Todd Howe

I've been a movie buff my entire adult life (62 y.o.) I had zero expectations going into this. I read no reviews. Heard no social media chatter ON PURPOSE. The parents of historical fiction & social commentary have given birth to three children of humor, horror & humanity. The accuracy of Chinese grocers living & working side-by-side with black folks in the Delta, the African arcane arts being woven into the story as much as the ubiquity of cotton & sharecropping & poverty. But PRIDE & PURPOSE were always central every characters part in the drama. So many untold stories I can see a Lovecraftian future for this universe. Watch out MCU! Let me not forget: THE MUSIC. THE MUSIC. THE MUSIC West African dancers/drummers, Native Americans, Chinese musical iconography, Irish folk music, country Melungeon-esque banjo playing (where were you Rihanna Giddens?) the blues, jazz, rock, p-funk, hip hop, rap. The history of American music brought tears to my eyes! I have to stop writing there are so many layers to this movie. It's a pallella of music, characters and cinematography.

If you're a REH fan this movie gives a wonderful insight into the life of a distinguished writer who never really felt he was accepted. It shows the twin towers of his genius & creativity. The pain of his insecurities ripped at his guts like the demons he wrote about. Viewers should read Finn's "Blood & Thunder" to further enrich their knowledge of the father of sword and sorcery. His story is every bit as rich and compelling as Burroughs or Lovecraft.