According toDeadline, an erotic, body swap horror movie starringHeather GrahamandJudah Lewishas recently wrapped its principal photography. Directed by Joe Lynch and written by Dennis Paoli, the film will be loosely based on H.P. Lovecraft’s short storyThe Thing on the Doorstep. Graham will play a psychiatrist who ends up becoming obsessed with a young patient with multiple personalities. Also starring in the film isBarbara Crampton.
Graham was recently in the 2020 miniseries adaptation ofThe Standby Stephen King. She also appeared in six episodes ofTwin Peaks’second season, playing Annie Blackburn, a role she briefly reprised inTwin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me. She was the Annie referred to during the “How’s Annie? HOW’S ANNIE?!” line. Besides that, Graham was also in Terrified and Compulsion, both of which also featured Carrie-Anne Moss.
Lewis is best known for starring inThe Babysitterwith Samara Weaving and its sequel,The Babysitter: Killer Queen,with Jenna Ortega. During those movies, Lewis played Cole Johnson, a teen boy who discovers that his beloved babysitter is the leader of a coven of murderous Satanists. Besides that, Lewis was also inSummer of 84, andI See You.
Crampton, who also serves as a producer, has previously appeared in several films based on the works of Lovecraft. Most famously isRe-Animator, in addition toFrom Beyond.She was also inCastle Freak, inspired by “The Outsider” (not to be confused with the King novel and later miniseries of the same name). Stuart Gordon directed all those films, which he also wrote alongside Paoli.
“We’ve been so fortunate to work with top talent both behind and in front of the camera on our recent films. At Amp it’s about developing not only memorable, thought-provoking material for an audience, but also fresh and unusual enough to attract the very best creative collaborators. I was ecstatic when first the formidable Joe Lynch, then Heather Graham signed on – her natural charm is always in evidence, but we get to see a different untapped side of her abilities here. I’ve been thrilled to be invited to join seasoned pros at Amp, and we are only getting started,” said Crampton.
And Now For Those Behind The Camera
Besides the films already listed, Paoli also wrote the scripts forDagon, an adaptation of The Shadow Over Innsmouth, and theMasters of Horrorepisode “H.P. Lovecraft’s Dreams in the Witch-House.” Though Gordon also directed those, neither Crampton nor recurring co-star Jeffery Combs appeared in them. His work frequently involves sexuality and nudity, whether you want them to or not.
Lynch’s most recent horror movie work in the horror genre is Mayhem, starring Steven Yeun and Weaving. He also directedWrong Turn 2: Dead End, featuring Henry Rollins as a U.S. Marine turned reality show host, which has received the highest critical score of the entire franchise on Rotten Tomatoes, though the scores forWrong Turn 3: Left for Dead, 5, and6were unavailable.
“When I read Dennis Paoli’s adaptation of the story, I felt like there was a fantastic opportunity to update and subvert Lovecraft’s often old-fashioned sensibilities in a way that felt modern, relevant and even dangerous, with a pinch of 90’s neo-noir and a dash of eroticism to spice up the stew. Working with Amp and such a fantastic cast – including Heather, Judah, Barbara, Bruce and Johnathon – we’re so excited that this sexy, funny, scary film isn’t just a modernized love letter to Lovecraft, but the kind of provocatively entertaining “sin-ema” I believe audiences are salivating for!” Said Lynch.
The new untitled Lovecraft film, shot in Mississippi, will be produced by Bob Portal, Joe Wicker, and Inderpal Singh for Amp, in association with Mississippi-based Eyevox Entertainment. Brian Yuzna, who also worked on theRe-Animatorfranchise, will serve as an executive producer alongside Lynch. Amp, a genre specialist and seller, will also handle worldwide sales.
