Necronomicon
A feverish Lovecraftian anthology turns a forbidden book into a gateway for grotesque tales of death, resurrection, and cosmic terror.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- surreal
- grotesque
- disturbing
- late night horror marathon
- cult film night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film an uneven but entertaining Lovecraftian anthology, praising its early segments, creature effects, and David Warner's performance while faulting later stories for losing focus and atmosphere.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
H.P. Lovecraft enters a guarded library and copies stories from the Necronomicon, which then unfold as the anthology's main segments.
The film foregrounds squishy gore, Lovecraftian creatures, and special makeup effects, including Cthulhu-like imagery.
The Necronomicon functions as an occult source of stories involving death, resurrection, immortality, and divine or inhuman powers.
Jeffrey Combs and the anthology segments use overstatement, surreal staging, and flamboyant horror imagery rather than naturalistic restraint.
Films like Necronomicon, and why
Creepshow
shared lovecraftian horror, grotesque practical effects, and anthology storytelling
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie
shared literary horror framing device, supernatural tales, and darkly theatrical tone
The Void
shared cosmic horror, occult mythology, and visceral creature effects
From Beyond
shared decadent gothic atmosphere, body horror, and adaptation of classic weird fiction
Movie Details
- Directors
- Shusuke Kaneko, Christophe Gans, Brian Yuzna
- Release Date
- 1993-11-01
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (208)
Cast
- Jeffrey Combs
- Tony Azito
- Juan Fernández
- Brian Yuzna
- Bruce Payne
- Belinda Bauer
- Richard Lynch
- Maria Ford
- Denice D. Lewis
- Vladimir Kulich
Common questions
- What is Necronomicon about?
- A feverish Lovecraftian anthology turns a forbidden book into a gateway for grotesque tales of death, resurrection, and cosmic terror.
- What is Necronomicon like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Necronomicon as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Necronomicon violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Necronomicon as graphic.
- What did critics think of Necronomicon?
- Critics broadly found the film an uneven but entertaining Lovecraftian anthology, praising its early segments, creature effects, and David Warner's performance while faulting later stories for losing focus and atmosphere.
- Which films are like Necronomicon?
- Films with a similar feel include Creepshow, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, The Void, and From Beyond.
- How long is Necronomicon?
- Necronomicon runs 96 minutes.
