Howard Phillips Lovecraft is arguably the most influential master of horror to ever have lived. Though oftentimes plagued by tragically regressive views and sometimes written in a rather infuriating way, his works remain ever-fruitful in inspiring other writers, filmmakers, and even video game devs who thought we wouldn’t notice.
As the man seemingly had already shed most of his more unlikable beliefs by the time of his death, I believe it fair for us to remember his best works, even if only to help inspire horror writers or developers looking for a serious bout of inspiration —we know it works.
10. The Call Of Cthulhu
TheCall Of Cthulhuis about a detective’s ill-fated investigation of an eerie and mysterious cult. This synopsis seems like the most clichéd of plots right now, but that’s only because of its immense influence.
Though it’s easily the most famous tale by Lovecraft,The Call Of Cthulhuis rather far from his best. That’s not to say it sucks, but rather to state just how great some of his stuff is. Also, newcomers will likely be disappointed to learn just how little Cthulhu does in the book, despite being the poster boy of all things Lovecraft. That’s not Lovecraft’s fault, though, but that of the people who needed to find a cool figure to promote his stuff.
9. The Thing On The Doorstep
The Thing On The Doorsteptells the story of a man who may not be who (or even what) he says he is. It’s a riveting mystery tale about a man desperately trying to tell a truth that might prove too strange to believe.
If you’re into stories about possession and believe tales of demonic possession influenced by Christianity have become stale, then you should probably give the original a try.
8. Dagon
Before we began exploring space, our very own seemingly bottomless seas were just as scary — if not more — than the dark skies above.Dagonis a tale of a man adrift at sea that perfectly mixes the natural horrors anyone would experience in such a scenario with the otherworldly torments Lovecraft is known for.
Dagonis a fantastic story, though one that should come with a trigger warning for its themes of suicide.
7. At The Mountains Of Madness
At The Mountains Of Madnessis about a geologist’s attempt to prevent a team of scientists from going on an expedition to Antarctica that will inevitably unleash upon them horrors beyond what their human science can prepare them for.
Are you the kind of person who cringes at seeing tourists blissfully risking their lives to take pictures at the top of snowy and life-threatening mountains? Then this is the one for you.
6. From Beyond
From Beyond tells the story of Crawford Tillinghast, a brilliant scientist who goes too far in one of his experiments and then has the people around him inevitably deal with the consequences.
This is one of the most common tropes in Sci-Fi literature — even in Lovecraft’s body of work, really — but this is more or less where it started, and this is where it’s done the best. Tillinghast’s search for other dimensions and the discovery of what horrors plague them remain some of the best examples of “Fear Of The Unknown” literature.
5. The Dunwich Horror
Despite the unrelated name,The Dunwich Horroris actually a much more compelling “Cthulhu mythos” tale thanThe Call Of Cthulhu.
It’s a better, more compelling, and more straightforward tale that begins with the investigation of a very peculiar family that naturally takes a turn into more otherworldly and horrifying territory.
4. The Rats In The Walls
If Lovecraft’s prejudiced views do in any way shape or form cause you pain, thenThe Rats In The Wallsis definitelynot the tale for you— but mostly for a stupid simple reason. That reason is a cat in that story, which is named after a racial slur. That really sucks, especially in a story supposedly about rats, where a cat is always going to be important.
If you manage to ignore that ridiculously stupid name,The Rats In The Wallsis one of the most thrilling and riveting mysteries ever written, one that will keep you guessing and want you to know more every step of the way until you reach its tremendous closing act.
3. The Shadow Over Innsmouth
This is the story of a man who travels to investigate an eerie town thought to have been ruined by the government only to find out things are worse than anyone could’ve imagined.The Shadow Over Innsmouthprovides a welcome breath of fresh air for detective stories and is likely single-handedly responsible for the “mystery town” trope seen in classics such asTwin Peaks.
Don’t let the title throw you off.The Shadow Over Innsmouth— notTheCall Of Cthulhu— was the basis for the spectacularly underratedCall Of Cthulhu: Dark Corners Of The Earthvideo game.
2. The Whisperer In Darkness
If you readThe Call Of Cthulhuand end up feeling overwhelmed, then theWhisperer In Darknessmight just be the one for you. Though it’s not a remake in any way shape or form, It’s a similar tale of investigation, and a much better-told one at that.
The Whisperer In Darknessis not the deepest of Lovecraft’s tales, but it’s the most horrifyingly fun and arguably the most likely to get others hooked on his writing and mythos.
1. The Colour Out Of Space
The Colour Out Of Spacetells the tale of a man who’s either going insane or dealing with the beginning of an alien invasion — long before stories of alien invasions were a thing. Instead of little green men, flying saucers, or robot tripods, this man has to contend with a lifeform capable of emanating an incomprehensible color.
When combined with the overall quality of the tale, the brilliant and possibly even dangerous concept that might bring readers to the brink of madness as they attempt to conjure a new color in their minds makes this a truly transcendent tale.
The Colour Out Of Spacehas been adapted to movie format on two different occasions, one making use ofextremely vibrant colors, the other inblack and white, and both rock.
