The movie is a Anthology movie based around H.P.Lovecrafts short-stories. Although based seems like the wrong word in this case, but more about that later...The movie some bad acting, mostly bad dialogue, bad story, bad characters (they don't even have any personalities whatsoever and for the most part I don't even understand their reactions/actions) and often terrible editing that simply confuses you, especially in the second story are some weird cuts. The whole concept of the movie doesn't even make sense, the stories are read from the necronomicon, which doesn't make sense since its a spell-book and none of these stories are written by anyone involved, at least we are never told so. BUT it also has its redeeming qualities, most of all the practical special effects are awesome! They actually are some of my most favourite practical gore effects ever and there are a lot of them! Also the set and sound design are quite alright.Now more about Lovecraft compared to this movie. The style is in no way comparable to Lovecrafts. There is no build-up, no subtlety (creatures EVERYWHERE), little explanation as to why all this happens (which is usually the scary part in a Lovecraft story), there is no feeling of the insignificance of humans compared to what exists out there (maybe). It feels much more like silly campfire stories.To sum it up I would recommend watching this either if you are a big fan of practical special effects (especially gore) or you like the Cthulhu universe. In my case both of these things apply which is why I enjoyed this movie despite its crap-factor.

Good props, good music, good scenery, good lighting and competent actors with Jeffrey Combs at the helm of the wrap around make this movie worth watching. The main plot is kept delightfully simple - H.P. Lovecraft goes to a monastery library to catch a forbidden glimpse of the Necronomicon. He steals the key to a gated chamber where he finds a safe containing the Necronomicon; setting off a mysterious mechanism that apparently locks him inside. He then sits at the table; flip open his writing tablet and rather than copying pages, he proceeds to write three stories inspired by the fishy effervescence of alien magic contained therein.That's when things get weirder than they already are. Not for the character, but for the viewer. The average viewer is not nearly familiar enough with Lovecraft's writings to understand how he portrayed the traditional family unit, and therefore how to understand what the movie producers were trying to translate onto film. Family and procreation in Lovecraft stories were at best only relevant in terms of interbreeding with aliens (shadow over innsmouth); at worse a social mechanism that has the capacity to de-evolve humans into violent primates (lurking fear). Lovecraft made no bones about it - the family that stays together, gets strange together.Without a lens of literary context to see this movie through, it's no wonder that it ultimately translates into an anti-abortion message. You have one character that is a perpetually pregnant woman; and another character that is bargaining to continue her pregnancy to save her own life. Perhaps the producers of this movie should have considered how these elements would affect the female half of the audience rather than just hoping everyone would "get it."With that said, I have no reason to believe that there is an anti- abortion message in this movie; particularly since the first story burns a Bible early on. If that doesn't establish where this movie stands in terms of religious values, I'm not sure what will. Also, a horror movie is probably the worst place to try to send an anti-abortion message; and certainly not from aliens that drink human bone marrow like a milkshake.I wanted to give this a 10 out of 10, as they did a great job with what they had to work with. However, since literary context is necessary, I am taking it down a notch since I have to, once again, encourage people to read Lovecraft to understand what's going on. For me, the ideal Lovecraft movie would not only accurately express his literary vision; but in such a way that the mainstream audience can understand it too.

