Lovecraft Witch House The Lovecraft Witch House is a unique architectural style inspired by the works of American writer H.P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft, known for his horror fiction, often described mysterious and ancient buildings in his stories, and the Witch House is an interpretation of these dark and eerie structures. Originally built in 1675, the Witch House is located in the Derby Street neighborhood of Salem, Massachusetts. It is the only structure in Salem with direct ties to the infamous Salem witchcraft trials of 1692.
It is the only structure in Salem with direct ties to the infamous Salem witchcraft trials of 1692. The house was owned by Judge Jonathan Corwin, who played a significant role in the witch trials as one of the judges. The Lovecraft Witch House is characterized by its stark, angular lines, asymmetrical design, and foreboding appearance.
H.P. Lovecraft’s Witch House Review
PLOT: A college student who believes geometry is the key to inter-dimensional travel starts having terrible nightmares in a house where a witch may have carried out human sacrifices.
REVIEW: First published in the pages of Weird Tales magazine in 1933, legendary horror author H.P. Lovecraft’s short story The Dreams in the Witch House has been brought to the screen twice before. Once for the 1968 film The Crimson Cult, which had an impressive cast that included Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee, Barbara Steele, and Michael Gough. That was such a loose adaptation, Lovecraft wasn’t even given credit. Decades later, Stuart Gordon gave Lovecraft credit and kept the title intact for his 2005 contribution to the Masters of Horror series. Now the story has gotten the low budget indie treatment with director Bobby Easley’s new film H.P. Lovecraft’s Witch House (watch it HERE)… and this really goes to show how much of a tough act Stuart Gordon is to follow.
Easley’s Witch House was filmed at the historic Hannah House in Indianapolis, Indiana, a place that is said to be haunted – but for the purposes of this movie, the Hannah House (as it is still referred to by the characters) is in a town named after a Lovecraft location, Miskatonic. The character we follow into this place is college student Alice Gilman (an actress credited as Michelle Morris on the film itself, but as Portia Chellelynn in the marketing), who is working on the theory that sacred geometry is the key to inter-dimensional travel. It just so happens that a previous tenant at Hannah House did crack the secrets of inter-dimensional travel and you would think that stories of this might be what inspires Alice to rent a room in the place. After all, the Gilman character in Lovecraft’s story purposely moved into the Witch House because of its history. But that’s not the case here. Alice simply moves into the Hannah House / Witch House because there’s a vacancy and her violent ex, who once beat her so badly that she miscarried their child, is on the loose. She needs a place to hide out while working on her theory, so the Hannah House it is. As soon as she enters the house, she feels like she belongs there. And the “suggested geometric shapes” in her attic room are perfect for her studies!
Alice’s housemates in this place are her landlady Etta (Shonda Laverty), Etta’s deeply religious, alcoholic brother Joe (Joe Padgett), and Etta’s niece Tommi (Julie Anne Prescott), who is around the same age as Alice. Etta and Joe are only a presence for key moments, but Alice ends up spending a good amount of time with Tommi – who helps her look into the history of the Hannah House. Which is when she finally finds out she’s living in a “Witch House”, as it used to be home to Keziah Mason (Andrea Collins), a servant girl who was accused of carrying out human sacrifices – the sacrificed being children – and was burned at the stake. Tommi also manages to seduce Alice so easily, it’s like she’s James Bond levels of irresistible, leading to a gratuitous sex scene. Paving the way for more gratuitous moments of nudity and scenes of Alice in her underwear. But given that the best Lovecraft adaptation we’ve ever seen (Stuart Gordon’s Re-Animator) features a gratuitous scene where a nude female is assaulted by a severed-but-living head, it’s tough to fault other Lovecraft-inspired filmmakers for trying to spice up their movies with bare flesh.
The story of Keziah Mason inspires Alice to work occult symbols into her studies and to look up the Necronomicon. She also starts having intense nightmares about occult practices, Keziah, and the witch’s buddy Brown Jenkin. If you’re familiar with the source material, you’ll know that Brown Jenkin was described as being a rat with a human face, something that Gordon was able to effectively bring to the screen for his adaptation. Of course, this one didn’t have the budget necessary to create Brown Jenkin, so the character is represented through shots of a regular rat and a scuzzy-looking human. While Alice is there dreaming, someone is stalking around the town of Miskatonic, abducting children. It looks like history is repeating itself. And somehow, even though Alice is an established Lovecraft fan – she’s reading Lovecraft the first time we see her – she never ponders how it could be that she’s living something similar to The Dreams in the Witch House. Maybe she’s too terrified. Maybe the adaptation is too loose. Or this oversight could be explained by the final moment of the film, which will have many viewers groaning and rolling their eyes.
