Castle Freak (2020 film)

Lore & Background

The plot follows Rebecca 'Becca' Riley, blinded in an accident caused by her boyfriend John driving under the influence. They learn that Becca's biological mother, Lavinia Whateley, has died, leaving a castle in Albania as her inheritance. John wants to sell quickly, while Becca wishes to learn about her mother. Unbeknownst to them, the castle contains a monstrous creature that Lavinia had kept chained, recently freed by an unknown person. Becca begins hearing strange sounds and having visions; John refuses to believe her, straining their relationship. John invites four people to the castle, including Shelly, with whom he has been flirting, and The Professor, who studies the occult at Miskatonic University. The group finds a Necronomicon and tunnels leading to Lavinia's journal, which reveals she was forcibly impregnated by her father during a ritual to Yog-Sothoth and gave birth to twin girls: Becca was put up for adoption, while the other was born deformed and kept captive. The journal warns that if the sisters reunite and join hands, a gate to Yog-Sothoth will open. The Professor encounters Becca's sibling and converts to a cult of the Elder Gods. The creature stalks and kills the other guests. Ultimately, John kills Marku, who reveals the setup, but is attacked by the creature. Becca begs John to spare her sister; John hits Becca, she injures him, and the creature kills him. Overwhelmed, Becca takes her sister's hand, opening a gate for Yog-Sothoth, and her body undergoes a monstrous transformation. In an after-credits scene, The Professor, identified as 'Mr. Armitage,' greets a man called 'West' as a glowing vial sits on his desk.

Reader's Guide

Castle Freak (2020) is significant as a remake of Stuart Gordon's 1995 cult horror film, itself an adaptation of Lovecraft's work. Directed by special effects artist Tate Steinsiek, the film was part of an 'Expanded Lovecraft Universe' announced by producer Barbara Crampton, incorporating elements from the original while introducing new characters. The film's release was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting from a film festival premiere to an online debut on Shudder. Critical reception was mixed: JoBlo.com's Arrow in the Head criticized the characters as one-dimensional but noted satisfying kills; Culture Crypt rated it 55/100, comparing it to Full Moon movies' silly storylines and midnight movie charm. The film's legacy lies in its attempt to modernize a horror classic within a shared Lovecraftian universe, though it did not achieve the acclaim of the original.

Did You Know?

• The film was directed by Tate Steinsiek, who had previously worked as a special effects artist.
• Barbara Crampton, star of the 1995 original, served as a producer on this remake.
• The film was originally scheduled to premiere at the Chattanooga Film Festival on April 16, 2020, but the festival moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The after-credits scene features a character identified as 'Mr. Armitage' greeting a man named 'West,' with a glowing vial on the desk.