Rating: 
Summary: Another less than stellar film version of H. P. Lovecraft
Review: "The Dunwich Horror" is an improvement over director Daniel Haller's first film adaptation of a H. P. Lovecraft story, "Die, Monster, Die!," but is still only an average horror film at best. The story is of Lavinia Whateley (Joanne Moore Jordan), the crazed daughter of a wizard (San Jaffe), who gives birth to twins. One of the the twins, Wilbur (Dean Stockwell), becomes a wizard who wants to borrow Miskatonic University's copy of the "Necromonicon" to unlock the gates of the other dimension where the Old Ones dwell. The other one is a monstrosity that looks more like its father and is locked down in the family dungeon (let your imagination run wild, it will do much better than the special effects here). Professor Armitage (Ed Begley) refuses to help Wilbur, who charms Nancy Wagner (Sandra Dee), a young librarian into returning with him to his home, where he proceeds to drug her and involve her in weird rituals that smack more of the psychedelic Sixties than Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. Of course the beastie in the basement is released and there is a confrontation involving much magic between Wilbur and the Professor. Certainly Lovecraft deserves much better in films than we have seen so far. Considered by many to be superior to Poe, Lovecraft is still waiting for someone to come along in films and do for him what Roger Corman and Vincent Price did for Poe. The main problem here is the script, which gives some rather talented actors nothing to do. Lovecraft's story of ancient horror and interdimensional monsters is reduced to standard black magic nonsense. "The Dunwich Horror" almost received an "X" rating, although the film's sexual content is laughable by contemporary standards. This DVD gives you the widescreen version of this 1969 film but nothing else.
Rating:
Summary: Another less than stellar film version of H. P. Lovecraft
Review: "The Dunwich Horror" is an improvement over director Daniel Haller's first film adaptation of a H. P. Lovecraft story, "Die, Monster, Die!," but is still only an average horror film at best. The story is of Lavinia Whateley (Joanne Moore Jordan), the crazed daughter of a wizard (San Jaffe), who gives birth to twins. One of the the twins, Wilbur (Dean Stockwell), becomes a wizard who wants to borrow Miskatonic University's copy of the "Necromonicon" to unlock the gates of the other dimension where the Old Ones dwell. The other one is a monstrosity that looks more like its father and is locked down in the family dungeon (let your imagination run wild, it will do much better than the special effects here). Professor Armitage (Ed Begley) refuses to help Wilbur, who charms Nancy Wagner (Sandra Dee), a young librarian into returning with him to his home, where he proceeds to drug her and involve her in weird rituals that smack more of the psychedelic Sixties than Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. Of course the beastie in the basement is released and there is a confrontation involving much magic between Wilbur and the Professor. Certainly Lovecraft deserves much better in films than we have seen so far. Considered by many to be superior to Poe, Lovecraft is still waiting for someone to come along in films and do for him what Roger Corman and Vincent Price did for Poe. The main problem here is the script, which gives some rather talented actors nothing to do. Lovecraft's story of ancient horror and interdimensional monsters is reduced to standard black magic nonsense. "The Dunwich Horror" almost received an "X" rating, although the film's sexual content is laughable by contemporary standards. This DVD gives you the widescreen version of this 1969 film but nothing else.
Rating:
Summary: so nearly a classic, yet so far
Review: a wonderful credits sequence showing the hooded figures known in the film as 'the old ones' preparing to enter our dimension heralds an atmospheric, psychadelic rosemaries baby/ninth gate esque tale...
great score and colours as well as some good actors... but, but, but... ghastly ending, why don't we get to see the old ones?? why does Ed Begley spouting a bit of mumbo jumbo save the day? why don't we get to see the old ones so marvelously hinted at in the beginning? And finally, why don't we get to see the old ones?? could have been so much better, but is entertaining, smooth and colourful as it is (if as daft as most of its genre) and much better than its reputation
Thrid best of these midnight movies after 'It!' and 'theatre of Blood'
Rating: 
Summary: recommended - a good fun gothic horror
Review: As a gothic style horror this little film has about everything anybody could want - excluding violence. Granted for the most part it is not very scary, and is sometimes campy and there are plot elementes that don't make sense. Here are the positives Sandra Dee is beautiful in a good girl kind of way.
Dena Stockwell is sinister cool and creepy and ultimately deranged.
Ed Bagley Sr. gives the film an added dimension of credibility.
