{"id":32895,"date":"2020-03-25T20:18:03","date_gmt":"2020-03-26T00:18:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/?p=32895"},"modified":"2020-03-26T00:59:22","modified_gmt":"2020-03-26T04:59:22","slug":"in-memory-of-stuart-gordon-1947-2020-our-five-favorite-films","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/25\/in-memory-of-stuart-gordon-1947-2020-our-five-favorite-films\/","title":{"rendered":"In Memory of Stuart Gordon (1947-2020): Our Five Favorite Films"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>2020’s been a rough year for the arts in general as while COVID-19 pandemic has forced many films to be delayed, postponed, and or cancelled, and film festivals have been cancelled or delayed, we’ve also lost some excellent artists. Among many of the gut wrenching losses is Stuart Gordon. One of the most widely celebrated and appreciated horror masters, Gordon was a wiz conjuring the spirit of HP Lovecraft to horror cinema, and introducing him to a generation aspiring filmmakers.<\/p>\n

Passing away at 72, Gordon will be very sorely missed by horror fans far and wide, but we can at least take solace in the fact that he’ll live forever in his cinematic masterpieces, work behind the camera, and his impression on men and women in the industry.<\/p>\n

May he rest in peace.<\/p>\n

In his honor, here are five Stuart Gordon films I particularly loved, and five I hope to continue re-watching well in to my old age.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> Castle Freak (1995)
\n<\/strong>While not the best of Gordon\u2019s filmography, \u201cCastle Freak\u201d is still a weird, and unusual Gothic horror film about sexual sadism, and demons of the past boiling to the surface again. This is one of Gordon\u2019s most perverse horror films, and it once again stars Gordon favorite Jeffrey Combs and the immortal Barbara Crampton. There\u2019s a remake\/reboot due very soon with Crampton returning to film.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Dolls (1987)<\/a>
\n<\/strong>\u201cThe Dolls\u201d is like a weird and demented fairy tale about a group of people that end up in the mansion of a pair of doll makers. Said dolls happen to have so much more going on behind them, and soon enough the night becomes a quest for survival. This isn\u2019t as celebrate as Gordon\u2019s other film works, but I enjoy it a great deal for Gordon\u2019s lighting and color work. It\u2019s also a great precursor to \u201cPuppet Master,\u201d and Charles Band\u2019s obsession with small monsters.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Robot Jox (1989)<\/a>
\n<\/strong>One of the various collaborations with Charles Band, \u201cRobot Jox\u201d has a lot more ambition than budget, but it still manages to be an entertaining and unique science fiction cult classic. I love movies about giant robots doing battle and Gordon brings the concept front and center with a tale about the world\u2019s superpowers engaging in war through competition with man operated robots. A precursor to \u201cPacific Rim,\u201d this is a gem.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>From Beyond (1986)
\n<\/strong>Gordon\u2019s twisted horror masterpiece is yet another of his cinematic offerings to horror fans bringing the HP Lovecraft flavor front and center to much fanfare. Still a very widely celebrated horror entry, \u201cFrom Beyond\u201d is a gruesome, twisted, and demented tale of madness with Gordon\u2019s favorites Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton starring once again. This is a film filled with immense ambition and myriad iconic moments.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Re-Animator (1985)<\/a>
\n<\/strong>One of the many tastes of HP Lovecraft that Gordon brought to horror fans everywhere, \u201cRe-Animator\u201d is arguably the quintessential Stuart Gordon film. Starring his regulars like Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton, \u201cRe-Animator\u201d is a twisted, morbid, and gruesome horror masterpiece centered on a maniac who appeals to the base human desire for eternal life. This is a classic, and if you\u2019ve yet to see it, now is as good a time as any. It deserves as big an audience and as much appreciation as possible.<\/p>\n