Opening Short Films Block 1
We're starting off the festival with a selection of some of the best short films from the early years of the H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival!
The Whisperer in Darkness (1975)
As far as we can tell, this is the first ever fan adaptation of one of H. P. Lovecraft's stories, and was made only 12 years after the very first studio adaptation, with an 8mm camera, a few friends, including author J. Vernon Shea, and a lot of passion. Restored from the original 8mm reels by Brian Callahan at Arkham Bazaar/Sigh Co. Graphics, this is the first time in decades that this film has been played on the big screen and the first time ever that this restored version has been shown.
"The Whisperer in Darkness" is strongly based on Lovecraft's story of one man's battle with strange creatures in the Vermont woods, and the Folklorist who wouldn't believe, until it was too late.
To Oblivion
Based on Lovecraft's Ex Oblivione, with a dash of Beyond The Wall of Sleep and The Silver Key, with a bit of genetics from Alien and Dark Star, this 1991 student film (Columbia, thank you very much) is from the director of Pickman's Muse. A young man travels through the stars, and beyond the wall of sleep.
The Music of Erich Zann (restored)
This story revolves around a student of metaphysics, Charles Dexter Ward who befriends Erich Zann an aging violinist who lives on the floor above him. Restored from the original 16mm print.
Nyarlathotep (Restored)
I am the last. I will tell the audient void. A classic adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's short story, "Nyarlathotep", now restored to HD quality and shown on the big screen for the first time!