Sam Jaffe as the wanabe warlock Dad is perfectly cast. Jaffe plays his character as if he were Mosses or John the Baptist
Even a young pretty Talia Shire is thrown in for good measure.
Not a bad cast by any standards!
There is a wonderfull, creepy haunted house backdrop.
Lots of fun supernatural mumbo jumbo delivered as if in normal every day conversation for these folks.
Extremely colorful photography, sets, location shots and special effects.
There is welcome humor.
Excellent production values that are far far superior to other horror films of its ilk.
Most of the effects are achieved by lighting and the use of intentional coloring in the sets and costumes from pure whites of the insane asylum to deep purples greens, blues, and reds in Wilber's home - quite possibly this film influenced the latter styles of Dario Argento and Sam Reme.
Very neat colored strobe-light special effects look great in very dark room.
Dynamite music score and wonderful cartoon opening credits gives the impression your about to see something important.
To top it all off MGM did a fantastic job on this one. The picture is absolutely perfect clean crisp clear, like it was made yesterday. The only complaint is that the sound is in Dolby mono although very good ' this film absolutely deserves a 5 channel surround sound. It would add immensely to the atmosphere and special effects This film is fun creepy and atmospheric. But be warned if you are into blatant nudity , gore violence, blood, carnage and visible rubber monsters in your horror you will be disappointed. It has none of those elements. Lets face it The H P Lovecraft book if copied verbatim would have come across as ridiculous on film - Wilber with suction cups and tentacles? And a giant egg shaped monster roaming the country and no beautiful babe needing to be saved? Ill take this instead.
Rating:
Summary: "When the (4) stars are right . . ."
Review: As Chad Edwards remarked in his review, this movie has taken a lot of heat over the years, especially from picky Lovecraft freaks. Well, I'm a picky Lovecraft freak myself, and I find this filmed adaptation of one of my favorite HPL tales quite entertaining, if at times a little incomprehensible (why does Old Whately suddenly try to stop Wilbur from opening the gates to Yog-Sothoth when it was his idea in the first place? Sounds like a last-minute script rewrite to me). Sandra Dee has also been abused for her performance in this film, and I have to ask why? Given the parameters of her role, she enacts it well. She seems the perfect victim, and her "good-girl" image made her (body-doubled) semi-nude scenes shocking at the time (think Alyssa Milano's lesbian scenes in the laughably bad EMBRACE OF THE VAMPIRE). Obviously this aspect is less effective today, but her performance holds up well. The cast is uniformly good, especially the always-reliable Lloyd Bochner and Sam Jaffe. Ed Begley, father of the inventor of the electric car (just kidding!) makes a fine Armitage, although I wish the writers gave him some of that aged intellectual heroism that HPL described so well. His ability to save the day is a little perfunctory, reducing the menace a bit. But the film is Dean Stockwell's from start to finish. His intense, slightly glazed eyes always seem to be seeing another world. He handles the Manson-styled rewrite of the character with sardonic, arrogant aplomb. If this film were made nowadays, a visually-accurate Wilbur could be made with mechanized prosthetics and CGI effects. Wilbur's human form is a bit of a letdown, admittedly, but better that than a really cheesy bogeyman costume (think MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR, made not many years prior to this by Corman). The slightly-distorted views of cultists proceeding in solemn procession against the rocky skyline while Wilbur reads from the Necronomicon are nicely done, although later closeups of the body-painted 60's-style celebrants are sometimes unintentionally wacky. And Lex Baxter's main title is nicely ominous and foreboding, especially coupled with the brilliant animated credits by Sandy Dvorak. The Horror itself --- mostly invisible, as per the text --- is nicely handled, usually seen as a wave of invisible force flattening the grass and rippling the surface of the water. The inserted shots of the visible creature are quick (and I mean QUICK) cutaways to obscure the limited mobility of the model. If this film were remade, this could be better handled, but the shots gain some much-needed credibility from the electronic chirping on the soundtrack (although it does rather remind me of Ghidrah's vocalizations!) All in all, the movie is flawed but fun. Admittedly it would have been stronger if they'd followed HPL's plot more closely, but much, MUCH worse has been done in Lovecraft's name. Try sitting through CTHULHU MANSION, THE UNNAMEABLE or NECRONOMICON: BOOK OF THE DEAD, and you'll gain an instant appreciation of THE DUNWICH HORROR. HPL fanatics should lighten up a little, and enjoy this for what it is.
