Reviews

Spectacular adaptation of one of HPL's better known shorts which he considered one of his best works and which has been done and done again before (Colour from the Dark, Di Farbe, the Curse). The CGI in this movie is excellent and in particular, the sequence near the end where the home world of the entity is shown for a short time - writhing masses, strange machinery, tendrils, gloom under a black sun, foreboding - absolutely epic and true to what HPL would have envisaged in his mired imagination.

The soundtrack is also exceptional, as is most of the acting. And Tommy Chong is in it as a hermit philosopher stoner type with pounding psychedelic 1970's music emanating from his hut. Overall, there is no doubt in my mind that this is the best adaptation of any of HPL's stories yet, by far, and I've seen them all - having been an aficionado of the mythos since my early life back in the 1960's. This director has done an amazing job of bringing this most difficult of concepts to the screen and I wait for more from him and his team.

A final word. One of the reviewers gave this movie a poor score based partly on a perceived similarity with Annihilation. Well, the similarity is because Annihilation, just like the Blob and many others, was influenced by HPL's 1927 story and this movie is a faithful adaptation of that same story. And, Annihilation was also an excellent movie - as is this movie.

Who would have thought Brad had the range of emotional response and method acting abilities to squeeze a tear out - think of something sad Brad. I'm coming to like Brad Pitt more and more the older he gets and the more life experience he puts under his belt. Fantastic acting by him in this beautifully done techno-melodrama and by TLJ as well in what must surely be one of his last major roles in his long and successful life - not to mention the almost cameo by Donald Sutherland.

All the acting in fact was spot on. Some new faces especially the Mars-bound Captain with the melodic and almost mesmerising speaking voice. The CGI is impeccable and something to behold - from the incredible scenes at the very outset, to the detailed space craft interiors and finally to the truly amazing vastness of space and the monstrously beautiful gas giants.

The only bone I have to pick, and it's a small one, is the ridiculously short time it took for the craft to venture from Mars to Neptune - some 79 days if I recall correctly. The average distance between Mars and Neptune is 4.3 billion km, which over 79 days means an average velocity of 2.3 million km/hr or 630 km/second. I doubt we will have this sort of velocity at our fingertips in the next 50 years let alone the next century. The Parker Space Probe used gravity slings to get up to 95km/sec last year - from 95 to 630 is more than a quantum leap, using what is evidently brute force chemical tech. Also, when the Neptune bound space craft traverses Jupiter it does it far too quickly even taking into account perspective. These are areas where good science advisers would have come in handy.

Notwithstanding, these are minor issues and this movie is a must see. Big screen only - when it's out on DVD do NOT see it on anything less than a 65 inch screen, that would be putting pearls before swine.

I watched this a few years ago and very recently watched it again. A short movie, made with limited budget, and I wish only that this producer would produce more movies or even expand on the ghastly old Gods theme explored so well herein.

I note the very low review rating. Rubbish. This short movie has it all - ancient evil in the middle eastern deserts, an acolyte willing to spill blood - others and ultimately his own; and the lore of the ancient eddas on which all is based, including the bible (old testament) - and much more, crammed into the limited screen time. The only negative aspect in my view was the intrusive, rude and stereotypical detective who, if it were me, would have been told unceremoniously to get his scungy out of my property and never come back unless with a search warrant.

For those with a bent for Laird Barron, HPL - those types of scenarios - catch this movie if possible. You won't regret it.