Theoretically speaking, this is one horror movie concept that couldn't possibly have gone wrong! "Necronomicon" is an anthology embracing three lesser known stories (at least, to me they were lesser known) by the legendary novelist H.P. Lovecraft, filmed by an interesting variation of directors, and moreover linked together through an inventive wraparound story that revolves on Lovecraft himself; as played by Jeffrey Combs (who else?). Heck, even the title vividly speaks to the imagination of us, true horror fanatics, as surely everyone will recognize the "Book of the Dead" either from previous Lovecraft adaptations/novels and, if not, certainly from Sam Raimi's splatter-classic "The Evil Dead". Basically, we've got every necessary ingredient to cook up a wondrously delicious horror smörgåsbord here, but somehow the end result nevertheless left a rather sour aftertaste in my mouth… Each and every separate Lovecraft short story is superb, and more than often embodies the true definition of sheer genuine & terror, but the teleplays are underdeveloped and never fully capture the dark and ominous atmosphere that Lovecraft had in mind when he wrote them. Considering the surreal themes and sinister setting, these should have been stories that spontaneously inflict nightmares and cause phobias amongst the viewers, but sadly it never comes to that. You feel emotionless the entire time. It's actually hard to explain … "Necronomicon" seemingly has it all, from solid subject matter over stylistic filming aspects onto nauseating gore effects, and yet something essential is missing. The wraparound, as stated above, introduces Lovecraft himself sneaking into a dark & secret library chamber, because he heard the place hides a copy of the allegedly mythical book The Necronomicon. With the suspiciously eerie librarians observing his every move, Lovecraft reads to us three stories of the macabre. The Necronomicon is simultaneously the leading thread running through the stories, as all the protagonists come into contact with the book one way or the other. The first segment has a Swedish heir returning to the ancient family hotel by the seaside. He learns that his ancestor lost his beloved wife and child in a shipwreck, but managed to bring them back to life through forces hidden inside the hotel. Since Edward also was responsible for the dead of his girlfriend in a car crash, he hopes to discover the secret and bring her back from the other side as well. Obviously not the best of ideas … "The Drowned" is my personal least favorite story of the three, but I do have to acknowledge it's a stylish contribution. Director Christophe Gans ("Brotherhood of the Wolf") takes the maximum out of the marvelous seaside location and the morbid old hotel. The flashback, with Richard Lynch as the archetypal sea captain ancestor, is masterfully handled as well. However, Bruce Payne's stone-cold performance as well as the hideously abrupt anti-climax plummet the quality level enormously. The second story, entitled "The Cold", is my choice for best segment. It's about a sleazy journalist who knocks at the door of a large mansion and brutally confronts the lady of the house with the mystery of why so many people vanished after having visited this place. She has no option but to tell him about her mother's acquaintance with the brilliant previous tenant – Dr. Madden – who developed a unique but sinister method for preserving his youth and virility. One slight disadvantage, though, it requires a lot of human spinal fluid and must remain safeguarded in a cold environment. Personally, I'm a sucker for horror stories revolving on the quest for immortality (like "The Rejuvenator" and all the movies about Countess Bathory); especially when they feature an outrageously over-the-top mad scientist character, like David Warner in this case! "The Cold" has a marvelous story-within-story structure that nearly isn't confusing as it sounds and benefices from the most properly "finished" screenplay of all three stories. This is also the only segment that finds the exact right balance between juicy gross-out effects and high level of tension. Not bad for a Japanese director that allegedly couldn't speak a word of English on the set! The third and final story has director Brian Yuzna's trademarks all over it. "Whispers" is an indescribably nasty and sickening illustration of what pure hell is most likely to look like. This segment is lacking substantially, but you'll nevertheless stare with your eyes and mouth wide open, as it is a non-stop spitfire of pitch-dark and ghastly images. Unfortunately they are not really disturbing or scary … just very, very unpleasant! Two police officers are chasing a car down to a grim neighborhood and literally end up in a subterranean labyrinth of terror. Words even file to describe the atrocities they encounter there, including petrifying elderly folks, flying carnivorous demons and extraterrestrial butchers. I like a good portion of gore and bloodshed, but this particular segment was quite unbearable. In general, "Necronomicon" is definitely a mixed bag. Those who claim that the 90's only brought forward derivative, inferior and non- atmospheric horror turkeys should check it out because it's certainly one of the better efforts of the decade. Still, like that other 90's Lovecraft adaptation "The Resurrected", this movie can't hold a candle to some of the earlier – albeit admittedly loosely interpreted – movies based on the writer's repertoire, like "Re-Animator" and "From Beyond". I'm sure many people will beg to differ, but I think even Lucio Fulci came closer to capturing the real mindset of Lovecraft when he looked for inspiration for "City of the Living Dead" and "House by the Cemetery".

I really enjoyed this movie. Great stories done rather well.I just watched this movie today after trying to get my hands on it for several years, so here is my fresh dead review.This is truly a brave attempt at translating HP Lovecraft's works into film, a truly difficult and daunting task to do with any skill. Attempts to illustrate the alluded-to but barely observed horror of most of the genre tend to fail because the substance is not generally visual. It is a state of mind. But I was pleasantly surprised by this movie and I will explain why.The house we begin at where the Necronomicon is rediscovered is atmospheric and the directing is also rather visceral and refreshing. The camera work is very creative and flexible utilizing many different styles, a lot of askew profile shots or detached views from above, even the use of black and white to denote a tragic flashback is skillfully used here.The music is also quite nice. The casting equally talented. The story of a man whose family is taken from him, he turns from God, and a strange demonic creature comes to him, bringing strange solace in the form of the ancient book: The Necronomicon, where the man discovers a ritual to bring his family back from the dead. The man utters archaic iambic pentameter, tossing his own blood upon the pentagram. "That which is not dead can eternal lie, And with strange aeons even death may die, In his lair Cthulhu waits dreaming."And though his family does return, they return in a monkey's paw sort of damnation and terror, but why? Why the extent of this just to say, "Gotcha!" in a truly horrifying manner? To extinguish the light, any semblance of hope, or effort. Indeed we are speaking of the Necronomicon, a cursed book brought to man by the truly damned.The third story has music I know I have heard somewhere before, somewhere not too long ago I might add, but I just can't place it! Maybe on an episode of Dexter? Some of the lines are so cheesy but entertaining, like this little jewel."I just came by to watch you practice your flute playing, only you're going to practice on my instrument."Also unlike most horror these days, it is not hidden it is not behind a screen it is not off camera, it is close up, visceral. You really feel it the way horror is meant to be felt.