Rating: 
Summary: Opening credits were the best part, unfortunately
Review: Creepy, moody thriller is not bad, but loses points due to a closing sequence wildly open to various interpretations. Just who lived, died, or was shunted off to another dimension, anyway? As with all MGM's "Midnite Movies" entries, it was fun checking out this lesser-known genre flick from years past, but I'm afraid that "Pit and the Pendulum" and "The Fall of the House of Usher" remain the lone undisputed greats that the label has thus far put forth for our enjoyment. Okay, "Theatre of Blood" wasn't that bad, either.
Rating:
Summary: I can't believe I liked this film
Review: Especially because of the negative reviews this film received. Admittedly I'm not familiar with the works of H.P. Lovecraft, but I do enjoy low-budget films that often avoid the Hollywood cliches that are often found in those overbudgeted blockbusters (such as Spielberg or Lucas). The acting is downright hilarious here! Especially Dean Stockwell, playing Wibur Whately, with his dated hairstyle and mustache. I really love his obsessive, emotionless behavior, as he so desparately wants this book called the Necronomicon, which was kept locked behind glass at an imaginary university. Wilbur desperately wanted that book to open up the gates from another dimension. Sandra Dee (once married to singer Bobby Darin), who was previous known for playing innocent teens in films like A Summer Place or Gidget, plays Nancy Wagner who gets seduced by Wilbur, by drugging her tea, in order that she be used as a sacrificial victim. Throughout the film, you hear strange sounds, psychedelic effects, and silly music played on Moog synthesizer, harpsichord, and Theramin. There really isn't getting around the fact this film is from 1970. Also of note was it was made by American International, which had not only made low-budget horror flicks, but Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello beach flicks (Beach Party, Muscle Beach Party, Beach Blanket Bingo). Somewhere you'll find the sister of director Francis Ford Coppola (Talia Coppola, also known as Talia Shire) playing Nurse Cora, assistant to Dr. Cory. Many people have complained that the film goes at a slow pace, I hadn't really noticed that myself, in fact I had little problem watching the whole movie in one go. Still, despite the actors and the acting, I find it actually quite a good movie.
Rating:
Summary: Is Prince Iaukea Really In His Fifties?
Review: For a slow afternoon, this isn't bad - consider: Dean Stockwell doing the most amazing eye riffs outside of gay softcore. Lloyd Bochner, once again blowing a chance to become the American Christopher Lee. Talia Coppola Shire, two years before the Godfather - a complete fox. !!!Actual Sandra Dee nudity!!! (Not the second time she crawls up on the slab, the first. Don't blink.) And work through the credits at imdb - they CLAIM the guard who gets a spear through the lower tract from Dean Stockwell in the museum is Prince Iaukea! I'm dubious - that'd make the Prince in his early fifties now, but let's go along with the gag. Yes, the fx were pure cheese, but, hey, Corman was the executive producer, and this was 1970, folks. EAP and HPL adaptations were usually nothing more than the title and a baked-from-scratch script. I saw it new, and was pleasantly surprised that the Other Twin was NOT just a wind machine and flashing lights.
Rating:
Summary: Loosely Based on Lovecraft's Work!
Review: I think before seeing this film I recommend that you read H.P Lovecraft's the Dunwich Horror first just to see all the inconsistencies of the film. This film had a few style points except the psychodelic vision prospectives. Definitely a sixties film. The acting was terrible and unintentionally funny. It's a wonder why MST3K missed this film. There are some obvious points where you can royally rip this film a new one. As it stands it's okay. But there are instances where this film could've been geniunely creepy, yeah perhaps if Lynch directed it. Rent and for goodness sakes read the actual story.
Rating: 
Summary: Yog-Sothoth and a hot chick---yeah, baby, yeah
Review: I thought this movie ruled. Okay, maybe it strayed from the story a bit, by taking a nine-foot tall alien freak and turning him into Dean Stockwell, and by adding a very hot Sandra Dee, but they at least tried. This is the only instance of movie exploitation, I think, that wouldn't have cause H.P. Lovecraft to roll over in his grave. And maybe Wilbur's star-spawned twin brother was a little goofy, but I thought it had that kind of rubber-suit-monster Night Stalker charm. Overall, the movie had a kind of narcotic gloss that aided well in the suspension of disbelief. I recommend this movie highly---both to Lovecraft fans and to ordinary horror buffs. It's cool, and even if this movie did damage Sandra Dee's career, she was hot. After all, monsters, even the slimy ones from outer space, need love too. So come on, guys, have a heart.
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