Pickman’s Muse
Pickman’s Muse (2009)
Written, Directed and Filmed by: Robert Cappelletto
Where can I see it?: Right now Pickman’s Muse is making the film festival circuit. There will be a screening at this year’s H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival here in Portland, Oregon. You can also find Pickman’s Muse on MySpace where they update their blog with screening information.
Synopsis:
Based loosely on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story: Haunter of the Dark, Pickman’s Muse is the story of an artist, Robert Pickman, who becomes obsessed by visions of unworldly horror, revealed to him through an ancient artifact discovered in an abandoned church. His doctor and friend, Ambrose Dexter, becomes embroiled in the mysteries surrounding Pickman’s newfound obsession, and struggles to combat forces determined to drag Pickman down the inevitable road to madness.
Hello Ghouls and Boils,
I put the tentacles out when I heard there was a new film going around the festival circuit called Pickman’s Muse. I am always excited to hear about a new film based on Lovecraft’s work. It wasn’t long before I found writer/director/cinematographer Robert Cappelletto on facebook — ah the interwebs! — and swiftly asked for a screener copy to share with you! Robert kindly obliged and sent along a DVD. So here you go – without further delay – my thoughts on Pickman’s Muse. Enjoy my fiends!
Pickman’s Muse is supposed to be “loosely based” on H.P. Lovecraft’s “The Haunter of the Dark“. In truth it is an amalgamation of “The Haunter of the Dark” and “Pickman’s Model” – with hints of other stories mixed in. This is not uncommon for films based in Lovecraft’s universe. Many of his stories are tied together or have very similar elements. It is a ripe picking ground for any imaginative filmmaker.
The film starts off in a theater. The audience must be watching a comedy because everyone is laughing – except for one gentleman. He looks unfazed by what has the crowd in stitches. This scene transitions to same serious faced man talking with a therapist. He is obviously suffering some sort of depression. We come to find out that this is Richard Pickman, an artist who earns a healthy living painting landscapes and pieces to match wallpaper. It has been some time since Pickman has painted – he is overdue on commissions. Until one day he is awoken and inspired by the spire of an old church. He finds his muse… and begins his descent into madness.
The musical score of this film, composed by Will Greer (Cthulhu 2007), is moody and understated. I thought it was just the right touch for the story. Greer has a knack for the subtleties needed to score a Lovecraftian piece. I hope he continues to do music in the horror and strange tales genres for many years to come.
The set design, locations and props were all quite wonderful. The look and feel of the film was executed with love and the little touches don’t go unnoticed. I particularly enjoyed the Trapezohedron prop. It is also important to mention the FX towards the end of the film are very well done.
I liked the lead actor Barret Walz and found him to be the most convincing. I didn’t believe Maurice Nicholson as Dr. Dexter and I found Tom Lodewyck to be a little over-the-top as Goodie Hines. Some of the acting was borderline film school project… you know the kind… where the filmmaker hires all his friends for the leads. Fortunately, for the most part, the acting wasn’t so bad that it completely took me out of the film. The scene with the children was a bit painful, but I know it is difficult to find good young actors (even when you have a large budget).
Final thoughts:
The pacing of the movie was kind of slow. There were times that I felt like the film was dragging a bit. But the overall story, look, feel and sound of the film was great. You can tell this filmmaker is a fan of Lovecraft and this film was a labor of love. I look forward to seeing more films by Robert Cappelletto. If it’s playing at a film festival near you, and you are a fan or horror or strange tales - I recommend giving it a viewing. I give Pickman’s Muse a 3 out of 5.
