Friday, October 10, 2008

Dreams in the Witch House

Masters of Horror Episode directed by Stuart Cohen (Reanimator, Dagon)

(2006) ***




Here are previous reviews from Octopunk, Julie, and JPX. They are not nearly as kind. I would actually suggest going with Octo's review as he is the resident Lovekraft expert.

I wasn’t aware that this was an HP Lovekraft story but it makes perfect sense in retrospect. A grad student with little money is forced to rent a crappy-assed apartment like the one I used to rent in Pawtucket from a heartless, slovenly slum lord (sporting the obligatory wife-beater and all). Walter soon strikes up a friendship with his single mom neighbor after saving her from a nasty rat attack. That’s right – a rat attack. Is there anything more traumatizing than having your foot nibbled on by a big, fat rat with a long pink tail? Yuck, I say! Anyway his other less attractive neighbor is an elderly spiritual fellow who spends an unhealthy amount of time banging his head repeatedly against a table. He’s just plain crazy. Or is he? Crazy-old-man-or-is-he takes Walter aside and politely instructs him to beware of the witch in the building who has diabolical plans for him. Oh, and the witch has a man-faced rat at her disposal to do her evil bidding.

I haven’t read the short story (so I really have no business reviewing this) but it was one twisted little yarn - and ideal for the one hour time constraint. It boasted some nice grossness and a couple of “oh-no-they-didn’t!” moments. The depiction of the man-rat could have been a disaster but the magical hands of Stuart Gordon handled it perfectly. Methinks that’s why he is deemed a “master of horror”.

8 comments:

DKC said...

Is it a man-rat, or a man-faced rat? Methinks therein lies the distinction of whether or not it is scary.

Whirlygirl said...

My roommate lived in Africa for two years and had rats crawling all over her house (if you want to call it that). She said they ran above her head on the rafters, and would often tear her stuff to shreds.

On another topic. How many one hour movies are we allowed to watch?

Johnny Sweatpants said...

Rats are awful, despicable creatures.

To answer you question Whirly - five.

Catfreeek said...

I haven't watched any 1 hour movies yet, I have a couple in my queue but I keep putting them off cause methinks I would be cheating somehow.

Johnny Sweatpants said...

It ain't cheating Catfreeek. It was mutually agreed upon by all participants in the year of our lord two thousand six. If you end up losing because of foolish pride then it's your own damn fault! 'Cuz JPX will do whatever it takes to win, believe you me! (That's another expression that gets on my tits..)

Octopunk said...

It's a man-faced rat, and one of the reasons I disliked this movie was that nobody ever stepped on the little fuck.

Catfreeek said...

Alright, alright I'll watch some one hour movies Jeez!

DKC said...

"(That's another expression that gets on my tits..)"

Gets on my tits?!? I'm not so sure about that expression!

Malevolent

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