10 Great Directors Who Need To Make A Lovecraft Movie

April 27, 2024, 3:15 p.m.

Movies

10 Great Directors Who Need To Make A Lovecraft Movie

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Summary Lovecraft's work influenced directors like Ridley Scott, Rose Glass, and Denis Villeneuve, shaping modern horror and sci-fi storytelling.

Directors like Jordan Peele, Alex Garland, and Alfonso Cuarón bring unique perspectives that align with Lovecraft's themes of fear and isolation.

The Wachowski sisters, Chloe Zhao, and Sam Esmail have the potential to push boundaries with Lovecraft adaptations, expanding the genre.

H.P. Lovecraft wrote some of the most memorable and well-known horror stories of all time, and the great directors of the 21st century should have the opportunity to adapt his work. Any Lovecraft story would have to be a movie that perfectly blends sci-fi and horror because Lovecraft was on the cutting edge of what would become the standard for modern-day iterations of both genres. Filmmakers, writers, and all types of artists have been influenced by Lovecraft's work throughout history.

As horror and sci-fi have always been genres that hold up a mirror to the issues with society, it would be irresponsible not to examine Lovecraft in the same way.

Many Lovecraft stories need modern movie adaptations, and it takes a visionary director to capture the atmosphere, anxiety, and visual style that Lovecraft's narratives require. Additionally, in introducing contemporary audiences to Lovecraft, any filmmaker who takes on the challenge would have to grapple with Lovecraft's legacy as one deeply entrenched in prejudice and harmful biases. As horror and sci-fi have always been genres that hold up a mirror to the issues with society, it would be irresponsible not to examine Lovecraft in the same way.

Related 10 Great Movies & TV Shows That Wouldn't Exist Without Lovecraft The influence of horror writer H.P. Lovecraft has been incredibly far-reaching and many of today's movies and TV show would not exist without him.

10 Ridley Scott

Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), Gladiator (2000)

Alien (1979) Alien is a sci-fi horror-thriller by director Ridley Scott that follows the crew of a spaceship known as the Nostromo. After the staff of the merchant's vessel perceives an unknown transmission as a distress call, its landing on the source moon finds one of the crew members attacked by a mysterious lifeform, and they soon realize that its life cycle has merely begun. Director Ridley Scott Release Date June 22, 1979 Cast Sigourney Weaver , Ian Holm , John Hurt , Veronica Cartwright , Harry Dean Stanton , Tom Skerritt , Yaphet Kotto Runtime 117 minutes

Ridley Scott has helmed some of the most influential sci-fi movies of all time, and his ability to effectively communicate tension through subtle movements and shifts in tone would be ideal for a Lovecraft adaptation. Some of his most notable work in the sci-fi genre like Alien and Blade Runner, revitalized their genres and were commended by audiences and critics alike for their dedication to creating fictional worlds that felt viscerally real. This can be difficult with stories set on other worlds or in the far future, but Scott always manages to root his stories in human emotion.

Looking at Lovecraft through the lens of a period piece could be a unique place to start for the director.

Most recently, Scott has moved into historical epics, like the sequel to his hit film, Gladiator, as well as the 2023 movie Napoleon which chronicled the life of the famous dictator. It would be interesting to see how Scott would approach working on a Lovecraft story. This is because, based on his current trend, he might not oppose setting the story during the time Lovecraft lived, during the early to mid-20th century. Looking at Lovecraft through the lens of a period piece could be a unique place to start for the director.

Watch Alien on Hulu or rent it on Prime Video and Apple TV.

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9 Rose Glass

Room 55 (2014), Saint Maud (2019), Love Lies Bleeding (2024)

Love Lies Bleeding Love Lies Bleeding is an action crime film from A24. Directed by Rose Glass, Love Lies Bleeding centers on a gym employee, played by Kristen Stewart, and a bisexual bodybuilder (Katy O'Brian) as they discover how difficult the world of competitive bodybuilding is. The film also stars Jena Malone, Anna Baryshnikov, Dave Franco, and Ed Harris. Director Rose Glass Release Date March 8, 2024 Cast Kristen Stewart , Katy O'Brian , Jena Malone , Anna Baryshnikov , Dave Franco , Ed Harris Runtime 104 Minutes

The new movie from Rose Glass, Love Lies Bleeding, shows the director moving out of horror and into a new type of LGBTQ+ thriller. The many deaths in Love Lies Bleeding are just as graphic and violent as those in her earlier work, Room 55 and Saint Maud, but the inclusion of elements from other genres, like the road movie, was an interesting expansion of her work. As an LGBTQ+ female director, Glass has a unique perspective to bring to all her work, and her projects show she's uniquely qualified to understand the paranoia that runs through Lovecraft's writing.

