There were definitely some entertaining aspects. Cage was the bread and butter of the movie for sure. He's one of very few actors that have this charming quirk about them that always manages to steal the show. Angry Cage is best Cage. Also, I completely agree on wanting more dreamlike scenes. I really liked those foggy, hazy...dreamlike parts of the film. Definitely more, please.
Yeah, the whole time I was thinking
WARNING: spoilers below
doesn't anyone care the kid's practically suffocating on the couch?
doesn't anyone care the kid's practically suffocating on the couch?
I don't recall hearing about the Dunwich Horror. Read this little tidbit on slashfilm "
The Dunwich Horror “tells the story of Wilbur Whateley, the son of a deformed albino mother and an unknown father (alluded to in passing by the mad Old Whateley as “Yog-Sothoth”), and the strange events surrounding his birth and unprecedentedly precocious development. Wilbur matures at an abnormal rate, reaching manhood within a decade. All the while, his sorcerer grandfather indoctrinates him into certain dark rituals and the study of witchcraft.” The synopsis has me sold. I just hope he follows through on execution. It's weird, because he has this ability to have some truly breathtaking cinematography but the characters and writing can be schlocky. Seems that's usually the case with Lovecraftian films. I should be used to it, it's almost a staple now.
EDIT: I realize now that I'm being a slight hypocrite considering Cage can be the schlockiest of schlocky actors, yet he somehow makes it work.
I remember thinking Cage was a comically bad actor over a decade ago (‘NOT THE BEES’ era), and couldn’t understand why people liked him in serious leading man roles. He won an OSCAR for Leaving Las Vegas, and I honestly couldn’t even get through the movie because of his performance, but I’ve warmed up to him a lot as he’s seemed to embrace his reputation. I think schlocky horror movies best accommodate him.
The Dunwich story would be hard to adapt without some big readjustments. If I remember correctly, it’s made up of mostly short anecdotes that span years, has no real leading character (Wilbur is half the story), and most of the townsfolk are unsympathetic bumpkins. But the town of Dunwich should have a great atmosphere; rotting infrastructure, inbred townsfolk, and a foot dipped in the occult. It’s supposed to be the 2nd of 3 Lovecraft movies.
*knock on wood
I know Stanley is a fan of Italian horror, so silly dialogue and schlocky violence probably come naturally. I just hope he can let his third eye Tarkovsky/Jodorowsky/LSD influence shine more, but producers probably aren’t as keen on that.
Now that I’ve reminded myself about The Wicker Man remake, I’m feeling a bit nostalgic. Gonna go watch Nic Cage in a bear costume KO a defenseless lady in front of a child.