First, we'll tackle the good stuff. Alecto is by far the film's brightest moment. The segment's unsettling nature and darkly silent performances weave a tragic tale of childhood trauma and its ability to worm its way into our adult lives. It's pure art, simple and perfect. It reminded me of a Takashi Miike short film, and wouldn't look out of place in something like Three...Extremes. And in case you're wondering, that's a compliment. Seriously.
Anyway, Bugboy is another quality piece. Outside of the uber-disgusting though slightly edited presentation of Re-Penetrator — which I'll discuss at-length in a moment — it has the best FX work of any of the films on display, resulting in a stark, David Lynchian take on one man's inability to accept his ex-girlfriend's upcoming wedding. Its ending will linger long after the door abruptly slams in your face, mark my words.
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.
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