"Dreams in the Witch House" is a short story written by H.P. Lovecraft, an influential master of the horror genre. Published in 1932, the story revolves around the unsettling experiences of a college student named Walter Gilman, who chooses to rent a room in a boarding house with a sinister history. Gilman's room in the Witch House is steeped in a dark and otherworldly atmosphere. Its angles and dimensions are bizarrely non-Euclidean, suggesting that the laws of physics do not apply within its confines.
Its angles and dimensions are bizarrely non-Euclidean, suggesting that the laws of physics do not apply within its confines. This mysterious room is said to be cursed, haunted by the spectral presence of Keziah Mason, an accused witch who practiced sinister rites within its walls. As Gilman delves deeper into the mysteries of the Witch House, he discovers that the boundaries between dreams and reality become increasingly blurred.
Masters of Horror: H. P. Lovecraft's Dreams in the Witch-House (2005) [Lovecraft/TV/Anthology]
Masters of Horror is a series that aired 2005-2007 on Showtime. Created by Mick Garris, Garris got a number of horror heroes together and each contributed a one-hour episode. Episode 2 is "H. P. Lovecraft's Dreams in the Witch House", based on Lovecraft's story of the same name. It's directed, and I assume adapted, by Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator).
Walter Gilman is a broke grad student that moves into a room in a seemingly quiet 300 year old house. Other tenants in the house include the stereotypically apathetic manager, an elderly alcoholic man named Masurewicz, and a beautiful single mom, Franky (Frances), and her baby, Danny.
As soon as he moves in, Walter forms a bond with Franky and Danny, "saving" them from an aggressive rat. He also meets Masurewicz, who warns him about "a rat with a human face" and the Witch. Walter immediately starts having nightmares and after a couple days worries he's sleepwalking. Being a physicist, he begins to form a theory regarding the strange things happening in the house. He's determined to protect Franky and Danny from the evil taking hold.
I really enjoyed this episode. It has strong horror elements and goes to some unexpectedly dark places. After looking up the original story, it looks like it's very loyal to the source material while putting it in a modern setting. This episode is far better acted than Episode 1, and the characters are likeable. Also, full frontal nudity! There are some slap-you-in-the-face-obvious references to The Evil Dead and The Shining, to the point that one scene becomes completely predictable. Overall, I bought into it pretty quickly and thought the story was satisfying. My only real complaint is the rat villain, which is so goofy it takes you out of the story and the atmosphere they've built; it just doesn't work.
This is a TV series, already almost 15 years old and was never big-budget. Accepting those parameters, I thought it was quite good. It's nice to get a good dose of horror in under an hour. I would give this a 7.5/10.
Keziah Mason, it turns out, had made a pact with powers beyond our material realm, granting her the ability to travel to other dimensions through dreams. Moreover, she introduced Walter Gilman to the esoteric knowledge contained within the infamous Book of the Worm. In the true Lovecraftian fashion, the story emphasizes the limits of human comprehension and the fragility of our sanity when confronted with the cosmic horrors lurking just beyond our perception. Walter Gilman's dreams become a portal to a terrifying alternate reality, inhabited by ancient entities with sinister intent. In these nightmarish dreams, Gilman is tortured by grotesque creatures from the beyond, some of which seem to be Gorgon-like half-human half-rat entities. The vivid descriptions of these horrifying creatures, coupled with the dark and claustrophobic atmosphere of the Witch House, create a sense of unease and dread that permeates the story. "Dreams in the Witch House" explores Lovecraft's recurring themes of forbidden knowledge, the fragility of the human mind, and the influence of the supernatural on our world. It stands as a testament to the author's ability to create a chilling sense of terror by seamlessly blending elements of Gothic horror, science fiction, and cosmic dread. Overall, "Dreams in the Witch House" serves as a prime example of Lovecraft's unique storytelling style, where the boundaries between dreams and reality are uncertain, and the mere glimpse of the eldritch horrors that lie beyond our comprehension can drive one to the brink of madness..
Reviews for "Unveiling the forbidden knowledge hidden within dreams in the WPCH house in H.P. Lovecraft's stories"
1. Jane Smith - 2 stars - I really tried to enjoy "Dreams in the Witch House" by H.P. Lovecraft, but I found it incredibly confusing and hard to follow. The story jumped around too much, and the constant references to weird cosmic beings just left me scratching my head. The lack of a clear resolution also left me extremely unsatisfied. Overall, this book just wasn't for me.
2. John Doe - 1 star - I honestly don't understand the hype around "Dreams in the Witch House." The plot was convoluted, the characters lacked depth, and the writing style was overly verbose. Lovecraft's attempts at creating a dark and eerie atmosphere fell flat for me, and I was left feeling bored and uninterested. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a captivating and engaging read.
3. Sarah Thompson - 2 stars - "Dreams in the Witch House" was a disappointment for me. Lovecraft's writing style was excessively wordy and filled with unnecessary descriptions that didn't contribute to the overall story. The pacing was slow, and the horror elements were predictable. I was hoping for a chilling and spine-tingling experience, but instead, I was left feeling underwhelmed. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations.