The Evil Clergyman (1987) H.P Lovecraft horror short

lostinlimbo
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The Evil Clergyman (1987) H.P Lovecraft horror short Jul 20, 2017 8:43:54 GMT stefancrosscoe likes this

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Post by lostinlimbo on Jul 20, 2017 8:43:54 GMT

On the "Castle Freak" blu-ray I picked up recently, as an additional extra was the horror short "The Evil Clergyman". Originally it was shot for the Charles Band anthology "Pulse Pounders", but the original negative was lost. Until a couple years ago a VHS workprint was found. This along with "Trancers: City of Lost Angels" were separately released.

This strangely demented, luridly sexual and straight-faced short film is a very loose H.P. Lovecraft adaptation by "From Beyond" scriber Dennis Paoli. A young woman returns to the castle residence of her deceased lover, a bedeviled clergyman who committed suicide. While trying to make peace with his memory, she is visited by him, as she becomes seduced and haunted by his despicable acts.

Directed by Charles Band, mainly in one location consisting of a rich unfathomable dreamlike atmosphere, where the performances do take over. Starring the likes of Barbara Crampton, Jeffrey Combs, David Warner and you won't be forgetting anytime soon David Gale dressed up as a foul mouth spewing human-face rodent (Brown Jenkins) designed by John Carl Buechler. While its technical handling is basic, stripped to the bone, yet this hypnotic, lax short is just too weird and perverse to pass up the curiosity.

At the time it was made, it would've been interesting to see what the likes of Stuart Gordon, or even Brian Yunza could've brought to the fold after "Re-Animator" & "From Beyond".

Last Edit: Jul 20, 2017 9:16:27 GMT by lostinlimbo

"Oh, there will be a day of reckoning for you, non-believer! A totalling of sums and a snapping of necks, and you will count yourself among the damned"!

stefancrosscoe
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The Evil Clergyman (1987) H.P Lovecraft horror short Jul 20, 2017 12:29:40 GMT lostinlimbo likes this

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Post by stefancrosscoe on Jul 20, 2017 12:29:40 GMT

Thanks for this very interesting tip, lostinlimbo.

I will have to check this one out, as I really enjoyed seeing Barbara and Jeffrey together on the screen as they had a great chemistry going between them, and I always liked her screams, absolute one of the finest scream queens of the 80s.
I had never heard about this title, until today that is, so again thanks for heads up.

For it is written: the inhabitants of the Earth have been made drunk with her blood. And I saw her sent upon a hairy beast and she held forth a golden chalice full of the filthiness of fornications. And upon her forehead was written: "Behold I am the great mother of harlots and all abominations of the Earth."

lostinlimbo
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The Evil Clergyman (1987) H.P Lovecraft horror short Jul 22, 2017 12:48:39 GMT

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Post by lostinlimbo on Jul 22, 2017 12:48:39 GMT

Yeah, this came as a surprise for me too. Very much worth-the-look if you're a fan of the stars, or even Stuart Gordon's films. At only 28 mins long, action and effects are limited with more of a focus on moody atmospherics and performances. Almost like watching a stage-play.

"Oh, there will be a day of reckoning for you, non-believer! A totalling of sums and a snapping of necks, and you will count yourself among the damned"!