The Music of Erich Zann (1980 short)

Still from "The Music of Erich Zann (1980 short)"...

Summary

Based on the short story by H.P. Lovecraft. This story revolves around a student of metaphysics, Charles Dexter Ward who befriends Erich Zann an aging violinist who lives on the floor above him. Charles is fascinated and then drawn to Zann's sinister yet wonderful music that he hears late at night drifting down from above. He, of course, discovers more then he bargains for when he peers at what beckons beyond that strange curtained window in Zann's room.

Details

• Release Date: 1980
• Country/Language: USA, English
• Genres/Technical: Horror, Fantasy, short
• Runtime: 17 min
• Starring: Robert Rothman, Robert Alexander, Darryl Warren
• Director: John Strysik
• Writer: H.P. Lovecraft (short story), John Strysik (screenplay)
• Producer/Production Co: Beyond Books
• View Film: (link)

Ratings

MPAA Ratings

• Rated: (none, equivalent of a "G")

Tentacle Ratings

A rough measure of how "Lovecraftian" the work is:

• SSS__ (Three Tentacles: Lovecraftian)

Essentially a faithful adaptation of the original story, this short distinguishes itself by portraying the chaos beyond Zann's window as a dancing girl in silhouette and with psychedelic imagery.

Note: This rating is not intended as a measure of quality, merely of how closely related to Lovecraftian "Weird" fiction the work is.

Reviews

Review Links:

• (review needed!)

Synopsis

Based on the short story by H.P. Lovecraft. This story revolves around a student of metaphysics, Charles Dexter Ward who befriends Erich Zann an aging violinist who lives on the floor above him. Charles is fascinated and then drawn to Zann's sinister yet wonderful music that he hears late at night drifting down from above. He, of course, discovers more then he bargains for when he peers at what beckons beyond that strange curtained window in Zann's room.

Notes

Associated Mythos Elements

• fiction: "The Music of Erich Zann (fiction)"