Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Cast: Jana Carpenter, Barnaby Kay, Nicola Walker, Kate Isitt, Ben Crowe, Laura Gibson, Michael Maloney, Abigail Thaw, Rufus Wright, Catherine Kanter, Ferdinand Kingsley.
The period dominated by pandemic was without doubt a trial fuelled by exhaustion and fear, of the great unknown in terms of human life. In one corner conspiracy reigned, and in the other ignorance and apathy were kings of the internet, driven by horrific stories on both sides that would sit and dwell in the minds of the populace as if some terrifically upsetting and devious horror was about to unleash itself upon the cinema screen and all who watched would eventually succumb to nightmares.
Whilst it superbly hinted at as a device to carry the narrative in The Shadow Over Innsmouth, it becomes more of a regimented idea as a driver for why the fourth instalment of The Lovecraft Investigations took a back burner for a while after a run of incredibly adapted tales by Julian Simpson.
The length of time between series actually aided the narrative in a way that should have been expected and gave the ongoing belief of long term collusion and treachery being a priority alongside the damage considered by those who sought to alter human history by serving demons and the occult for their own right and purpose; and it is to that gap that the listener once more holds onto for solace as the truth finally becomes apparent.
The Haunter Of The Dark is arguably a considerable experience to subject the senses too, but it wraps up neatly the way in which the adaption of H.P. Lovecraft’s substantial insight into the genre at hand is portrayed as a podcast steeped in drama; almost as though the time in which we find available to immerse ourselves into the world is regulated by the snap shot of investigation rather than the deep dive of exploration available.
It is in this wonderfully observed expansion of the last story to have been created by the great American horror writer, and one that was almost unique in being itself a sequel to another author’s work, the outstanding Robert Bloch and The Shambler From The Stars, the listener is confronted by the continual absence of investigator and podcaster Matthew Heawood, and as time goes by the understanding that the tale must fall to the redoubtable Kennedy Fisher as she is surrounded by forces that have been circling and closing in on the final declaration of evil for generations, and which now sense their time has come.
As Matthew returns, played by Barnaby Kay, so the intrigue is ramped up even more, and the interplay between Matthew, Jana Carpenter’s Kennedy Fisher, and one of the great characters given life in Eleanor Peck, played with sublime belief by Nicola Walker, is taken to a natural level that gives chills to the explanation of how the horror has unfolded right before our own eyes.
It is only to be hoped that Julian Simpson will be urged to adapt other works by H.P. Lovecraft, for the writer truly gets underneath the soil laid down by one of the godfathers of American horror. The intensity of direction, the freedom to explore beyond the set realms, is why the entire series, and not just The Haunter Of The Dark is one of the finestaudio dramas to have been placed before the listening public.
Ian D. Hall