Horror Movie Review: H.P. Lovecraft’s Monster Portal (2022)

It’s fair to say that H.P. Lovecraft’s work has rarely translated well to movies. Aside from a handful of good adaptions, you’d struggle to find movies that really capture what the horror author was going for. Even then, the good adaptions end up having to take massive liberties with the story.

H.P. Lovecraft’s Monster Portal isn’t an adaption, rather it’s a story that uses elements of the man’s work. Hence why it can be found under several different names, with the most common being The Offering. Something that is never a good sign.

A Jagged Edge Productions movie, so with a story by Scott Chambers, Mario von Czapiewski, and Matthew B.C., with the latter serving as director. H.P. Lovecraft’s Monster Portal has all the elements of a bad movie, but turns out to be a fairly enjoyable horror flick with some big ideas.

A big idea that is showcased early on as a sick man named Peter (Richard Harfst) sacrifices himself to a giant other dimensional creature. Seemingly on the promise of living a healthy life elsewhere. Before he dies though, he records a message for his estranged daughter Celine.

Some time later, Celine and her boyfriend Rich (Louis James) go to Peter’s estate, a sprawling piece of land, to tie things up. Along for the ride is their friend Nick (George Nettleton) and his new girlfriend, April (Sarah Alexandra Marks). There, they meet housekeeper Edda (Judy Tcherniak) and discover some unusual things about the estate. Unusual things that seem to relate to ‘old gods’.

Celine loved her father, even though they were estranged, and wants to understand why he died. However, this is a thread she may not want to pull. There are people who want to bring the old ones back, and she might hold the key. Provided she can get past the personal drama that surrounds her too.

An area that Monster Portal is lacking in, as nothing has weight here, and no character really shines, even if the acting is solid.

No, where Monster Portal gets good is with its horror and mystery elements. An area that the film is more than willing to delve into, even if large portions of it are fairly predictable, and even if a lot of CGI isn’t award winning stuff.

It can be forgiven though because this is a low-budget film, and everyone involved squeezes out as much as possible from what they have. Mixing up the CGI with practical gore effects too. The end result is a film that holds the attention and pays off the investment nicely. It’s not a classic, but for a movie with H.P. Lovecraft in the title, it’s certainly better than expected.