Halloween!

Today we are going to watch a movie based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft. Before you do, take a moment to look at this brief bio.

H. P. Lovecraft
(1890-1937)

Hailed as the 20th century Poe, H. P. Lovecraft wrote fantasy and horror in the best tradition of Poe, Blackwood, Dunsany, Hodgson, Stoker, and Machen. He was a contemporary friend or mentor to such authors as Robert E. Howard (Conan), August Derleth, Robert Bloch (Psycho), and many other regular contributors to the pulp magazine Weird Tales. Lovecraft singled out the best elements in the work of his literary anscestors and blended these into a unique style of his own -- a style that has, in turn, had many imitators and many more admirers throughout the world, including horror writers Stephen King, Clive Barker, Brian Lumley, Neil Gaiman, and Joyce Carol Oates. Lovecraft's style was in a twilight area between horror and science fiction, an area that Lovecraft excelled and made his contribution to the world of literature: an area he called "cosmic horror."

As extra credit (and for your own benefit), you may wish to peruse the link leading to Lovecraft's writing and read a few short stories. My favorites are: The Lurking Horror, The Whisperer in Darkness, and, of course, The Call of Cthulhu (probably his best known work). After reading a few samples, try your own hand at writing a "cosmic horror" story.