THE DUNWICH HORROR | Lovecraft Horror Review | Arrow Video

THE DUNWICH HORROR (1970) was one of American International Pictures' H.P. Lovecraft adaptations, and Arrow Video restored it on blu-ray. Let's talk about it!
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In the Arkam University, Dr. Henry Armitage has the infamous Necronomicon exposed in a glass box in the library. Dr. Armitage's assistants Nancy Wagner and Elizabeth Hamilton are closing the library, when Wilbur Whateley arrives and asks to consult the notorious book. Nancy is seduced by the young man and lends the Necronomicon to him. Nancy offers to drive him home. When they arrive at the Whateley's home, Wilbur sabotages her car. Nancy decides to stay at his house, but she does not know that Wilbur wants to conjure the Old Ones and Nancy and the Necronomicon are essential for his purpose.
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classic horror movies
best classic horror movies
lovecraft horror
h.p. lovecraft
best lovecraft movies
call of cthulhu
die monster die
the haunted palace
color out of space
colour out of space
from beyond
reanimator
dean stockwell
vincent price
boris karloff
peter cushing
christopher lee
Music:
Music ⓒ - Kevin MacLeod
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[@DaleRibbons]

The original story, one of Lovecraft's best, is different. Wilbur's desire to get ahold of the Necronomicon isn't just to summon the Old Ones, but to find a way to contain his 'brother'. And story Wilbur isn't charming at all. He's... unsettling. The reason the villagers hate him is because deep down, they know he isn't fully human. And that's partially where the tentacles come in.

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

Quite true.

[@arejaycee5704]

Well put.

[@bryansmith844]

“10 signs your new partner may be trying to sacrifice you to the Old Ones.” -latest article in Cosmopolitan magazine.

[@MICHAELTHOMPSON-uy6ki]

😂

[@cobwebschannel]

hahaha If I had a nickel…

[@mlongpre100]

#1 keeps asking if you are a virgin

[@jheid1971]

I agree with you, I think Dean Stockwell was great in this role.

[@mikelacombe2133]

Currently streaming on Tubi.

[@cobwebschannel]

Yep! 👍

[@cheryl-lylbaldr4560]

Love Dean in Quantum Leap he was so amazing he and Scott were a perfect combination, never heard of this film will look it up thanks for sharing.

[@mugwugthemagnificful]

The Dunwich Horror does fall short but the atmosphere and especially the Lex Baxter score, AAA +++. And the orgy scene is strangely artistic.

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

Quite true.

[@rogersjgregory]

I have yet to see a movie adaptation do H P Lovecraft justice. I admit that I haven’t seen the recent The Color Out Of Space, but the only movie that came close was Dagon. I’m surprised that the only movie that Cthulhu has appeared in was Underwater, and even then it wasn’t very clear. H P Lovecraft’s stories beg to be made. There were a couple of stories in The Cabinet of Curiosities, but his creations should be on the big screen.

[@timexi5704]

How about The Call of Cthulhu (2005) by HPLHS?

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

You are quite right,there is yet to be a really well-done adaptation of a Lovecraft story or novel.Although,the relatively recent movie adaptation of “The Colour out of Space”-starring Nicolas Cage-is quite compelling and definitely worth a watch.

[@JeremyLaVance-hk2ob]

Underwater isn't the only movie Cthulu has appeared in! I've seen quite a few. My son loves Cthulu and will buy any dvd he can find that he appears in. He's also appeared in tv shows. I believe there was an episode of creepshow that he's in. Even cartoons. I'm sure there's a way to find out if you're interested. Maybe a list on Wikipedia or Google it? I am surprised there haven't been more big budget movies with him but there are some good ones out there! :)

[@shanedoe3462]

The opening credits of this film are great. Some people think the animation isn't in tune with the horror theme, but I find the style very unsettling along with the ominous score.

[@varanid9]

Yeah, I love the theme, wish it was longer. I have it on CD.

[@splifftachyon4420]

I always loved this movie, and The Haunted Palace as well. I even have a soft spot for Die, Monster, Die as it was the first horror movie I ever saw, when I was a kid in the 70s, and it turned me on to horror movies.

[@nessiesearcher]

In the story, HPL makes Wibur's twin a much more monstrously unhuman and destructive entity, which bursts out of the farmhouse attic where he has been locked up since birth. I think it has been the lack of special effects at the time that makes many Lovecraft fans disappointed in this film. I have always given it higher marks and will be ordering this for myself. Thank you for your excellent and detailed review.

