[REVIEW] "Out of Mind: The Stories of H.P. Lovecraft"

[Donovan K. Loucks]

=== OUT OF MIND: THE STORIES OF H.P. LOVECRAFT ===

Starring: Art Kitching, Christopher Heyerdahl, Peter Farbridge,
Pierre LeBlanc, Michael Sinelnikoff, Sheena Larkin
Running Time: 56 minutes

I've heard many good things in the last year or so about the film "Out of
Mind: The Stories of H.P. Lovecraft." It's been shown numerous times on
Bravo in Canada but hasn't appeared here in the United States. (I got my
copy from a correspondent in Canada who purchased it at a video store in
Montreal -- more on this in a following message.) This film has been
referred to as a "documentary" numerous times, but it, like Lovecraft's
own fiction, blends fiction and fact to create an entirely fictional
Lovecraftian tale that just happens to give a considerable amount of
information about Lovecraft's life and work.

Randolph Carter (Art Kitching) turns twenty-seven and inherits a copy of
the _Necronomicon_ from his dead uncle, George Angell. In the book he
finds a photograph of his uncle and another of H.P. Lovecraft. Carter
finds out more about Lovecraft from his friend Blake (Peter Farbridge) --
who happens to work in a goth shoppe that sells Lovecraft books and
t-shirts -- and more about the _Necronomicon_ from Professor Henry
Armitage (Michael Sinelnikoff) -- who was once a student of Carter's
uncle. Reading the _Necronomicon_ and Lovecraft's fiction leads Carter on
an excursion into the world of dream in which he encounters Lovecraft
(Christopher Heyerdahl) face-to-face. The division between the dream
world and the real becomes unclear and by the end of the film neither
Carter nor the viewer is quite certain what the difference is between
"real things...and inward dreamings."

Director and writer Raymond Saint-Jean has borrowed elements from a number
of Lovecraft's stories, including "The Call of Cthulhu," _The Case of
Charles Dexter Ward_, "The Dunwich Horror," "The Haunter of the Dark,"
"Herbert West--Reanimator," "The Silver Key," and "The Statement of
Randolph Carter." In addition, extensive quotes from Lovecraft's letters
are included, delivered by Christopher Heyerdahl who sits at a desk before
a microphone and pontificates on a variety of subjects. These scenes are
filmed in black-and-white and sprinkled throughout the film, looking like
archival footage.

All the actors do a wonderful job. Art Kitching acts as a somewhat
befuddled Carter, puzzled by all the goings-on but sufficiently fascinated
that he always delves a bit deeper. Peter Farbridge plays Blake just far
enough over the top that we relish his crazier moments without finding
them too comical. Michael Sinelnikoff does a convincing job of playing
the elderly and erudite Professor Henry Armitage, speaking about the
_Necronomicon_ and the Cthulhu mythos as if it's a topic in which he's
well-versed.

But it is Christopher Heyerdahl's performance which upstages all the
others. Not only does Heyerdahl look quite a bit like Lovecraft (in fact,
from certain angles the likeness is uncanny), but he brings a charm and
empathy to the role that's wonderful to see. There are even a few
genuinely touching moments -- it's as if Lovecraft is alive again for a
few brief moments.

The production values, cinematography, and locations of the film are all
outstanding. There are numerous subtle touches -- like everyone opening
the Arabic _Necronomicon_ from the "back" -- that really show the care
taken in creating this film. Unfortunately, considering the subject
matter and the numerous references to things Lovecraftian, I doubt that
the general public would find this to be a particularly entertaining film.
I have to agree with J.B. Lee <stood...@aol.com> who wrote, "OUT OF MIND
is the Holy Grail to HPL fans and just another piece of surrealistic junk
to the rest of the benighted world." As a Lovecraft fan, I'd have to say
that this film is "out of sight."

A few more tidbits about this film can be found at:

http://www.telefilm.gc.ca/en/prod/tv/tv99/141.htm

Also, "The Lurker in the Lobby" review can be found at:

http://www.thelurker.com/tv/outofmind.htm

I'll be following up this message with another that gives details on how
to order a copy of this film online.

-------------------
Donovan K. Loucks <webm...@hplovecraft.com>
The H.P. Lovecraft Archive: http://www.hplovecraft.com
The alt.horror.cthulhu FAQ: ftp://ftp.primenet.com/users/d/dloucks/ahc

[Aaron Vanek]

The grapevine has it that "Out of Mind" will play at this year's HP
Lovecraft Film Festival in Portland, Oregon...possibly even bringing the
filmmakers as well.
http://www.hplfilmfestival.com

So if you're thinking of making a trip somewhere this October, think of
Oregon, where you can see the "Holy Grail" of HPL fans in a dark theater
on the BIG SCREEN.

Aaron Vanek
"Return to Innsmouth" now available on video:
http://www.beyond-books.com/productions/innsmouth
in pre-production on "The Yellow Sign"
(screenplay by John Tynes)

[Akab]

Hi Donovan,
thanks for the information about OUT OF MIND!
Can I translate your review and to publish it in the next issue of my
italian amateur magazine CTHULHU NEWS?

Pietro Guarriello
Pineto, ITALY

[Donovan K. Loucks]

Pietro,

You wrote,

thanks for the information about OUT OF MIND! Can I translate your
review and to publish it in the next issue of my italian amateur
magazine CTHULHU NEWS?

Be my guest, Pietro! I'm glad it will be of use to you. By the way, were
you aware that H.R. Giger -- of "Alien" fame -- provided the illustrations
for the second issue of Robert Baru Fischer's "The Ctulhu [sic] News" in
1968? Apparently, this was Giger's first exposure to Lovecraft's works!

[I posted this to alt.horror.cthulhu in the hopes that you'd see it since
the e-mail I sent to your address -- sm...@tin.it -- bounced back to me.]