Chaos of Flesh would have been a high profile contender, as well, if not for its resemblance to Dario Argento's Masters of Horror entry Jenifer. I kind of guessed where it was heading halfway through, effectively robbing the film of its intended impact. Which came first? Can't say for sure. Regardless, it still retains the atmosphere of a good Lovecraft story. Remain is also a notable entry, though it simply cannot match the intensity of the others I've already mentioned. And while History of the Lurkers and The Statement of Randolph Carter are good, they're simply too forgettable to qualify as the best.

Also worth mentioning is the interview with Lloyd Kaufman, president of Troma. I can't include it with my analysis of the Lovecraft-inspired short films simply because it ISN'T a Lovecraft-inspired short film. That said, it's easily the funniest interview with Kaufman I've seen, and trust me when I say I've seen a ton of them. Both Elias and Lloyd are intriguing to watch, and I found myself quite sad when it came to an end. Great work, guys.

And now, unfortunately, it's time to straddle the negativity. That's right, folks. Climb aboard and hold on tight. First up is Re-Penetrator, a nasty little number I've seen once before in its uncut form. Hardcore pornography combined with over-the-top gore isn't something I find entertaining in the least, especially when both performers are pitifully unattractive. Its inclusion in this anthology is questionable, especially considering it has little to do with Lovecraft and more to do with, say, Slaughtered Vomit Dolls, though it has absolutely nothing on Lucifer Valentine's phenomenal exploitation shocker. I'm not a Burning Angel fan, and I'm still not a Burning Angel fan. So sorry.

There's another segment, one about a pagan and her unsuspecting victim, that's plays out like a deleted scene from one of those mindless Witchcraft movies. And that's not a good thing. For the record. And while the Lovecraftian music video is entertaining, it's just not that great. However, considering the sheer amount of stuff found in this 87-minute jaunt into insanity, one outright failure and two so-so segments isn't that bad at all.

All in all, LovecraCked! The Movie is a wonderfully demented independent horror anthology, one that actually manages to best the numerous like-minded films that are currently collecting dust on video store shelves all across this glorious little nation. Kudos to all the filmmakers — yes, even the ones who missed the mark — for attempting to capture the essence of what made Lovecraft's fiction so alluring in the first place. Even the segments featuring our hapless journalist are well-executed and often quite hilarious, which is a feat in and of itself. LovecraCked! is another fine example of why independent cinema is the wave of the future. There's more ingenuity and talent on display here than in fourteen Hollywood blockbusters put together, including those which rely heavily on CGI in order to "effectively" tell their stories. Though it's not perfect by any means, LovecraCked! is still a satisfying blend of surreal horror and off-beat sketch comedy.

Lovecraft, I think, would be proud.