H P Lovecraft and The Thing

Ziggy KinsellaH P Lovecraft, Horror Writing

H. P. Lovecraft is considered one of the most influential writers in the horror genre of the last century. His unique blend of cosmic horror and science fiction has had a lasting impact on many modern writers and his ideas and themes continue to be explored and celebrated even today.

One of Lovecraft’s most important contributions to the horror genre was his essay “Supernatural Horror in Literature,” in which he outlined his theories on the nature of horror writing. He argued that true horror should not be derived from gore or physical violence, but rather from a sense of cosmic dread and the revelation of humanity’s insignificance in the face of the vast and uncaring universe.

Some of Lovecraft’s most recognized stories that exemplify this type of horror include “The Call of Cthulhu,” in which a man discovers the existence of an ancient and powerful being that threatens to destroy humanity. Another is “The Shadow Over Innsmouth,” in which the protagonist discovers a sinister and inhuman community living in a small New England town.

Many writers have been influenced by Lovecraft’s ideas and themes over the years. Stephen King, for example, has cited Lovecraft as a major influence on his own work, and has even written a story, “Jerusalem’s Lot,” that is set in the same fictional universe as some of Lovecraft’s stories. Other authors, such as Neil Gaiman and China Miéville, have also been influenced by his work.

Lovecraft in Film

In film, Lovecraft’s influence can be seen in a number of productions, such as:

  • “Re-Animator” (1985) directed by Stuart Gordon, starring Jeffrey Combs, Bruce Abbott
  • “The Dunwich Horror” (1970) directed by Daniel Haller, starring Sandra Dee, Dean Stockwell
  • “The Thing” (1982) directed by John Carpenter, starring Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley
  • “In the Mouth of Madness” (1994) directed by John Carpenter, starring Sam Neill, Julie Carmen
  • “The Call of Cthulhu” (2005) directed by Andrew Leman
  • “The Color Out of Space” (2019) directed by Richard Stanley, starring Nicolas Cage, Joely Richardson
  • “Dagon” (2001) directed by Stuart Gordon, starring Ezra Godden, Francisco Rabal
  • “The Whisperer in Darkness” (2011) directed by Sean Branney
  • “The Haunter of the Dark” (2016) directed by Chris Nyby II
  • “The Shadow Over Innsmouth” (2018) directed by Andrew Leman

All of these films draw on Lovecraftian themes and the enduring idea that we are insignificant in the face of the vast and uncaring universe. They often feature monstrous, otherworldly beings that threaten to destroy humanity.

H. P. Lovecraft’s unique blend of otherworldly fiction has had a lasting impact on the horror genre and continues to do so today. His ideas and themes have been explored by writers and filmmakers including John Carpenter.

The Thing

John Carpenter’s 1982 film “The Thing” is widely considered to be one of the most influential horror films of the last century and is often cited as an example of Lovecraftian horror. The film, which tells the story of a group of scientists and soldiers who are terrorized by a shape-shifting alien creature, draws heavily on the themes and ideas first developed by H.P. Lovecraft.

One of the main ways in which Lovecraft’s influence is shown in “The Thing” is through the depiction of the alien creature. It is able to take on the form of any living organism it comes into contact with and is both vast in its threat and unfathomable in the damage that it might do to human kind. The creature is motivated purely by survival, taking over living organisms including humans. This is a common theme in Lovecraft’s work, and it is evident in the way the creature is portrayed as an almost god-like being that is beyond the understanding or control of the human characters.

Another way in which Lovecraft’s influence is shown in “The Thing” is through the film’s atmosphere of paranoia and isolation. The film takes place in a remote research station in Antarctica where the characters are cut off from the rest of the world and are forced to confront the creature on their own. This sense of isolation and confinement is a key element of Lovecraft’s work, and it is used to great effect in “The Thing” to create a sense of claustrophobia and fear.

Additionally, the themes of the unknown and the unknowable which are present in Lovecraftian stories, are also developed in the film. The characters are never quite sure who or what the creature is, and the film leaves many questions unanswered, adding to the sense of unease and uncertainty for the audience.

You can now read a copy of Lovecraft’s amazing essay Supernatural Horror in Literature on the Rules of Gruesome website here.

What’s your favourite writer’s novel or story that was influenced by H P Lovecraft? Answers in the box below.