[@davidlionheart2438]

The special effects techniques to accomplish what was needed certainly existed in 1970 and long before that, but just as today to accomplish it well would have been very expensive.

[@Adeodatus100]

Great review, thanks. And I can comfirm that 1970 Dean Stockwell is hot. 😁

[@cobwebschannel]

haha Thank you for confirming!

[@sebastiancrow7815]

It moves a bit slow but thought it was pretty good overall. Originally saw it on a late night creature features show on TV back in the 70's. I was just getting into Lovecraft back then and I was so excited to see an adaptation of one of my favorite stories. Revisited it many times and I've always found it intriguing.

[@cBe9999]

There was a later Asylum version, also with Stockwell - I remember thinking it wasn't too bad by the 'standards' of the Asylum but I'd say 'proceed with caution'. Also, when it comes to Lovecraft I'll never miss an opportunity to recommend 'The Call of Cthulu' and 'Whisperer in Darkness' by the HPLHS. They really show what you can do with a small budget but lots of enthusiasm.

[@tizzieblack3384]

Difficult to see how you can be fascinated by the cosmic horror without reading it. Th colour out of space is probably his best short story, but the Dunwich Horror is so iconic (in spite of its weak ending caused by trying to describe the indescribable ) that for an aficionado like me it is difficult to remember that you are critiquing this just as a film. Us Lovecraft fans are very protective of the lore. In the film Wilbur was the twin of the horror otherwise the fact that the heroine was revealed to be pregnant would have had no significance as the baby would have been merely human and not the child of the spawn of Yogsothoth. I told you us fans are sticklers for the lore, even in such a loose adaptation as this film turned out to be. Lol

[@RichardFay]

He had a fear of small-town people... and big-town people... and fish... and seemingly the whole 20th century.

[@kadajsnightqueen]

Don’t forget anybody who wasn’t white as flour, the ocean, space, aliens, interracial relationships, sex and intimacy, and pretty much everywhere and everything that wasn’t Providence, Rhode Island. The guy was a bunch of issues swimming around in a human-shaped mold.

[@JoeySteakley]

This is my favorite story of Lovecraft, worth the read. It moves quickly and has a pretty contemporary style. It's a good place to start reading his work if you are interested. I thought this movie was a great adaptation.

[@grey_wulf]

Huge fan of cosmic horror. Read many of HPL's works, and am still waiting for a worthwhile adaptation of one of his stories. Some are good imo (Reanimator, The Color of Out Space, Dagon, In the Mouth of Madness), but most fall far short. Still 🤞🤞

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

I agree-Reanimator, The Colour out of Space and Dagon are worthwhile movie adaptations of Lovecraft stories.

[@BeyondTheGraveMedia]

I was just thinking about watching this this morning, the universe aligned! Love, love, this adaption

[@dottiegillespie8067]

Oh man, thank you!!! New content on my day off!!! You made my day sir!

[@CowboyRobot2000]

So weird to hear about a Lovecraft adaptation without mentioning Jeffrey Combs.

[@noahbody417]

I've seen it twice. Once on TV, with the usual edits for commercials many, many years ago. Saw it again in TCM a few years ago. I enjoyed the movie. The twin was a fast flashing of lights. I read the story long time ago, so I can't recall how the twin was described. I'm assuming the description was not detailed enough so they went for the psychedelic effect (or the description was such that it couldn't be accurately depicted in the movie). I did read that a body double was used when Sandra Dee was on the alter when hands were caressing the body (she didn't want to do the nude scene).

[@JeremyLaVance-hk2ob]

I really liked Call of Cthulu from I believe it was 2005. Ive never seen the Dunwich Horror but when I go to bed I listen to old horror radio shows from the 30s to the 70s (so good!!) and a few of them have done the Dunwich Horror really well.

[@trudymeans3520]

I saw this movie as a teenager on TV in the mid '70s. I thought Wilbur was VERY sexy and attractive. In fact, I've watched it many times over the years mainly because I liked his character (and Dean Stockwell's portrayal) so much. I remember my mom making fun of me for it and basically saying that I would be a perfect serial killer victim.

[@bwilliams463]

I find H P Lovecraft's works to be more about mood than shock. If you let yourself, you can gradually fall into true terror. The biggest problem with the movie is that it can never live up to what your own mind visualizes. And it's actually pronounced 'Dunnich,' like Warwick Davis' name is pronounced 'Warrick.' It's a UK colloquial pronunciation that carried over into the New England states in the Colonial era.

