Oliver Mitchell

Ancient forces, forbidden knowledge and a distinctly British strain of Gothic terror are converging in For We Are Many 2: Lovecraft, an ambitious new horror anthology bringing together genre veterans Nicholas Vince and Laurence R. Harvey with a collection of filmmakers determined to put their own stamp on H. P. Lovecraft's cosmic nightmares. With the project's Kickstarter campaign now entering its final 48 hours, a new look at the film has revealed more of the strange worlds, creatures and characters lurking within. Produced by Hex Studios as part of the British Horror Studio, For We Are Many 2: Lovecraft brings together independent British and Irish filmmakers for a series of interconnected tales influenced by Lovecraft's work and filtered through the traditions of Gothic horror. Nicholas Vince, known to horror audiences for Hellraiser and Nightbreed, stars alongside The Human Centipede II actor Laurence R. Harvey and Megan Tremethick. Rather than directly recreating familiar Lovecraft stories, the anthology explores recurring ideas associated with his fiction, including dangerous curiosity, unknowable entities, secretive cults and humanity's rather insignificant position in a much larger universe. Binding the stories together is a wraparound influenced by classic Amicus anthology films. In it, H. P. Lovecraft himself is detained in a police station and attempts to convince doctors and investigators that an unimaginable cosmic threat is approaching, recounting a series of encounters with the unknown as evidence. The individual segments promise considerable variety within that framework: Sarah Daly directs a story centred on forbidden knowledge and the consequences of opening doors that should have remained closed, while Tom Staunton's contribution takes place around a black-tie gathering disrupted by the unexplained arrival of a mysterious stranger. Tremethick directs a story inspired by The Haunter of the Dark, starring Vince as a man drawn towards an incomprehensible darkness, with the filmmakers combining Gothic horror with visual influences from German Expressionism. Oliver Revie's segment follows two explorers entering a woodland where reality begins to distort around them. Lawrie Brewster, meanwhile, draws inspiration from classic British science fiction such as Doctor Who and Quatermass for a story in which a troubled but brilliant mind uncovers something horrifying beneath the earth. Tremethick stars opposite veteran theatre performer Michael Daviot in the segment. Harvey appears in another particularly intriguing strand, set in a Britain approaching collapse where a persecuted group known as the fish-men begins to rise. Harvey plays their leader, a figure whose promised liberation may conceal something considerably more dangerous. Brewster praised Vince's contribution to the project, saying: “Nicholas has a commanding presence and an instinctive understanding of this kind of horror. There’s a real assurance to his performance, and he knows exactly when to be subtle and when to let something more animated break through. That contrast was wonderful to work with, and having him become part of our Lovecraftian world was an absolute privilege.” The filmmaking team includes Brewster, Daly, Staunton, Revie and Tremethick, with the project deliberately drawing on the history of British horror. Hex Studios describes the wider British Horror Studio venture as an attempt to revive some of the creative independence associated with companies such as Hammer and Amicus, while combining those older influences with contemporary filmmakers and ideas. The Kickstarter campaign has already moved beyond its initial £27,500 target, which it reached within 48 hours of launching, and has subsequently passed its first stretch goal. That crowdfunding model is also closely tied to the studio's wider ambitions. Hex Studios says money raised through its productions is reinvested into future films, new filmmakers and the development and restoration of working studio spaces. With Vince and Harvey providing recognisable genre credentials and a filmmaking team approaching Lovecraft through British and Irish Gothic traditions rather than straightforward adaptation, For We Are Many 2: Lovecraft looks to be aiming for something considerably stranger than a conventional collection of monster stories. The Kickstarter campaign for For We Are Many 2: Lovecraft is now in its final 48 hours, with horror fans able to support the project while the campaign remains live. Even if you miss this round of funding, this is likely another title from Hex/British Horror Studio that you'll want to look out for. Kickstarter: kickstarter.com/projects/lawriebrewster/for-we-are-many-2-feature-film-lovecraft-horror-anthology British Horror Studios: britishhorrorstudio.com/