Unsurprisingly, most if not all of Lovecraft's work relegated female characters to caricatures, evil temptresses, or passive love interests that rarely have an active role in the story. Conversely, almost all of Glass' work centers on the female experience and is dedicated to creating fully realized characters that provide a compelling point of view. Though the integrity of Lovecraft's work is vital to any adaptation, including expansions of gender and identity dynamics would be part of Glass' film.

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8 Denis Villeneuve

Arrival (2016), Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Dune: Parts 1 & 2 (2021 - 2024)

Dune: Part Two Dune: Part Two is the sequel to Denis Villeneuve's 2021 film that covers the novel's events by Frank Herbert. The movie continues the quest of Paul Atreides on a journey of revenge against those who slew his family. With insight into the future, Atreides may be forced to choose between his one true love and the universe's fate. Director Denis Villeneuve Release Date March 1, 2024 Cast Timothee Chalamet , Zendaya , Florence Pugh , Austin Butler , Rebecca Ferguson Runtime 165 Minutes Franchise(s) Dune

The fact that the film was based on the short story by Ted Chiang and that he has been so effective in his adaptation of the Dune book by Frank Herbert, speaks volumes about his ability to provide a faithful retelling of a high-profile Lovecraft tale.

The success of Dune and Dune: Part Two has catapulted Denis Villeneuve out of simply being a well-known director in filmmaking circles, but a household name to any fan of the sci-fi genre. He began cultivating this reputation with Arrival, starring Amy Adams, in 2016. The fact that the film was based on the short story by Ted Chiang and that he has been so effective in his adaptation of the Dune book by Frank Herbert, speaks volumes about his ability to provide a faithful retelling of a high-profile Lovecraft tale.

Villeneuve working on a Lovecraft iteration would also mean that big-name and talented actors would be interested in attaching themselves to a role. Horror and sci-fi aren't the most critically acclaimed or recognized genres, even though they're both such effective commentaries on cultural affairs. Due to this, actors who have reached the peak of fame can be hesitant to embark on a project that might not align with their brand of storytelling. Knowing that Villeneuve would be on the project might draw in a larger pool of actors and crowds of audience members.

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7 Jordan Peele

Get Out (2017), Us (2019), Nope (2022)

Get Out Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Jordan Peele made his directorial Horror debut with Get Out, a terrifying Psychological Horror film starring Daniel Kaluuya. In the 2017 release, Chris Washington heads to Upstate New York to meet the family of his girlfriend, Rose. What follows is a horrifying ordeal for the anxious photographer. Director Jordan Peele Release Date February 24, 2017 Cast Lyle Brocato , LaKeith Stanfield , Caleb Landry Jones , Betty Gabriel , Allison Williams , Marcus Henderson , erika alexander , Bradley Whitford , Jeronimo Spinx , Catherine Keener , Daniel Kaluuya Runtime 1 hour, 44 minutes

If one director is coming to define cultural criticism in cinema it's Jordan Peele. Not only does Peele communicate nuanced commentary on racial, gender, and class relations in the United States, but he does so through visually stunning narratives that include moments of undeniable humor. Peele got his start as a comedian, and his innate sense of comedic timing is the perfect match for the subject matter he takes on through his movies. While Peele has been more focused on original storytelling, if there was ever an adaptation he could revitalize, it would be Lovecraft.

Peele's work frequently takes his characters to unexpected places and puts them in situations they could only imagine, which is something that Lovecraft does in almost all of his work. Additionally, Peele is great at working with fear as a tool for storytelling, and Lovecraft is borderline obsessed with the fallout of fear and anxiety among groups of people in survival situations. At the very least, if Peele doesn't direct, his production company, Monkeypaw Productions, should have a hand in a Lovecraft film.

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6 Alex Garland

Ex Machina (2014), Annihilation (2018), Civil War (2024)

Ex Machina Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Young computer programmer Caleb is selected to participate in a groundbreaking experiment by evaluating the human qualities in a new and improved female artificial intelligence. But in the luxurious, isolated mansion of the man who created this technology, all may not be as it seems. Director Alex Garland Release Date April 10, 2015 Cast Alicia Vikander , Domhnall Gleeson Oscar Isaac , Sonoya Mizuno , Gana Bayarsaikhan , Corey Johnson Runtime 108 minutes

Alex Garland is interested in technology and has explored the logical conclusion of where pushing the boundaries of technology and artificial intelligence will lead the human race. In Ex Machina, this is directly addressed through the character, Ava (Alicia Vikander), a robot who successfully gains consciousness, desires, and complex feelings of her own. The story of the film is harrowing, but the audience can't help rooting for Ava after drawing comparisons between her being treated as an object as a robot and as a woman.

