Jackson87 C
Dagon (2001), directed by Stuart Gordon, is a horror film that adapts H.P. Lovecraft’s short stories “Dagon” and “The Shadow over Innsmouth.” Set in a remote coastal village, the film follows a group of friends whose boating trip takes a terrifying turn when they become stranded and discover that the locals harbor dark secrets.
The film's atmosphere is one of its strongest assets. The eerie, isolated setting of the village of Imboca is beautifully shot, creating a sense of foreboding that permeates the film. Stuart Gordon effectively builds tension, making excellent use of practical effects to bring Lovecraft's nightmarish creatures to life. The design of the fish-like beings is particularly striking, contributing to the film’s unsettling vibe.
Ezra Godden delivers a commendable performance as the lead character, Paul, who finds himself grappling with madness as the horror unfolds around him. However, the supporting characters are somewhat underdeveloped, making it hard for viewers to fully connect with their fates. This lack of depth can dilute the emotional impact of certain scenes.
While Dagon successfully captures Lovecraftian themes of cosmic horror and the unknown, the pacing occasionally falters. The film drags in parts, and some plot points may feel predictable to seasoned horror fans. Additionally, the film's climax, while visually impressive, may leave some viewers wanting more in terms of narrative resolution.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
10/14/24
Full Review
Brian M
An entertaining, atmospheric, fast-paced film that is ultimately little more than fluff. The issue seems to be its refusal to slow down and let any kind of mystery or suspense build into the plot. The main characters arrive in the spooky seaside village and as soon as you suspect something is amiss, bam!, something bad happens. As soon as the protagonist learns he’s being pursued, bam! the bad guys are right there banging on his door. Slow down! It’s hard to be invested in a story without suspense, especially when the characters don’t bring much to the table. Also, I tend to be a bit wary of movies that rely on dreams to advance the plot; such a plot device seems to indicate a lack of meaningful story development. I was entertained but had no qualms about walking away for an hour in the middle of it to do some work before finishing it up.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
10/11/24
Full Review
IrateTyrant C
A must-see for all horror fans because of writing and direction
This was a riotous adaptation of Lovecraft by master horror filmmaker Stuart Gordon. The acting was barely on par, the graphics were holding on by a thread (even the practical ones), and the overall plot was so far-fetched it would be called a foul ball in anyone else's hands. But the grandiose story careens through suspenseful parts so confidently, it's very easy to be swept away in the contagious rhythm of the movie. As a Lovecraft fan, it's enormously fun to see his stories come to such vibrant life on the screen. As a Lovecraft critic, it's even more fun to see a translation that understands its own inherent goofiness and rides it out to the point of full-circle frightening entertainment. I wouldn't call this a great movie, but it's truly a must-see for all horror fans.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
09/01/24
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Henry B
A rare well-done adaptation of Lovecraft. The acting is exceptional and the only misstep is that the story is set in Spain, as opposed to Massachusetts. A must-see for Lovecraft fans who enjoyed his "The Shadow Over Innsmouth".
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
08/26/24
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John C
‘Dagon’ is one of those films where I watch and yet still can’t really make up my mind about. I didn’t hate it. It has its good points, yet overall there didn’t really seem like there was enough story to flesh it out (even to its quite average ninety minute runtime).
It’s about an American couple whose boat gets shipwrecked off a remote Spanish island. When they get to shore they find the locals are hardly the hospitable types. It kind of reminded me of ‘The Wicker Man,’ i.e. outsiders who are up against the whole of a town.
My main problem with the film was that very little happens. Once the couple arrive on the island, they’re quickly separated and we’re left with just the man. Pretty much the whole of the middle part of the film is him being chased from one dark and creepy location to the next. He’s all on his own and doesn’t really have anyone to interact with, therefore we don’t really get to know him that well and know that he’s going to make it out of each area, simply because the film would end if he didn’t. He does meet one local, but the old man talks with such a strong accent I actually had to put the subtitles on to understand him!
Seriously, if you were watching Dagon on DVD, you could skip a few chapters in the middle and you wouldn’t miss anything ‘story-wise,’ just a few creepy scenes here and there. The atmosphere is one of the plus points. The story is nicely creepy and the monsters are well done. It’s just a pity not much happens for the majority of the movie.
The last act is a bit more dramatic and they’ve saved some of the best gore for last, but it’s too little too late to turn what could have elevated an okay film to a really classic one. Bottom line, it’s okay, but because there’s so little story, I probably wouldn’t watch it again because I can remember everything about it.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
06/23/24
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Audience Member
Prolly the best interpretation of shadow over Innsmouth we're getting!
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
06/19/24
Full Review
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