The Dunwich Horror (1970) with John DeVore

Wilbur Whateley wants the Necronomicon, and although the library’s closing, local coed Nancy is so entranced by Whateley that she’s inclined to let him read it.  Her professor, Dr. Armitage, isn’t thrilled with the idea of someone borrowing the book – even for five minutes – until he realizes who the reader is.  Eager to find out more about Wilbur, and his family history of seeking out transdimensional creatures, he invites Wilbur and Nancy to dinner.  But Wilbur’s not interested in becoming one of Armitage’s biographical sketches – he wants Nancy to come back to his home, drink some tea, and… stay there forever.  That’s when his grandfather, Old Man Whateley arrives, causing Nancy to raise an eyebrow.  Why is he so determined to keep her away from the house?  What on the upper floors is making all those wind and ocean sounds?  And why is Wilbur so desperate to introduce Nancy to the Devil’s Hopyard, a stone altar where, it is rumored, his ancestors once performed sacred rituals to call forth a race of creatures that would bring about the end of life as we know it? 

Intro, Math Club, Debate Society, Hot for Teacher (spoiler-free): 00:00-27:20
Honor Roll and Detention (spoiler-heavy): 27:21-1:07:56
Superlatives (spoiler-heavier): 1:07:57-1:24:26

Director Daniel Haller
Screenplay Curtis Hanson, Henry Rosenbaum, and Ronald Silkosky, based on the novella by H.P. Lovecraft
Featuring Donna Baccala, Ed Begley, Lloyd Bochner, Sandra Dee, Beach Dickinson, Sam Jaffe, Barboura Morris, Jack Pierce, Talia Shire, Dean Stockwell

John DeVore is a two-time James Beard award-winning essayist and editor. He's written about pop culture for Decider, Esquire, and Premiere (RIP), among many others. John's first memoir, 'Theatre Kids,' will hit bookstores in 2024

Our theme music is by Sir Cubworth, with embellishments by Edward Elgar.  Music from The Dunwich Horror by Les Baxter.

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