Much of Witch House’s mercifully short running time is dedicated to the nightmares Alice has. Trippy sequences that are soaked in colorful lighting. Easley has said that he was drawing inspiration from Italian genre filmmakers while making Witch House, so the lighting must be his tribute to Mario Bava and Dario Argento. The nightmares are certainly the most visually interesting parts of the movie, as the low budget is very apparent in the overall look of the film. A cheap look is easily overcome when the story and/or characters are interesting enough… but the storytelling here is very messy and scattered, and the characters aren’t interesting. So Witch House very quickly becomes frustrating and difficult to sit through. My favorite thing about it was the fact that the end credits kicked in after just 75 minutes.
Witch House might find some appreciative viewers who are intrigued by the strangeness of the dream sequences, but I found the film to be poorly crafted and a bit of an endurance challenge. As far as adaptations of The Dreams in the Witch House go, I would not recommend this one… but if you do check it out, at least it won’t take up much of your time.
Witch House is now available on Digital, VOD, and DVD.
The story of Keziah Mason inspires Alice to work occult symbols into her studies and to look up the Necronomicon. She also starts having intense nightmares about occult practices, Keziah, and the witch’s buddy Brown Jenkin. If you’re familiar with the source material, you’ll know that Brown Jenkin was described as being a rat with a human face, something that Gordon was able to effectively bring to the screen for his adaptation. Of course, this one didn’t have the budget necessary to create Brown Jenkin, so the character is represented through shots of a regular rat and a scuzzy-looking human. While Alice is there dreaming, someone is stalking around the town of Miskatonic, abducting children. It looks like history is repeating itself. And somehow, even though Alice is an established Lovecraft fan – she’s reading Lovecraft the first time we see her – she never ponders how it could be that she’s living something similar to The Dreams in the Witch House. Maybe she’s too terrified. Maybe the adaptation is too loose. Or this oversight could be explained by the final moment of the film, which will have many viewers groaning and rolling their eyes.
It features a steeply pitched roof and predominantly dark colors, giving it an ominous presence. The windows are small and narrow, adding to the secretive and secluded atmosphere of the house. One of the defining features of the Lovecraft Witch House is its use of unconventional building materials. Lovecraft often described his fictional buildings as having strange materials or being made of ancient and mysterious substances. The Witch House incorporates elements such as obsidian, dark wood, and hidden symbols in its construction, creating an otherworldly feel. The interior of the Lovecraft Witch House is just as intriguing as its exterior. The rooms are dimly lit and adorned with peculiar artifacts and arcane symbols. The atmosphere is heavy with a sense of occultism and otherworldly power, reflecting Lovecraft's fascination with the unknown and forbidden knowledge. Although the Lovecraft Witch House is not an actual historical structure, it serves as a tribute to H.P. Lovecraft and his unique writing style. It encapsulates the eerie and mysterious atmosphere present in many of his stories, providing a tangible representation of his literary world. Today, the Lovecraft Witch House serves as a museum and cultural center, attracting fans of Lovecraft's work and those intrigued by the occult. Visitors can explore the house and learn more about Lovecraft's influence on the horror genre and his impact on Salem's history. In conclusion, the Lovecraft Witch House is a manifestation of H.P. Lovecraft's atmospheric and foreboding writing. It captures the essence of his dark and mysterious worlds, providing fans and visitors with a tangible connection to his works. Whether one is a fan of Lovecraft or drawn to the occult, the Witch House offers a unique and captivating experience..
Reviews for "Unraveling the Whispers: Lovecraft's Witch House and the Occult"
1. John - 2/5 stars - As a fan of Lovecraft and horror in general, I was really disappointed with "Lovecraft Witch House". The storyline felt disjointed and the characters were completely unlikable. I found it hard to care about anything that was happening on screen. The scares were predictable and lacked any real originality, with jump scares being used far too often. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable and underwhelming horror film.
2. Emily - 1/5 stars - I couldn't finish watching "Lovecraft Witch House" as the entire film felt like a cheap knockoff of better horror movies. The acting was wooden and the dialogue was cringe-worthy. The special effects were poorly executed and failed to create any real sense of dread or suspense. It felt like the filmmakers relied too heavily on Lovecraft's name without understanding what made his stories so captivating. Save your time and skip this one.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - "Lovecraft Witch House" had an intriguing premise, but ultimately failed to deliver on its potential. The pacing was all over the place, with long periods of boredom interrupted by moments of confusion. The film lacked a cohesive narrative and left many loose ends unresolved. The few scares that were attempted fell flat, with predictable jump scares that failed to elicit any genuine fright. Overall, it had the potential to be a great Lovecraft-inspired horror film, but sadly missed the mark.
4. Mike - 2/5 stars - I found "Lovecraft Witch House" to be a disappointing attempt at horror storytelling. The plot was convoluted and lacked any clear direction, jumping between different subplots without fully exploring any of them. The characters were one-dimensional and their actions often felt forced or illogical. The visual effects were underwhelming and failed to create any real atmosphere. Overall, it was a forgettable film with little to no scares or substance.