Who's going to believe a talking head?

March 25, 2020 5:35 AM

Writer, director, and producer Stuart Gordon has died. Best known for his work on a pair of mid-80s H.P. Lovecraft adaptations, Re-Animator and From Beyond, he worked on many other projects in and out of the horror genre, including Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Gordon was a fixture at conventions and widely profiled and interviewed. Memorials rolling in online from fans and past collaborators have focused on his film career, though he had a long track record in theater and experimental film, and he did at times engage with politics of the day. His legacy will presumably rest with his films, which have been variously praised or reviled, often on account of their gore, or sexual violence and transgression. CW: some links include gore, sexual violence, NSFW imagery
posted by cupcakeninja (30 comments total)

My personal favorite is his 2001 Dagon. A loose adaptation of the Lovecraft short story, it took bits from "Dagon," "The Shadow Over Innsmouth," and "The Call of Cthulhu." Less gonzo than his 80s film, while still retaining the clear stamp of Gordon's style.
posted by cupcakeninja at 5:40 AM on March 25, 2020 [7 favorites]

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posted by allthinky at 5:55 AM on March 25, 2020

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posted by Faint of Butt at 6:01 AM on March 25, 2020

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posted by mfoight at 6:04 AM on March 25, 2020

There's an extra '/4' that breaks the link to Variety (first one 'has died')
posted by Obscure Reference at 6:06 AM on March 25, 2020 [2 favorites]

That is not dead which can eternal lie,
And through rewatchings of From Beyond even death may die.
posted by FatherDagon at 6:13 AM on March 25, 2020 [8 favorites]

Mod note: Fixed link; thanks!
posted by taz (staff) at 6:21 AM on March 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

Stuck, based on an unbelievably true story, is audacious and underrated, I think.
posted by Mothlight at 6:43 AM on March 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

Me: Stuart Gordon is dead!
Herbert West: Not anymore...
Me: Herbert, this has got to stop!
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:12 AM on March 25, 2020 [12 favorites]

Seconding, Dagon. Probably the best Lovecraft adaptation I've seen (though I've yet to watch the new Color Out of Space).
posted by kokaku at 7:38 AM on March 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

*checks comments* *sees that someone else has already jumped in here to mention "Dagon"* Okay it looks like my work here is done.

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posted by HunterFelt at 7:46 AM on March 25, 2020

I hated Re-Animator, but I respected it, if that makes any sense. RIP.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:57 AM on March 25, 2020 [3 favorites]

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posted by sapagan at 8:33 AM on March 25, 2020

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posted by Hairy Lobster at 9:16 AM on March 25, 2020

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posted by Wobbuffet at 9:23 AM on March 25, 2020

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posted by Splunge at 9:29 AM on March 25, 2020

(snaps pencil)
(waggles extended pineal gland)

And

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posted by doctornemo at 9:31 AM on March 25, 2020

Ah, the wonderful Re-Animator to a 15 year old.

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posted by zengargoyle at 9:57 AM on March 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

. What a unique filmmaker.
posted by octothorpe at 9:59 AM on March 25, 2020

That is not dead which can eternal lie,
And through rewatchings of From Beyond even death may die.
posted by FatherDagon at 9:13 AM

Eponysterical.
posted by Gelatin at 10:17 AM on March 25, 2020

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posted by Token Meme at 10:31 AM on March 25, 2020

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posted by Pendragon at 11:02 AM on March 25, 2020

the audio from the beginning of FROM BEYOND remains one of the greatest things ever ... the part where the machine is running itself and the mad scientist wants to see "... more! more than any man has seen!"

Unfortunately, neither the visuals (nor the rest of the movie for that matter) live up to it. But man, what a sonic opener!



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posted by philip-random at 1:08 PM on March 25, 2020

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posted by drezdn at 1:44 PM on March 25, 2020

Jeffrey Combs, star of Re-Animator and its sequels as well as other Gordon films: "He was like a brother to me."
posted by Halloween Jack at 2:00 PM on March 25, 2020 [4 favorites]

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posted by evilDoug at 6:39 PM on March 25, 2020

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I feel like I'm out here all alone shouting about Robot Jox,
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 11:08 PM on March 25, 2020 [2 favorites]

..
From Beyond is one of the best 80s horror movies period. I always go back to it.
posted by thirdring at 12:41 AM on March 26, 2020

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posted by hap_hazard at 12:06 PM on March 26, 2020

^(;,;)^
posted by ejs at 1:45 PM on March 26, 2020 [1 favorite]