fans who love O’Reilly’s art style, an exclusive poster will be offered for those who pre-order directly from Shout! Factory’s website.

Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom features the talents of Jane Curtin (3rd Rock from the Sun), Ron Perlman (Sons of Anarchy), Christopher Plummer (Pixar’s Up), Doug Bradley (Hellraiser), Kiefer O’Reilly (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow) and Alison Wandzura (CW’s Van Helsing). This film is said to be a veritable love letter to H.P. Lovecraft himself as it entwines new storytelling, actual events of H.P. Lovecraft’s life, iconic elements of his writings and literary characters Cthulhu, Shoggoth and more.