H.P. Lovecraft's Cool Air (2006)

As my afternoon of freedom turns to evening, it was time to watch something closer to my norm. With that in mind, earlier I grabbed something from horror master H.P. Lovecraft. My selection for the evening was the 2006 interpretation of Cool Air.

Plot/ Charlie Baxter, a struggling screenwriter, is searching for accommodation in a rundown mansion somewhere in the isolated mountains above Malibu. An expressionless and creatively bankrupt young man who rewrites exploitation sci-fi / horror scripts for a living, he takes a room in the mansion and learns of the mysterious doctor residing in the room above his own who dabbles in strange experiments.

As a fan of Lovecraft, I am usually frustrated by the over-the-top renditions of his works, which often struggle to find their place on the screen. With this one, I am glad it was not the case. This low-budget entry was different, and modernized, character driven rendition that allowed the story to unfold in a heavy manner. The acting was solid, scripting worked and the minimal use of effects brought this one together. Of course, there were some moments when the lower budget crept into view, but those moments were minimal. In the end, this was an entertaining adaption and one that is a solid watch if you enjoy character / story driven works and are not out for gore.