As a story, Annihilation has many similarities to Lovecraft for its terrifying monsters and deeper questions about the nature of reality.

In his later film, Annihilation, Garland once again centered a female protagonist and a nearly all-female main cast. Annihilation is based on the novel by Jeff VanderMeer, and Garland created quite a compelling adaptation of the work. Garland himself is an author and understands the inner workings of storytelling. As a story, Annihilation has many similarities to Lovecraft for its terrifying monsters and deeper questions about the nature of reality. It wouldn't be a stretch for Garland to tackle another such story, this time in true Lovecraft fashion.

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5 Christoper Nolan

The Dark Knight (2008), Interstellar (2014), Oppenheimer (2023)

The Dark Knight Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Christian Bale once again embodies the man behind the mask in The Dark Knight, reuniting Bale with Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman has been making headway against local crime—until a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker unleashes a fresh reign of chaos across Gotham City. To stop this devious new menace—Batman's most personal and vicious enemy yet—he will have to use every high-tech weapon in his arsenal and confront his beliefs if he hopes to stand a chance against the Clown Prince of Crime. Director Christopher Nolan Release Date July 18, 2008 Cast Nestor Carbonell , Morgan Freeman , Ritchie Coster , Cillian Murphy , Chin Han , Gary Oldman , Eric Roberts , William Fichtner , Aaron Eckhart , Maggie Gyllenhaal , Christian Bale , David Dastmalchian , Michael Caine , Anthony Michael Hall , Heath Ledger Runtime 152 Minutes

Christopher Nolan has always been one of the biggest directors in the film industry, and he recently made waves when he won the Academy Award for Best Director for his work on the movie Oppenheimer. Overall, Oppenheimer had a tremendous awards season, and based on its success, it's likely that Nolan will have free reign when it comes to his next project. However, while it would be a bit surprising to see him take on Lovecraft, as it's outside his usual wheelhouse, it could be an exciting challenge for him to grow as an artist.

Nolan's movies are always sweeping in scale and have a distinct visual language that makes them stand out among their peers. His interest in the fabric of time and ability to juggle multiple storylines at once makes his stories deeply compelling and could be an interesting lens through which to view Lovecraft's work. Interstellar was the farthest Nolan has delved into science fiction, but he has roots in many genres. His early work, The Prestige, has many elements that can be traced back to Lovecraft as an influence.

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4 Chloé Zhao

The Rider (2017), Nomadland (2020), Eternals (2021)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Eternals is the 25th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is part of its fourth phase. Over 500 years ago, when the ten Eternals complete the task given to them by the Celestial Arishem to wipe out the invasive alien species known as Deviants that roam the earth, the group decides to go their separate ways as they find themselves at odds with how to continue their interactions with humanity as they grow and learn. Blending into society, the Eternals continue to live their lives in the modern day until the Deviants emerge again. When one of the Eternals is supposedly slain by a deviant, events are set in motion that will reunite them once again to discover why the Deviants have returned and what the true intentions of the Celestial have been for all these millennia. Director Chloé Zhao Release Date November 5, 2021 Cast Angelina Jolie , Gemma Chan , Richard Madden , Salma Hayek , Kit Harington , Kumail Nanjiani , Lia McHugh , Brian Tyree Henry Runtime 157 minutes

This is what made Eternals stand apart from the other offerings coming out of Marvel as a studio in the past few years.

Chloé Zhao is an outside-the-box pick for directing a Lovecraft adaptation, but her work on Eternals changed the game for Marvel and made it clear what she's capable of. Zhao has a background in documentary-style filmmaking and has always been concerned with centering the voices of real people and making her work feel as true to life as possible. This is what made Eternals stand apart from the other offerings coming out of Marvel as a studio in the past few years.

Eternals was still based on comic book material and included plenty of spaceships and magical powers like other Marvel works. However, the interpersonal relationships between the characters were easily the most interesting part of the film. Fans are still hoping that Marvel's Eternals 2 will happen, and if it does, Zhao should be brought back to continue fostering a unique story within the franchise. However, if she has time outside this film, Zhao could use the skills she honed on Eternals in a Lovecraft movie.

