QIs "The Dunwich Horror" based on a book?
AThe Dunwich Horror is based on a short story of the same name written in 1928 by American fantasy/horror writer H.P. Lovecraft [1890-1937]. It was first published in Weird Tales, April 1929. It was adapted for the screen by director Curtis Hanson with screenwriters Henry Rosenbaum and Ronald Silkosky. A made-for-TV remake, The Dunwich Horror, was released in 2009.
QWhat is 'The Dunwich Horror' about?
AWhile returning the legendary Necronomicon at closing time to the Miskatonic University library in Arkham, Massachusetts for her professor Dr Henry Armitage (Ed Begley), grad student Nancy Wagner (Sandra Dee) meets young Wilbur Whateley (Dean Stockwell), who begs her to let him look at the book for just five minutes. Giving in to his hypnotic eyes, Nancy agrees and later even offers him a ride to Dunwich when he misses his bus. While at the house, Wilbur drugs her and makes her stay to be a part in an ancient rite to open a portal between the earth and the dimension where the 'Old Ones' dwell.
QHow closely does the movie follow Lovecraft's story?
AThose who have both seen the movie and read the short story say that the movie is disappointing in that it adapted Lovecraft's original ten-chaptered short story far too loosely to be considered anywhere near faithful to the story. Other viewers point out, however, that even if the movie doesn't tell the story as Lovecraft wrote it, it is moody and atmospheric and there are some pretty decent creepy moments to be found. One plus is that the movie doesn't rely on hokey rubber monster suits to portray the creatures that are "not of this earth."
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