[@kadajsnightqueen]

I’d strongly advise reading the original story here. “The Dunwich Horror” is one of Lovecraft’s best, right up there with “The Shadow Over Innsmouth” and “The Dreams in the Witch House,” and what’s depicted in the movie actually pales in comparison to the novella. Wilbur is waaay more disturbing and his twin plays a larger role, plus Lavinia and Wizard Whateley matter more to the overall plot. It’s a very creepy story even when rereading it for the 20th or so time, and while the film is disquieting in its own right, it’s a different flavor of suspense.

[@stevencowie7151]

How I love this one. Has about five words in it that HPL used, but whatever. Great duel to boot.

[@eamonmcdermott4032]

For a minute there, I thought he said 'naked to the elephants!'

[@PREPFORIT]

Great video If you ever have a chance visit mystery hill in New Hamoshire USA Lovecraft was inspired to write several novels there,

[@obsoleteelite8258]

I was very interested in seeing this for over a year and when I did, it did not disappoint. I was actually quite surprised by how good it was because I had listened to a lot of naysayer critics and viewers saying it wasn’t that good, but it was above average for me.

[@jessiedesmond82]

This is actually one of my favorite horror films, probably in my top 25. I think it had a lot of things working for it - good actors working with a decent script paired with good music from Les Baxter. If I was going to change anything, I think it would have been the tribal scenes depicting the old ones. I just think it could have been done in a more original way. It still works.

[@nevskislake]

My husband is a huge Lovecraft fan, and he thought this movie was okay. He would give a 6 or 7. I love the sandbox Lovecraft created, but his stories are often a bit too verbose for my taste, but I wound up really loving this film. The Dunwich Horror is one of his few stories that I actually like. The movie is a little slow at times, but I wound up giving this one an 8. I read a lot of gothic novels from the 60's, so maybe that's why this film worked so well for me. Thank you for your review, Daniel!

[@williamjackson6705]

A bit different from the original story but I've loved this one since the 1970s. Given the limited technology of the time they did a great job. Dean Stockwell & company gave great performances. Dean really showed how weird & dangerous Wilbur was. Talia Shire also shows up also.

[@scottbubb2946]

The original story is such a classic. To compare the movie with the book is, to me, like comparing the movie Jaws with something like Piranha 3. It's almost impossible to find a decent movie version of one of his stories. Don't get me wrong, there are several really good movies that are supposed to be based on Lovecraft's works. Dagon is an example of an excellent movie that doesn't have much to do with Lovecraft's short story of that name. It is actually based on The Shadow Over Innsmouth,... Or, at least, part of it is. Many of them are great as stand-alone films, but comparing them to anything he actually wrote is like apples and apples from outer space.

[@MetalNoir668]

Very nice video. "The Dunwich Horror" doesn't get much respect, but I really like it. For me, Dean Stockwell's signature role will always be Ben in "Blue Velvet": it's a brief but damaging, unforgettable sequence.

[@kenhardin22]

I'd really suggest reading the story. It's less flourid than much of HPL's writing and actually pretty pulpy and cinematic, except for a spolier about Wilbur I won't put here.

[@joanmayer304]

I loved this movie when I was young. I also read Lovecraft as not all of his stories have movie adaptations. I was afraid to stay anywhere near water (lakes, oceans) for years! 😀 I thought Dean Stockwell got more handsome as he got older. ❤️ from 🇨🇦

[@amb163]

I need to check this one out. I've read most of Lovecraft's mythos stories, but I find they're very hard to translate to film. "In the Mouth of Madness" is my favourite and captures the spirit of Lovecraft the best in my opinion.

[@cobwebschannel]

I love In the Mouth of Madness. Do you consider it an actual Lovecraft adaptation? Or just a movie inspired by him?

[@amb163]

@@cobwebschannel I’d say inspired, but there are an awful lot of points plucked from the pages of his stories. Closer than, say, “Event Horizon” but not as close to the original as the Nic Cage “Color out of Space.”

[@cobwebschannel]

Cool, thanks! I’ve always been curious about that.

[@nicholasbintner4677]

I absolutely love your channel, thank you for reviewing this movie. On a slight critique note, you always have "black frames" when you cut back and forth between you and film footage. Look up "disable resample" thank you for the content!😊

[@cobwebschannel]

Thanks! I never noticed that before, but I’m now looking into it.

