Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities Delivers Top

The 'The Autopsy' episode of Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities on Netflix is being called one of the finest hours of Lovecraftian horror ever produced for television. The episode successfully captures the abstract cosmic dread central to the genre, joining a short list of effective screen adaptations.

Many films and shows have attempted to visualize H.P. Lovecraft's 'fear of the unknown.' Recent movies like Annihilation, The Endless, and Color Out of Space have found some success. On television, series such as Archive 81, True Detective, and Lovecraft Country have approached similar themes. The report argues that within del Toro's anthology, 'The Autopsy' stands out for its mastery of the form.

How 'The Autopsy' Masters Cosmic Dread

Directed by David Prior and adapted by David S. Goyer from a 1980 Michael Shea short story, 'The Autopsy' features an alien entity that views humans merely as 'meat.' The creature uses human bodies as sensory hosts, devoid of empathy. Screen Rant notes that, like classic Lovecraftian beings, it disregards humanity, keeping hosts alive and conscious for its own amusement. Giving the creature an articulate voice allows viewers to, as the report describes, 'get inside the head of the unknowable.'

The episode mirrors Lovecraft's method of blending science with cosmic horror. Its protagonist, Dr. Carl Winters, played by F. Murray Abraham, begins as a rational seeker of empirical truth. His curiosity leads him to discover a body that has been 'harvested' by something beyond scientific explanation. The report states the episode uses body horror to reduce the human form to 'biological machinery with accidental consciousness.'

The Case for Del Toro's Unmade Lovecraft Film

The success of this episode has revived discussion about Guillermo del Toro's long-unrealized passion project: a direct adaptation of Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness. The film was once in active development with del Toro set to direct, James Cameron producing, and Tom Cruise starring. It was planned as an R-rated cosmic horror epic with a budget around $150 million.

Universal Pictures reportedly considered the project a major financial gamble, leading to its cancellation. Del Toro later expressed interest in reviving it at Netflix. The report from Screen Rant argues that the success of Cabinet of Curiosities, along with del Toro's Frankenstein and Pinocchio for Netflix, proves he 'deserves to have another shot' at the film. For now, the project remains dormant.

Where to Watch the Series

The Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities anthology, which includes the 'The Autopsy' episode, is available for streaming. The series details, as compiled from the source, are below:

The report concludes by suggesting fans of the genre can also seek out Archive 81 on Netflix, which it calls 'another great Lovecraftian series.'