Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown

Frank H. Woodward's 2008 documentary covers the life of H. P. Lovecraft and the effect of his writing on later generations. He was barely known while alive, published in cheap magazines and died poor; today he is among the most cited names in horror literature. The film tries to explain that contradiction through the losses of his childhood, his preoccupation with illness and a philosophy that found the universe meaningless. Neil Gaiman, John Carpenter, Guillermo del Toro and Ramsey Campbell describe his influence. Its most notable section addresses his racism directly; the speakers do not skate past it and argue about its relation to the work. The presentation is traditional, built on talking heads and illustration. Who it's for: viewers who like horror literature and documentaries about writers. Who it's not for: anyone expecting visual invention; the presentation runs flat.