5 Never-Adapted Lovecraft Stories That Are Perfect For TV Anthology

By Mathias NorisJuly 6, 2023 

While some of the author's works have been adapted more than once, these five remain relatively unknown and beg for a faithful adaptation.

Howard Phillips Lovecraft's stories have such a unique structure and atmosphere that they are notoriously difficult to adapt to the screen, although many filmmakers have tried and failed.

There are many reasons for this, from the difficulty of depicting the " unspeakable horror" to the fact that most of his works are quite short and not suitable for a full-length feature film.

However, with the rise of television shows in recent years, projects like Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities have done a much better job of adapting some of the maestro's works. So here are five H.P. Lovecraft stories that are perfect for a faithful TV anthology.

At the Mountains of Madness

One of Lovecraft's best stories somehow avoided being made into a movie for various reasons. Which is rather sad, because the story of an Antarctic expedition that stumbles upon an unimaginably ancient city with terrible secrets would have looked great on screen. Besides, the Elder Things are some of the most unique and creative alien species ever invented.

The Nameless City

Speaking of ancient cities, this story also revolves around one, but this time in the Arabian Desert instead of snowy Antarctica. The Nameless City is perfect material for an Indiana Jones-style tale, but much darker and more haunting.

Dagon

Make no mistake, the 2001 movie of the same name has very little to do with the source material. The original followed a sailor who stumbled upon an unknown island that seemed to be the result of recent volcanic activity. However, he finds much more than he bargained for, as the eruption brought something sinister from the ocean floor.

The Whisperer in Darkness

Elements of this novella have been used in several adaptations, but the original is still an incredibly creepy story worth showing. When strange bodies are seen in the water after a flood in Vermont, Albert Wilmarth receives a strange letter from a man who claims to know the truth, leading to a chilling and memorable final twist.

The Rats in the Walls

The horrible (in a bad way) 1995 movie Castle Freak used the elements of this story, but the original is much better in terms of getting under your skin. After the protagonist moves into an ancestral mansion, he encounters a rat infestation, which becomes less of a problem after he discovers the reason behind it.