11 HORRIFYING Films About Cults

Dagon is an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s novella, The Shadow Over Innsmouth, released in 2001 and directed by Stuart Gordon. It’s a relatively faithful adaptation, although a few small details have been altered. Instead of Innsmouth, the film takes place in a fictional Spanish fishing town called Imboca.

Wealthy entrepreneur Paul (Ezra Godden) is forced to flee to Imboca when his yacht sinks just off the coast. He finds the locals to be just helpful enough; they promise aid but only after Paul stays the night in a local hotel (which is rundown and appropriately creepy).

The cult reveals their hand in short order when they attempt to abduct Paul during the night.

As in Lovecraft’s story, the citizens of Imboca are literally monsters: they are the half-human, half-fish spawn of Dagon - the monstrous deity the cult worships. Most of the creatures look incredible due to the excellent practical effects (something of a trademark in a Stuart Gordon directed film), but certain CGI elements have aged very poorly.

The film relies on a creeping sense of horror for the first two thirds of its runtime, before unleashing a barrage of body-horror in the final act (one scene is particularly gruesome - you’ll know it when you see it!).