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The Dunwich Horror (1970) -- Wilbur Whateley pops over to the Arkham Miskatonic University to borrow the legendary Necronomicon and Sandra Dee. But little does anyone know, Whateley isn't quite human...

Overview

User Rating:
5.1/10   1,135 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 60% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Daniel Haller
Writers:
H.P. Lovecraft (short story)
Curtis Hanson (writer) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Dunwich Horror on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 January 1970 (USA) more
Genre:
Horror more
Tagline:
A few years ago in Dunwich a half-witted girl bore illegitimate twins. One of them was almost human! more
Plot:
Wilbur Whateley pops over to the Arkham Miskatonic University to borrow the legendary Necronomicon and Sandra Dee. But little does anyone know, Whateley isn't quite human... full summary | add synopsis
NewsDesk:
(6 articles)
The Dunwich Horror - Preview Review
 (From Monsters and Critics. 27 March 2009, 9:13 AM, PDT)

Trailer for the New 'Dunwich Horror'
 (From ESplatter. 23 February 2009, 6:18 AM, PST)

User Comments:
Decent adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's short story. more (51 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Sandra Dee ... Nancy Wagner
Dean Stockwell ... Wilbur Whateley

Ed Begley ... Dr. Henry Armitage
Lloyd Bochner ... Dr. Cory
Sam Jaffe ... Old Whateley
Joanne Moore Jordan ... Lavinia Whateley (as Joanna Moore Jordan)
Donna Baccala ... Elizabeth Hamilton

Talia Shire ... Nurse Cora (as Talia Coppola)
Michael Fox ... Dr. Raskin (as Mike Fox)
Jason Wingreen ... Sheriff Harrison
Barboura Morris ... Mrs. Cole
Beach Dickerson ... Mr. Cole
Michael Haynes ... Guard
Toby Russ ... Librarian
Jack Pierce ... Reeger
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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for some sexuality/nudity.
Runtime:
90 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
USA:R | UK:18 (video rating) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:M (original rating)
Filming Locations:
Mendocino, California, USA

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Carol Lynley was on the ideas list for the female lead. more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Every person in the movie pronounces the town's name as "Dun-witch"; in fact, it is pronounced "Dun-itch", with a silent 'W' as in "Greenwich village". more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Fantastic Fantasy Fright-o-Rama Show Vol. 1 (1996) (V) more

FAQ

How closely does the movie follow Lovecraft's story?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
Is this set in the town of Dunwich in Suffolk County, England?
more
23 out of 26 people found the following comment useful.
Decent adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's short story., 20 May 2003
6/10
Author: capkronos (capkronos00@hotmail.com) from Ohio, USA

Sandra Dee (the original GIDGET to you beach bunny fans) is Nancy Baxter, a virginal blonde student at Miskatonic University who meets Wilbur (Dean Stockwell), the grandson of a warlock who was lynched years earlier.

Wilbur shows interest in the Necronomicon and in Nancy, because he needs both to open a gateway for demons called "The Old Ones" to enter our world. He invites her back to his secluded home in Dunwich, where he keeps her drugged, plots to sacrifice her on a seaside altar and fights with his senile, ranting grandfather (Sam Jaffe). A strange-looking, barely-seen, multi-headed flying monster that sees things in negative (and looks kind of like GHIDRAH!), is kept locked in the attic, but escapes for the silly finale.

Sandra Dee fans might want to see her saying sex is "great" and simulating orgasm while being groped on an altar, but she delivers a fine performance as well. Ditto Ed Begley in his last role as a heroic professor. Stockwell is so soft-spoken and weird it's hard to gouge just how good (or bad) his performance really is.

Compared to most recent H.P. Lovecraft adaptations, this isn't half bad and it all looks very cool and colorful. Roger Corman was the executive producer. Director Haller also made DIE, MONSTER, DIE, which was based on Lovecraft's "The Colour Out of Space."

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Dunwich Horror (1970)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Sadra Dee Nude Scene? pumpkinking-4
So this is Curtis Hanson's first screenplay ! Monsieur_Smith
It looked like Sandra Dee was high on something damileebender-1
Fell apart at the end... hannahp1
Cars yourauntgussie
Anyone think this movie is in bad need of a remake? happy_gurl_2003
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