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In the modern age, Lovecraftian or eldritch horror has become more and more popular, with increasing numbers of films representing this particular subgenre of scary movie. Named after the works of H.P. Lovecraft, Lovecraftian horror refers to stories that lean on the specific tropes emblematic of the writer's work, including forbidden knowledge, cosmic dread, the insignificance of humanity, and creatures or entities that exist outside the boundaries of human perception. Also referred to as eldritch horror, this particular brand of scary movie has become incredibly popular in recent years.

The best Lovecraftian horror films delve heavily into the themes of Lovecraft's original works, or at least have a superficial surface-level relation to them on the grounds of imagery like Cthulu, the cephalopod-like entity and famous horror antagonist. Some eldritch horror movies are direct adaptations of Lovecraft's stories, whereas others simply take heavy inspiration from the genre while still ultimately creating something new.

No filmmaker has been more successful at bringing the work of H.P. Lovecraft to the screen than Stuart Gordon, and perhaps no Stuart Gordon film is more successful at adapting Lovecraft than 2001’s Dagon. It may not be as focused and entertaining as Re-Animator, the first Lovecraft adaptation from Gordon and screenwriter Dennis Paoli, nor is it as wild and colorfully gory as their second, From Beyond, but Dagon gets at the spirit of Lovecraft more faithfully than their more popular and better-known efforts. It may just be the most Lovecraftian movie ever made.

Adapted from Lovecraft’s 1931 novella The Shadow Over Innsmouth, Dagon casts Ezra Godden as Paul, a stockbroker vacationing in Spain with his girlfriend (Birgit Bofarull) and some friends, when a storm hits and destroys their boat. Paul and his girlfriend are brought to a small fishing village called Imboca, and, while searching for the rest of their missing party,...