While Charles Band still produced this movie this was the first one of Stuart Gordan's Lovecraft movies not produced by Empire, but by Full Moon Studios and it was the first of Gordon's Lovecraft movies to not be in theatres, but rather direct to video. Which is a shame, because this movie looks like it deserves to be in theaters.
Based off the H.P. Lovecraft story "The Outsider". The movie once again stars Jeffery Combs and Barbara Crampton only this time they play a married couple...wait what? Hmm. I once heard of people using fictional mediums and characters as a meme known as relationship goals. In which certain movies or characters or other forms of media paint a picture of what one wants in a relationship. Maybe it's just me but the past three Gordon directed Lovecraft movies seem to put Jeffery Combs and Barbara Crampton in that setting. In Re-Animator, they were strangers that disliked each other. In From Beyond, they were more closer and intimate with each other....with the aid of an electrical device. Here they are married. However this isn't a happy marriage.
The movie takes place in Italy where Combs and Crampton play John and Susan Reily. An estranged married couple who along with their blind daughter, Rebecca visit a 12th Century Castle they inherited from a recently deceased duchess. When we see the couple alone together on the first night, John tries to be intimate with Susan, but is violently rejected. Susan blaming him for the death of their young son J.J. It wasn't until we get a glimpse of John's nightmare later on that we see why. It turns out that John is a recovering alcoholic whom decided to drive his kids home drunk. During a momentary distraction, they are run off the road by a truck and crash violently. The result of the accident costing Rebecca her sight and J.J. his life. Unlike most Gordon films, which have no qualms having over the top gore for comedic deaths, this was not only played dead serious; but thankfully we don't get to see what happened to the poor kid. However the look on John's face, in an amazing display of dramatic acting by Combs is enough to paint the picture of just how badly it was. As a result Susan is overprotective of Rebecca, much to her annoyance and always at the read to snap at John at the most tiniest of slights.
This has me at a catch 22 and I'll tell you why. On one hand, losing a child is the most tragic thing to ever happen to parent. It changes them for the worse, so it's hard not to blame Susan, for the way she's acting. However, the way she's acting regardless, really pisses me off. She treats it less like an accident and more like he deliberately murdered him and treats him as though he doesn't care, when the nightmare and scenes later show he does.
While John and Rebecca explore the castle, they discover the Duchess' room and John finds an old photo album while Rebecca wanders off and finds herself in the basement, she finds the Duchess' cat but loses it near a dungeon cell. She leaves, but unbeknownst to her a beast lurks within said dungeon. Who kills and eats the cat before escaping.
Once it escapes, it prowls around in Rebecca's room. Although she can't see it, she can hear it and tries to tell her parents. Susan doesn't believe her. John also doesn't believe her at first, but starts seeing not only signs that there is someone in the house, but he also believes that the creature may be the angry spirit of his dead son, after seeing a photo of a child that looks exactly like J.J.
After one fight too many John gets drunk and hires a prostitute for a one night stand. However the creature murders her and the castle maid, with the police and Susan thinking John did it.
John discovers however that the thing is actually a man named Giogrio. The son of the Duchess, who was angry at his father for leaving them for her sister. Said sister being John's mother, making Giogrio his half brother. The duchess spent the rest of her literal life torturing her son, until her heart gives out. Even going so far as castrating him. Upon realizing the truth, John escapes police custody to save Susan and Rebecca.
Meanwhile Gigogrio captures Rebecca and in a stunning moment of benevolence tries to tell her who he is, by showing her a picture of him. When he realizes she's blind, he decides to just rape and kill her instead. Susan comes in and distracts him, making it 3 for 3 of Crampton nude scenes in a Lovecraft movie with a monster. Luring him in so she can stab him and get Rebecca out of there. They hide in the Duchess room and he seems to lose them, but before he can leave he discovers a Cat O' Nine Tails whip in the room. The same one his mother tortured him with. He goes berserk and smashes everything in sight before finding them. When they get cornered on the roof, John comes in for the rescue and a fight between brothers ensues. Ending with John throwing himself off a roof, taking Giogrio with him. Before he dies, Susan finally forgives him.
I come to think of all three works as sort of an evolution. Where Re-Animator is a Horror Comedy. From Beyond is a Campy, but serious Horror film. This one however has no camp or comedy. It's a serious story about a father coming to terms with the loss of his son and there just happens to be a monster on the prowl. Combs anguish at J.J.'s death shows that he was more than just a hammy actor. That he can give a good dramatic performance when the situation calls it to come full force. Also after watching his fight with the monsterous Giogrio, I no longer question why he plays the Question. I now just regret he hasn't done a live action version. He would have done very well even if he was just mentoring Renee Montoya/Question II. Crampton also shows a great performance once again. Going from the nice, but traumatized Meg Halsey, to the well meaning but crazy Katherine McMichaels, to the distraught, angry mother that is Susan Riley. I believe that if given the chance, she'd be given as much range as Combs had. Not only that, but I was surprised to find this kind of performance on a Full Moon Produced movie. Granted Full Moon's stuff is entertaining regarding camp, but it's still shit when it comes to the more serious moments. However, with great directing, great casting and a hell of a story to tell, this movie may make me re-think that viewpoint and give other Full Moon productions.
The movie was remade in 2020 and while I haven't seen it fully yet, I do know that the story is drastically different. Not only that, but while Gordon's version has loose connections to his other movies, that lead me to believe they all take place in the same universe, the Remake seems to directly connect the stories together. As for how? Maybe I'll watch it and find out.
Until then, one more Gordon/Lovecraft movie to go. If you hear something prowling in your castle basement, it's most likely an abused relative of yours with a taste for cats and a hatred for whips. Or it could just be rats. Either way, stay safe.
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