[@davidlionheart2438]

Trust me, Dean Stockwell was very....very....very attractive and charming in "The Dunwich Horror", and in all his adult roles. His performance is also excellent as are those of the great Ed Begley, sr., Lloyd Bochner, and the legendary Sam Jaffe in a cameo. Regarding the effects, they were not limited by existing techniques, but by budget. The techniques certainly existed in 1970, but would have been quite a bit beyond an AIP budget.

[@user-hl3zk1sr4w]

….and yet there are tentacles on the cover you are holding!

[@susanmacdonald4288]

I haven't seen this one, but it's definitely worth a watch...I really like Dean Stockwell.

[@themysteriousunknownrevealed]

I just saw this for the first time a month ago. Enjoyed it. This was a great video Mr. Cobweb.

[@rickdrais9737]

One complaint- Lovecraft was an anglophile, so Dunwich would be pronounced Dun'ich. The W is silent in the British fashion. Just like Innsmouth would be pronounced Innsmuth. Well, actually another complaint would be that Lovecraft seldom included positive female characters, particularly as the hero. But Hollywood always changes things to make them palatable to a mass audience. The other changes, like Wilbur being normal looking instead of resembling a goat would fit in that category as well. Just sayin'. But the jump scare with the mother screaming directly into the camera is still effective. And god! What a fantastic soundtrack... Interesting that Talia Shire is a supporting character. Loved this movie as a kid

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

Yes,seeing Francis Coppola’s sister in this movie was a little surprising.

[@mlongpre100]

hey the docs' receptionist would , 6 years later , marry a boxer named Rocky

[@tskmaster3837]

I'm not a fan of the Dunwich Horror movie but I LOVE the story it's based upon. There are no Old Ones in the story as there are other high concepts and grand monsters at work in Dunwich. To describe the plot with as few spoilers as possible: Wilbur Whately is in only half the story. What's the other half? The Dunwich HORROR. "I wonder how they would portray the HORROR.... they didn't. Oh. WHY?!" 10:18 Tentacles, lol.. I so want to see Richard "Color Out of Space" Stanley CORRECTLY adapt the Dunwich Horror. There was news pre-Covid but I haven't anything since. Tentacles would have been BETTER...

[@ICONICPARIS]

I just read Sandra Dee refused to do the nude scene. That's why it isn't in the movie i guess. Her life ended quite horribly.

[@varanid9]

I find it hard to dislike this movie, but the '70s vibe doesn't work in its favor. Neither does the made-for-TV feel of the whole thing, even though it was rated R for the times.

[@elainethomas9737]

I always enjoyed this movie movie. I remember seeing this in one of those discount movie house in the 70's

[@Dalekzilla]

This is a decent adaptation, though they took considerable liberties with the characters. In the original story, Wilbur is a hulking hillbilly that has to wear baggy clothes to cover up his tentacles. I think H.P. would have approved of this one overall, as it captures the atmosphere he was going for in his story. The HPLS put out two really great Lovecraft adaptations some years back, an adaptation of Call of Cthulhu and one of The Whisperer in the Darkness. Both excellent. So are The Resurrected and Dagon. The most recent film based on Lovecraft's work, Suitable Flesh is perhaps the worst and most insulting unfortunately.....Lovecraft would have hated it.

[@thomaskummer9968]

Never heard about this. Sounds interesting. Thanks, Daniel. 🙋

[@chloedog73]

I just ordered Dunwich Horror. My favorite Lovecraft film adaptation is Dagon, what are the chances it’ll ever come out on 4K?

[@cobwebschannel]

I absolutely love Dagon, so that’s a great choice. It was released by Vestron, and none of their stuff has been upgraded to 4K yet, so I’m not expecting that anytime soon.

[@chloedog73]

⁠​⁠@@cobwebschannellove your channel btw 💜. You’ve definitely opened my eyes and turned me on to a ton of older horror movies. Thanks! 😊

[@cobwebschannel]

Hey, thank you!

[@rabidunion6949]

Personally, I really like this movie. I got to watch it when I was younger and it stuck with me. At the very least, I would recommend everybody watch the opening sequence with the music that is very haunting and the animations! LoL 🙂👍

[@ThomasGidley-kv2uj]

Saw this when it first came out and got an immediate crush on Sandra Dee.

[@redwillow79schippers94]

I liked this film. A little slow but never boring.

[@bobbyd.1890]

Definitely better than the sci-fi channel adaptation!