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3 Alfonso Cuarón

Y Tu Mamá Tambien (2001), Children of Men (2006), Gravity (2013)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Alfonso Cuarón's sci-fi thriller Gravity tells the story of Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) after they end up stranded in space after the destruction of their shuttle. Faced with near-impossible odds of survival, the pair plan to get themselves safely back to Earth despite the relentlessly harsh reality of space threatening to claim their lives at any moment. Director Alfonso Cuarón Release Date October 3, 2013 Cast Sandra Bullock , George Clooney , Ed Harris , Orto Ignatiussen , Paul Sharma , Amy Warren Runtime 1h 31m

When it comes to Alfonso Cuarón, it seems like there's nothing he can't do. Even those who think they aren't familiar with his work most likely are, as he directed the third Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in 2004, and that installment of the franchise is frequently hailed as the best of the series. Cuarón easily took on the adaptation of children's literature. However, most often, he aimed to transgress and push the boundaries of what cinema could do in his work, making him perfect for Lovecraft.

Isolation is a major theme in Lovecraft's work, and Cuarón has proven time and again that this is something he fundamentally understands. In Gravity, Sandra Bullock's character, Ryan, is alone for almost half the movie, and for most of it, she's fighting tooth and nail to survive. This is all against the backdrop of outer space, an unforgiving setting that isn't concerned with her life or death. This is similar to how Lovecraft will put his characters in such extreme situations and environments that it practically feels like they're no longer on Earth.

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2 Sam Esmail

Comet (2014), Mr. Robot (2015 - 2019), Leave The World Behind (2023)

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buy Not available Not available Not available A family's getaway to a luxurious rental home takes an ominous turn when a cyberattack knocks out their devices, and two strangers appear at their door. Director Sam Esmail Release Date December 8, 2023 Cast Julia Roberts , Mahershala Ali , Ethan Hawke , Myha'la , Kevin Bacon Runtime 141 Minutes

Sam Esmail's Leave The World Behind has put him on the map as a director more than any previous work. While the TV show, Mr. Robot, received critical acclaim during its run, it didn't garner the extreme and immediate viewership that his latest movie has. Part of this is because of Leave The World Behind's availability on Netflix. However, it's also because Esmail is developing as a filmmaker, and is at his best when he's looking at the intersection of technological horror and everyday human stories.

Though Esmail doesn't have experience working with the monsters and set pieces that Lovecraft is famous for, he does understand the tone at the heart of the stories.

Working in film and television can be difficult for a director, as Hollywood tries to pigeonhole an artist into working in one or the other. Despite this, Esmail has been able to create fully realized stories through both mediums which speaks to his talents as a director. Taking on Lovecraft, he might lean toward either a film or TV iteration, and either way, he would put his all into the work. Though Esmail doesn't have experience working with the monsters and set pieces that Lovecraft is famous for, he does understand the tone at the heart of the stories.

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1 Lana & Lilly Wachowski

Bound (1996), The Matrix (1999), Jupiter Ascending (2015)

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buy Not available Not available Not available In a dystopian future, hacker Neo (Keanu Reeves) learns about the Matrix, a simulated reality hiding the truth of humanity's enslavement by machines. He joins rebels led by the mysterious Morpheus, who believes Neo is destined to free humanity. Betrayal leads to a deadly confrontation with villain Agent Smith as Neo discovers his true power, defeats his enemies, and promises to change the world. Director Lilly Wachowski , Lana Wachowski Release Date March 30, 1999 Cast Keanu Reeves , Laurence Fishburne , Carrie-Anne Moss , Hugo Weaving , Gloria Foster , Joe Pantoliano Runtime 136 minutes

There's no question that The Matrix changed sci-fi cinema forever at its release in 1999, but the Wachowski sisters have been making history for their entire careers. Working across multiple genres in both film and television, they have a knack for worldbuilding that's difficult to teach but seems to come naturally to them. Though the sisters have worked separately on projects within the last few years, something as big as a Lovecraft film would be big enough to bring them back together again.

Over the years, the projects they work on have become bigger and more ambitious, so adapting Lovecraft could be a chance for them to return to their roots and explore more horror-driven territory. Though The Matrix has blossomed into a franchise that has kept them busy for the past few decades, working on developing a script from one of Lovecraft's stories would be an exciting next step for the sisters. Their recent TV project, Sense8, produced by Netflix, delved slightly into the supernatural, but the Wachowskis could go further.