Today Scream Factory is releasing a very exciting double feature for all the Poe/Lovecraft fans. For the first time on Blu-ray, comes the AIP titles Murders in the Rue Morgue and The Dunwich Horror. Derided in their first release as something of cheap ‘pulp fiction’ cash in’s, even by one of the film’s directors. I found both these films to be exciting Genre time capsules and am delighted that they have been preserved; let’s have a look:
If you’re familiar with the Edgar Allan Poe story then you have not had this film spoiled for you. The film’s plot shares nothing with the original tale and in fact uses the source material in what we would today call a ‘meta’ way. Jason Robards plays the Director Cesar Charron whose theater is performing a stage production of ‘The Murders in the Rue Morgue’ when someone begins murdering his cast with acid.
The director states in interviews that he felt that since the original story was already known that he had to find a way to spin a fresh tale that would surprise the audience. This anecdote and others are included on the disc in a brief but insightful ‘making of’ featurette that is carried over from an earlier DVD release. Also included is an audio commentary by film historian Steve Haberman and a theatrical trailer. The version of the film in this release is the 98 minute Director’s cut.
This film is closer to its original H.P. Lovecraft tale, though not a great deal. Nancy is a student at Miskatonic University, in possession of the famed Necronomicon when young Wilbur Whateley (played by a suave, young Dean Stockwell) comes around asking to see it. She gives him a ride home and ends up spending the weekend in a house of madness and monsters. The whole film has a heavy 60’s psychedelic Technicolor influence throughout and an entrancing score by Les Baxter. It’s much less Lovecraftian and much more like some of the trippier episodes of Star Trek.
The transfer really brings out all the bright colors of the film but it’s worth noting that there is a slight camera flicker at points. This is only in certain shots so it’s likely just a problem with the camera negative. For extras all that is included in another audio commentary by Steve Haberman and the theatrical trailer.
Adam Ruhl is a writer and life long Cinephile. He is the Executive
Cinema Editor of Pop Culture Beast’s Austin branch; covering festivals,
conventions, and new releases. When not filing reports, Adam can be
found stalking Alamo Drafthouse Programmers for leads on upcoming
DrafthouseFilms titles. Adam once blocked Harry Knowles entrance to a
theater until he was given extra tickets to a Roman Polanski movie.