[@user-uq6zb4wn9d]

Great movie..i actually saw this in the theater when it was originally released..

[@difernandez4899]

I fell asleep on it three times. Still, I'm a fan of your videos....

[@btetschner]

x Watched Signs, great movie! o I thought the Phoenix Lights-style visuals on the news and the crop circles were great effects on the film, they added an element of classic Mysteries of the World to the movie. o The reaction of Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix) to the news of seeing that alien was worthy of an Oscar! o I pick out movie food of note (since I support Weird History and Weird History Food) and there was what I call Signs Spaghetti, where the spaghetti was in a section of the plate and the meat sauce was in a section above it (the two were not mixed). o I think it the element of not seeing the monster is highly effective and builds so much suspense! o Farmland Horror is very effective in the aspect that the characters might be very isolated from the outside world, the place that would potentially provide them with help and safety if they were confronted with horrors. † It also builds up the existential vibe when unskilled characters don't know what to do! x Speaking of twins...I received another comment from The Harp Twins after watching the premiere of the music video "Flower of Scotland." o I mentioned that I am a sociologist and that I specialize in groups, something which they responded to strongly. † Some of my favorite groups that I am part of is the 90s (90s Culture), the 80s (80s Culture - the authority on which is The Millers on the YT Channel Our 80s Life, easily the best I have ever seen or heard of), Doane Network (network of Doane University), and Halloween Society (though this group is in the earlier stages of development). x For the last day of the month, due to something coming up, I am going to cut down my watchlist to first Fright Night then Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. x I am going to watch The Iceman Cometh and hopefully Buried Alive today! x I added The Dunwich Horror and Gidget (always have wanted to watch this movie) to my August Watchlist!

[@EddieBloecher]

I'll bet Deliverance would have made Lovecraft craft in his pants!😂

[@Torgo-and-the-Lucifer-Cat]

Thanks. Saw it when I was 10, doesn't follow all of the book, mixed with 60's witch stuff, etc., but still good p.s., it's pronounced dun-itch, and there are also visual references to meteorites with energy. (On Wilbur's table) ❤❤❤

[@JamiJR]

I always find it funny that they insist on putting love interests in Lovecraft stories when the originals rarely had women in them at all.

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

Good point.

[@ICONICPARIS]

He does look very handsome

[@AVAPopCulture]

Great video! Ive always kinda had a love/"meh" relationship with lovecraft but Im trying to give him another full go...Im tracking down the Vinegar Syndrome From Beyond 4k with a slip but it is pricey - I may wait for the new 4k release of it from, I think it is 88 films maybe? But Im kinda impatient to watch it...never seen it and would love to hear your thoughts on it - is it a "must"?

[@cobwebschannel]

From Beyond is easily my favorite Lovecraft film, I’m a HUGE fan. I bet you’d dig it!

[@AVAPopCulture]

@@cobwebschannel you have just contributed to my declining bank account balance 🤣😂

[@cobwebschannel]

It’s what I do!! 😂

[@AVAPopCulture]

@@cobwebschannel Hey, other people blame me for it all the time, I figured I could pin it on someone else for a change 🤣

[@jsurovy]

It's a 70's thing. Look at Dean Stockwell and then compare him to other men in 70's movies. It was a different time.

[@cobwebschannel]

For some reason I feel like some other guys pulled it off better. Donald Sutherland comes to mind first.

[@danse777macabre]

The greatest Lovecraft adaptation no other comes close

[@timexi5704]

Love Re-animator, From Beyond, The Resurrected. However, when it comes to faithful adaptations, I would argue that The Call of Cthulhu (2005) takes the cake.

[@mlongpre100]

DAGON 2001

[@baronvonswankenstein]

“The Dunwich Horror” is actually a poor adaptation of Lovecraft. None of the themes that Lovecraft wrote about appear in this film. And little of Lovecraft’s story survives here too. The film is best characterized as a rip-off of “The Devil Rides Out” with Lovecraftian names and places. The good news is that “The Dunwich Horror” does this rip-off very well, feeling very much like a Hammer Studios adaptation of a Dennis Wheatley novel. And that is worth checking out.

[@deadpan80]

if you read the Lovercraft story than I think you'd find the movie more disappointing

[@GarrettFrechette]

Neat!

[@mrgeeization]

Dean Stockwell is so very hot. But not as hot as you, Daniel!

[@ignyup]

Read the story, the movie doesn't come NEAR to the horrors in the story. It is badly in need of a remake