James Wan’s upcoming horror movie project is exciting, but I am even more hyped for the next installment of an acclaimedLovecraftianshared universe. Although most details remain unknown, James Wan is reportedly working on an adaptation of HP Lovecraft’sThe Call of Cthulhu. Even though directly adapting Lovecraftian tales to the big screen is no easy feat, James Wan’s long line of success with horror movies makes me believe he might deliver something exceptional.
Although the film is still in the early stages of development,James Wan has teasedthat it is more of a passion project, and he already expects it to be a hard sell. Given how well-made cosmic horror movies likeAlex Garland’sAnnihilationand John Carpenter’sIn the Mouth of Madnessare hard to sell and rarely perform well at the box office, I am glad James Wan is focusing less on the movie’s profitability and more on creating a faithful adaptation. However, even though I look forward to what James Wan will deliver, I am more excited about the future of a shared Lovecraftian universe.
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They Do Lovecraftian Horror Right
Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead are better known for their work in several Marvel Cinematic Universe TV projects, likeMoon KnightandLokiSeason 2. They are also currently working as the showrunners for the MCU’s highly anticipatedDaredevil: Born Again. However,I have always been more fascinated by their Lovecraftian indie movies, which are notdirect adaptations of HP Lovecraft’s worksbut perfectly capture the horror author’s spirit and themes.
…The Endlessmanages to convey the ineffable terrors and cosmic dread of Lovecraftian horror through its loopy, time-bending sci-fi concept.
While almost all their indie films create a brilliant blend of personal, character-driven narratives with abstract otherworldly elements,The Endlessstands out as a particularly noteworthy film in their portfolio because of its portrayal of Lovecraftian elements. Filmmakers often struggle to translate HP Lovecraft’s tales into the audiovisual storytelling medium because the author paints graphic yet shrouded pictures of visually intangible, godly beings in his stories. Still,The Endlessmanages to convey the ineffable terrors and cosmic dread of Lovecraftian horror through its loopy, time-bending sci-fi concept.
Even though the two talented filmmakers are presently busy with MCU projects, they have promised (viatheScript Apartpodcast) to return to their indie roots with a show that unfolds inThe Endlessuniverse. SinceThe Endlessis among the handful of films that have effectively depicted Lovecraft’s brand of horror, I cannot wait to see how they will further expand the franchise. I am incredibly thrilled about James Wan’s foray into the horror subgenre. However, Benson and Moorhead’s consistent success with cosmic horror makes their show even more exciting.
Their Films Average An RT Score Of Above 80%
So far, Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead have helmed five indie genre-bending feature films:
Compared to the MCU shows they have worked on, none of these movies have achieved mainstream success. However, all of them have consistently landed in critics' good books and maintain an average Rotten Tomatoes score above 80%. While critics have hailed them as “intergalactic geniuses” (Elias Savada viaFilmint), other renowned horror directors like Mike Flanagan have underscored how they “continue to outdo themselves.”
After watchingThe Endlessfor the first time in 2018, I, too, have been religiously following their work and rewatching their films every time I crave a deep dive into compelling Lovecraftian horror. Considering the acclaim they have achieved for their Lovecraftian films, I would have been disappointed if they had never returned to their cosmic horror roots. Fortunately, they are already working on the script forThe Endlesstelevision continuation, which, like the movie,will feature them as its lead characters, Aaron and Justin.
80%
85%
92%
79%
Something in the Dirt
90%
All Five Films Have Subtle Connections
Benson and Moorhead’s cosmic horror universe is often touted as the “Shitty Carl Universe,” which refers to an important character fromThe Endless. The directors made their feature film debut withResolutionin 2012. The movie revolves around best friends Chris and Michael, who realizetheir sense of reality and perception is constantly manipulated by a higher being in the sky.Resolutionalso introduces a brief segment in which two characters, Justin and Aaron, are introduced as the members of a UFO death cult that worships the entity in the sky.
The Endlessintroduces Justin and Aaron as its main characters, who grapple with the idea of returning to the cult years after escaping from it. Soon after returning to the cult, they realize its members are trapped in a hellish time loop. They also meet a character named Shitty Carl.The EndlessandResolutionalso introduce a red flower, which is later teased as a key ingredient inSynchronic’s central time-warping drug.Synchronic, starring Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan, also features a scene with two moons in the sky, which is a direct nod to a story detail fromThe Endless.
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Springdiffers significantly from other Benson and Moorhead films. However, it is interestingly namedrops Shitty Carl, connecting it to the overarching universe.Something in the Dirtis also jampacked with Shitty Carl Universe nods, where itfeatures everything from the red flower to the volcanic border marker sticks fromThe Endless. Like The Endless, it also shows circling birds in the sky and a poster for Arcadia beer with two moons. With so many subtle details connecting their brilliant film, it’s fair for me to be more hyped about theirLovecraftianshow thanJames Wan’s movie.
