[Beyond Fest 2023 Review] 'Suitable Flesh' Delivers Horny Lovecraft Horror that Would Make Stuart Gordon Proud

​Writer Dennis Paoli (Re-Animator, From Beyond) first began developing the adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s story “The Thing on the Doorstep”—which would later become Suitable Flesh—in the 90s. Originally meant to be another collaboration between he and the late, great Stuart Gordon, it never came to be. So, when Mayhem director Joe Lynch was brought on to direct, a self-described fan of Stuart’s work, the pressure was on to make a film that would pay loving tribute to the filmmaker. During a Q&A of the West Coast premiere at Beyond Fest, Lynch mentioned that he would always ask himself during filming, “what would Stuart do?” We’ll never know how it would’ve turned out in Gordon’s hands, but what I can say is this; Joe Lynch’s Suitable Flesh would’ve made Stuart Gordon proud.
 
In this wild story of sex and body-hopping madness, we meet psychiatrist Elizabeth (Heather Graham), living a perfectly fine yet mundane life with her husband (Johnathan Schaech). Unsatisfied in bed and seeking some excitement, that thrill arrives in an attractive new patient (Judah Lewis). Terrified, he claims his father (Bruce Davison) is trying to take over his body. But after a chance sexual encounter with the hot young stud, Elizabeth discovers that not only is he not crazy, but what’s after him is far more ancient than his father…and now it wants her.
 
Rejoice, because Joe Lynch has made a film just for us sickos.
 
Beginning with Elizabeth in a padded cell as she recounts the strange events that brought her here to best friend and fellow doctor (Barbara Crampton), Suitable Flesh sinks its claws in and drags viewers into a classic H.P. Lovecraft tale. Love him or hate him, the writer was a master craftsman when it came to telling a story within a story. That style of storytelling eventually became a hallmark of noir in the 40s/50s, and it’s that sort of vibe that percolates all throughout like the smoke in a detective’s office from one of those films. In this case, Graham is in the role of the “detective” trying to get to the bottom of a mystery, while Judah is a gender swap of the femme fatale, drawing her deeper into a world of lust and violence.
 
Like a threesome between noir, a 90s erotic thriller and Lovecraft, Lynch delivers a captivating tale that hits all of the notes of what some fans feel we don’t see enough of from the genre these days. What makes him a perfect choice to step into the shoes of Gordon—not that anyone can ever actually fill them—is that he isn’t afraid to get weird. Or sexy. Or bloody. Suitable Flesh is the kind of movie that would drive the anti-sex in film people absolutely mad while the rest of us tap our fingers together Mr. Burns style, whispering “good, good”. Those of you that grew up on 90s erotic thrillers like Basic Instinct or Wild Things will feel like you’ve been transported in time. The soft lighting. The kinky settings (sex while hanging out of a tenth-floor window, anyone?). The horny as hell dialogue. Lynch understood the assignment and then some.

Being that this is both a continuation of and tribute to Gordon’s work, Lynch pushes the boundaries in every way possible, restrained only by budget. Aside from the eroticism (accompanied by a sexy 90s sax score!) and gruesome gore, the director and cinematographer David Matthews go buck wild with the camerawork. The stylish cinematography here is dizzying (literally), spinning around at times in a disorienting motion that matches the mental state of Elizabeth’s slipping reality. Fans of Gordon’s work will be delighted at how closely the production design captures the look of Miskatonic as well. The hospital setting looks almost exactly as it did in Re-Animator, with Lynch paying cheer-worthy homage to a few scenes in particular from that film. Of course, no one adapts Lovecraft better than Paoli, so with his involvement, fans can rest at ease knowing that the writer’s personality shines through. Characters frequently make mind-boggling decisions, and there are a few plot contrivances squeezed in to push the story forward no matter how unbelievable, but Paoli’s knack for humorous dialogue and clever twists make this one entertaining mind fuck regardless.
 
Speaking of entertaining, Heather Graham is on fire in this role. The actress is no stranger to erotic films, yet she’s never done anything that’s quite on this level of bizarre horror camp. You wouldn’t know it though, because the actress nails the humor, absolutely feasting on the scenery and savoring every morsel. Meanwhile, Judah plays off her well, doing his own chewing as he channels Skeet Ulrich from Scream, going a little mad and having a good time doing it. And then there’s producer/co-star, Barbara Crampton, owning the camera in one of her more fun performances of late that’s sure to remind fans why she is our horror queen.
 
Slimy. Sexy. Sidesplitting. There’s a whole lot to enjoy about Joe Lynch’s Suitable Flesh. Yes, the plot comes off a bit forced at times. No, there isn’t as much body horror as you might be hoping for. Sure, the direct to video 90s vibe and strangeness of it all won’t be for everyone. Regardless, Lynch should take pride in this entertaining albeit messy love letter to the work of Stuart Gordon. It’s not perfect, but it’s more than suitable for anyone craving fleshy 90s horror injected with the madness of Lovecraft. We’ll see if Lynch dives into the Miskatonic universe again, but here’s hoping he gets the chance.

Suitable Flesh arrives in theaters and on VOD October 27th from RLJE Films.

By Matt Konopka