Cthulhu Mansion (1992)

Sadly Over-hyped

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

I'm a big Lovecraft fan, trouble is very few movies based on his works are even remotely loyal and this right here isn't either.In fact the movie has absolutely nothing to do with Cthulhu, at all! A gang take the wrong people hostage and all hell breaks lose, nothing original here but nothing too offensive or clichéd either.Sadly the movie falls apart at the end which is a shame because with a decent finale it wouldn't have been "That" bad.I was astounded how low it's IMDb rating was and can confidently say it doesn't deserve it. It's not great, but it isn't terrible either.If you want a decent movie based on Lovecrafts works then, well you're kind of out of luck as I'm not sure I've seen one. Necronomican (1993) isn't awful I suppose.If I were to make a Cthulhu movie you know what I'd have in it? CTHULHU! I'd make him all big and scary and resist the urge to use his tentacles inappropriately! I've watched a bit too much Japanese anime lately, if they ever make a Cthulhu movie it'll involve school girls and a definite R rating.

H.P. Lovecraft's good name is shamelessly being violated in this ultra-embarrassing excuse for a horror movie. Supposedly based on the legendary novelist's writings, this movie handles about a group of retarded crooks home-jacking an elderly magician and his daughter. Too bad for the coke-addicted bunch the old man has severe issues himself, as he once sacrificed his own wife to the forces of witchcraft. For some reason (whether unexplained or I missed it) all evil suddenly is unleashed upon the mansion and everybody dies in cheesy ways! Believe the bad rating of this film because this really is the kind of garbage that gives the horror genre a bad name. We're talking atrocious acting, one-dimensional characters and abysmal dialogue. Although I'm sure the makers like to believe so, there's absolutely no suspense throughout the entire film and the forced implementation of occult elements (like the black cat, the altar and the Cthulhu-handbook) only makes it more ridiculous. The gore is a lot less outrageous as you would expect (seeing absolutely nothing happens the first 40 minutes) but, as soon as "evil" is unleashed, the whole thing turns into a textbook 80's cheeseball! The make-up effects are hilarious and feature for example a giant claw that pulls a heroine into a refrigerator! In all fairness I must admit that I've always been a fan of director Juan Píquer Simon… His "Supersonic Man" was the film that made me start loving bad cinema and even I still regard it as one of the greatest suckfests I ever saw. His more popular achievements, such as "Pieces" and "Slugs", are very cool films since they absolutely shine in the gore department. Cthulu Mansion, however, belongs in the avoidable trash department.

Oh my. This is far and away one of the worst movies I've ever seen. It's an affront to anyone who has ever enjoyed an H.P. Lovecraft story. I don't know what else to say, except "avoid at all costs". If you're in a Lovecraft-y kind of mood next time you're at Blockbuster, skip right over this putrid MST3K reject and rent The Reanimator or In The Mouth Of Madness instead.

Well, this film tries to sell itself off as being Lovecraftian but really is more like crappion...or carrion. Really, it is not all that bad once you realize it has nothing to do with H. P. Lovecraft and is nothing more than a tale of a magician and how some hoodlums break into his home. The film goes right for your horror heart strings with a black cat, a huge mansion, lots of swirling dry ice, and other horror cliches. The house is impressive and the actors are so annoying(apart from Frank Finlay in the lead as the magician and Marcia Layton as his daughter)that you readily want something tragic to happen to them. What exactly happens...who is to say? Certainly not me as it is a very porous story, but the execution of the plot is done with some style. Despite some major, major flaws, the film is very watchable and entertaining in a bad its good vein.