The Dunwich Horror (film)

American International Pictures (AIP) originally announced a film version of Lovecraft's "The Dunwich Horror" in 1963.[7] Originally, AIP had conceived an international co-production of the film between the United States and Italy.[1] Daniel Haller, who was hired to direct, had previously directed several films for executive producer Roger Corman, including the motorcycle film Devil's Angels (1967).[8]

Commenting on the production, Haller noted that the production was partly inspired by the success of Rosemary's Baby (1968), but added, "We are not making a Gothic horror story. We want a much more contemporary image—one that will bring witchcraft and necromancy into an area of credibility, at least to some extent."[9]

Dean Stockwell and Sandra Dee in a publicity still for the film

Sandra Dee was cast in the lead role of Nancy in April 1969,[10] and paid $65,000 plus 5% of the profits.[11] The role was Dee's first major part after the lapse of her years-long contract with Universal Pictures, and she saw it as a notable change of pace in her career.[9][12] Dissatisfied with her previous work (Dee referred to her past 25 films with Universal as "all rotten"), she stated, "The reason I decided to do Dunwich was because I couldn't put the script down once I started reading it. I had read so many that I had to plow through, just because I promised someone. Even if this movie turns out be a complete disaster, I guarantee it will change my image."[9] However, Dee refused to be nude in the film's final sequence, which was written in the screenplay.[9]

Originally, Peter Fonda was cast in the role of Wilbur Whateley, but he backed out of the project and was replaced by Dean Stockwell.[13] Both Stockwell and Dee were former child actors.[12] This was the last film of actor Ed Begley, who died three months after its theatrical release.[14]

Principal photography of The Dunwich Horror took place in Mendocino County, California,[15] including the town of Little River, in the spring of 1969.[9] The sequences set at Arkham College were filmed in the philosophy department at the University of Southern California.[16]

The Dunwich Horror premiered in Chicago at the McVicker's Theater on January 14, 1970.[15] During its first week, it grossed $30,000.[15] The following week, on January 21, it opened in Los Angeles, then premiered in New York City on July 8 of that year.[15] It premiered in London on September 20, 1970 as a double bill with The Oblong Box (1969).[17] The film grossed $478,900 in 1970, per a May 12, 1971 report;[15] however, a report in Variety from January 1971 indicated a total of $1,043,000 in U.S. and Canadian rentals.[3]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 29% based on 7 reviews, with a rating of 4.5/10.[18]

Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times praised the film, describing it as a "truly engrossing film of the supernatural that has been made with sensitivity and skill," further commending its mood and atmosphere, as well as the performances of Dee and Stockwell.[19] John Duvoli of Cinefantastique noted that the film "is not Lovecraftian, but it is good technical film-making," also praising the special effects and score, but lambasting Dee's performance as ineffective.[13] Ann Guarino of the New York Daily News awarded the film two-and-a-half stars out of four, noting that "Director Daniel Haller keeps interest high in the proceedings, but cannot avoid a letdown for, after all, he is dealing with the unbelievable."[20]

Vincent Canby of The New York Times was less praiseful, writing that the film "has all the faults of Corman's various Poe adaptations (House of Usher, Pit and the Pendulum, The Masque of the Red Death), and very few of the virtues, with the exception of a beautifully Victorian interior set."[21] A reviewer for the Syracuse The Post-Standard was similarly unimpressed, writing that "aside from being a good old-fashioned B-horror film, The Dunwich Horror has nothing startling to offer and will likely find its way to the late, late show."[22] The Tampa Tribune's Sharon Cohen felt the film's special effects were unremarkable, and commented that all of the principal cast seemed out of place, "Ed Begley looks uncomfortable in his role... Sandra Dee, as the virgin, looks like a chubby coed whom someone found on a Hollywood movie lot. And Dean Stockwell, with his curly long hair, looks vaguely like a warlock, but never manages to exude enough scary charm to be a convincing villain."[23]

Dennis Schwartz from Ozus' World Movie Reviews gave the film a grade C, commending the film's eerie atmosphere, but criticized its uneven presentation, and found the film to be "dull and uninspiring."[24] Patrick Legare of AllMovie gave the film a mixed review, stating, "Everything about the film -- the performers, the hair styles, the psychedelic imagery, the music -- has late-'60s tackiness written all over it, which leaves it very dated and not very Lovecraftian."[25] TV Guide awarded the film 2/4 stars, calling it "[a] fairly successful attempt at adapting H.P. Lovecraft for the screen."[26] Ain't It Cool News gave the film a mixed review, commending the film's first half and Stockwell's performance, but criticized the second half as kitsch and badly written, with the final confrontation being especially ridiculous.[27] On his website Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings, Dave Sindelar stated that he disliked the changes to the film that departed from the original story, and criticized the performances, and underdeveloped characters. Sindelar also highlighted the handling of the film's monster as being effective and the only aspect he liked about the film.[28]

The film was released on DVD by MGM on August 28, 2001, and as part of a multi-disk set on September 11, 2001, then re-released as a double feature with Die, Monster, Die! on September 20, 2005.[29]

Scream Factory released the film as a double feature on Blu-ray with Murders in the Rue Morgue (1971) in 2016.[30]

The film received a deluxe reissue from Arrow Films on Blu-Ray with a new commentary track, featurettes focusing on the production, reactions to the film and how the film fits in with Lovecraftian mythology. The film was restored in 2K with a new scan of the original camera negative supplied by MGM.[31]