Going on holiday in a caravan or a tent is all well and good for those of us who like to get a little closer to nature when taking a break, but who wouldn't really prefer to be sunning it up on a luxury yacht, anchored off short in the sunny climes of the Mediterranean? For most of us, the decision wouldn't be a difficult one to make. Still, all it takes is for an unexpected storm to roll over the horizon and the lap of luxury can soon turn into a watery nightmare, which is exactly what happens to the holidaymakers in Dagon, Stuart Gordon's adaptation of H P Lovecraft's classic short story The Shadow Over Innsmouth. Taking refuge in a nearby coastal town, the couple soon realise that the locals are hiding a dark secret, where they worship the powerful ancient god Dagon and carry out ritual sacrifices to placate him. While Dagon received mixed reactions from the critics, Lovecraft fans were largely pleased to finally see their favourite purveyor of the macabre and twisted finally brought to the screen with some authenticity, capturing the crumbling village and pitiful souls wandering within it with vivid production design and attention to atmosphere.
