The Author.
Lovecraft.
This name has become eponymous with the word Horror. Arguably one of the most inspired and mind numbing tales of horror came from the tormented mind of this reclusive and popular pulp fiction author living in the early 20th century. With peers and correspondents like Robert E. Howard for company, H.P. wove his stories on a macabre scale and mesmerised readers of "Weird Tales" for decades altogether. Lovecraft has inspired leagues of authors and artists for all these years.Clive Barker, Stephen King, John Carpenter are some of those in this league who have stood on the shoulder of this giant and have seen the landscapes that lie beyond the treshold of human perception.It is interesting to note that Lovecraft himself was very much inspired by E.A. Poe, a colossus in his own right .A few days ago I read a comic book adaptation of Lovecrafts biography.It was lucidly written and brilliantly illustrated. To such an extent that one could almost feel the feral offsprings of Lovecrafts disturbed mind come to life in its pages.Almost. Which bring us to the next topic.
The Actor.
Bruce Campbell. "Bruce Who?" ,you say. Remember that B grade actor with his weird facial antics and more funny one liners than Arnold "I'll be back" Schwarzenneger? Still does'nt ring a bell? Hint: He looks a lot like Jim Carrey. Also while you are at it,think of the B grade horror movie.Or is it a Comic Horror movie.I wonder. Ok. I give up.
Arguably one of the best horror trilogies of all time , "The Evil Dead" series manages to make money even today, latest being the PlayStation 2 title released a few months ago, aptly called :
"Evil Dead: Regeneration".
Coming back to the actor.Bruce Campbell is no Marlon Brando.But he sure as hell makes a very good Elvis Presley(Seen "Bubba Ho-Tep"?) .Bruce has risen to the heights of Cult Stardom and has been accepted as A Legend of "B" Movies.In fact he has also written a book lampooning about the idea wherein he examines what would happen to the world if he were an "A" Grade Movie Star.The book is titled..."Make Love the Bruce Campbell way".Now that,ladies and gentlemen , is an actor with class.One who knows his limitations and has the sense of humour to pull his own leg.Apart from being a really funny Actor,Bruce is also a successful voice over artist, having lent his voice to a lot of video games .So what does Bruce, our Actor friend , have in common with, Lovecraft, our Writer friend?
Which reminds me of ...the book.
Yes.
The Necronomicon.(called Necronomicon EX MORTES in Evil Dead..bad latin anyone? )
The book of the dead.
Apparently this book was the source of much of Lovecrafts dementia and also was the reason for Ash(Protagonist of Evil Dead,played evil-ly by Bruce) .Scholars have debated and have reached a conclusion that the book never existed.But lets leave that for the pundits to argue over. What else is the connect then?
Like almost everything in life ,disappointingly there is none.
A torn writer who became a demigod for others to follow, An actor who made a name for himself inspite of his average skills and a book which is , imaginary.
Eccentricity , people.ECCENTRICITY.
People who live life the Bizarro way. And succeed.Sometimes.
Books which have weird content.But become dogma .And sometimes more.
IA SHUB NIGGURATH. And SHAGGOTH. BUBBA HO TEP . And KLAATU BARADA NIKTO!!
"Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who only dream by night."
- E. A. Poe.
