Dagon (2001)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Stuart Gordon

Writers:

H.P. Lovecraft (short stories "Dagon" and "The Shadow Over Innsmouth")
Dennis Paoli (screenplay)

Release Date:

31 October 2001 (Spain)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft, the undisputed master of the macabre, Dagon tells the story of Paul Marsh...

Plot Keywords:

Mermaid | Kicking | Person On Fire | Undressing Scene | Disturbing

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Ezra Godden	...	Paul Marsh
Francisco Rabal	...	Ezequiel
Raquel Meroño	...	Bárbara
Macarena Gómez	...	Uxía Cambarro
Brendan Price	...	Howard
Birgit Bofarull	...	Vicki
Uxía Blanco	...	Madre Ezequiel / Ezequiel's Mother
Ferran Lahoz	...	Sacerdote / Priest
Joan Minguell	...	Xavier Cambarro
Alfredo Villa	...	Capitán Orfeo Cambarro / Captain Orpheus Cambarro
José Lifante	...	Recepcionista Hotel / Desk Clerk
Javier Sandoval	...	Padre Ezequiel / Ezequiel's Father
Victor Barreira	...	Ezequiel Joven / Young Ezequiel
Fernando Gil	...	Sacerdote Católico / Catholic Priest
Jorge Luis Pérez	...	Chico / Boy
Ignacio Carreño	...	Tanner 1
Diego Herberg	...	Chofer / Chauffeur
Óscar García	...	Imbocan 1
José Manuel Torres	...	Imbocan 2
Lydia González	...	Imbocan 3
Lydia Bosse	...	Imbocan 4
Joan Manel Vadell	...	Imbocan 5 & Tanner 2

Directed by
Stuart Gordon

Writing credits
H.P. Lovecraft		(short stories "Dagon" and "The Shadow Over Innsmouth")
Dennis Paoli		(screenplay)

Produced by
Carlos Fernández	....	executive producer
Julio Fernández	....	executive producer
Miguel Torrente	....	line producer
Brian Yuzna	....	creative producer
Brian Yuzna	....	producer

Original Music by
Carles Cases

Cinematography by
Carlos Suárez		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jaume Vilalta

Casting by
Anthony Barnao
Gregory Kyle
Américo Piñeiro

Production Design by
Llorenç Miquel

Set Decoration by
Deborah Chambers

Costume Design by
Catou Verdier

Makeup Department
Montse Boqueras	....	makeup artist (as Montserrat Boqueras)
David Martí	....	special makeup effects artist
Sergio Pérez	....	hair stylist (as Sergio Perez)
Marta Resina	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Enric Jorba	....	production manager
Charlie Tello	....	production manager: second unit

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Manuel L. Cañizares	....	first assistant director (as Manuel L. Cañizares)
M.A. Faura	....	second assistant director
Sandra Fernández	....	second second assistant director
Óscar Manero	....	second assistant director
Jairo Murray	....	second second assistant director
Luis Sastre	....	second assistant director
Santi Trullenque	....	assistant director: second unit
Santi Trullenque	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Núria Anglada	....	seamstress (as Nuria Anglada)
Nikolaos Asimenidis	....	set constructor
María José Cano	....	painter (as Maria Jose Cano)
Núria Cardoner	....	seamstress (as Nuria Cardoner)
Fran Cruz	....	props: second unit
Paco Escofet	....	construction manager
Richard Garcia	....	graphic artist
Rafael Garres	....	conceptual artist
Carlos Grané	....	art department buyer (as Carlos Grane)
María Losada	....	on-set dresser (as Maria Losada)
María Losada	....	props: second unit
Xavier Mateu	....	set constructor
Bernat Puig	....	property master
Oriol Puig	....	on-set dresser
Richard Raaphorst	....	conceptual artist
Eduard Rusiñol	....	draftsman (as Eduardo Rusiñol)
Jordi Segarra	....	graphic artist
Sergi Segarra	....	graphic artist
Peio Vizcaya	....	set constructor
D.H. Covey	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Isaac Bonfill	....	boom operator
Pepe Cáceres	....	sound recordist
Manuel Carrión	....	foley artist
James Muñoz	....	sound editor
Marc Orts	....	sound re-recording mixer
Toni Posa	....	assistant sound mixer
José Luis Vázquez	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Mónica Alarcón	....	special effects crew: DDT
Merche Arque	....	special effects crew: DDT
Arturo Balceiro	....	special art effects: DDT (as Arturo Balseiro)
Arturo Balceiro	....	special effects crew: DDT (as Arturo Balseiro)
Xavi Bastida	....	special effects crew: DDT (as Xavier Bastida)
Xavi Bastida	....	special effects makeup
Noemi Elías	....	special effects assistant: DDT (as Noemi Elías)
Ismael Ferrer	....	special art effects: DDT
Francesc Fuste	....	special effects foreman
Joan Fuste	....	special effects assistant
Víctor García	....	special effects crew: DDT (as Víctor García)
Joaquin Gonzalez	....	special effects assistant
Taller Maravillas	....	special effects assistant: DDT
David Martí	....	special effects supervisor: DDT (as David Martí)
Enric Masip	....	special mechanical effects crew: DDT
José M. Meneses	....	special effects crew: DDT (as Jose Manuel Meneses)
Juan Ramón Molina	....	special effects assistant (as Juan Ramon Molina)
Carles Montosa	....	prosthetic effects crew: DDT
Montse Ribé	....	special effects supervisor: DDT
Miguel 'Mage' Rodríguez	....	special effects crew: DDT
Sergio Sandoval	....	special art effects: DDT
Juan Serrano	....	special effects technician: DDT SFX
Adolfo Vila	....	special mechanical effects crew: DDT

Visual Effects by
Joan Aliaga	....	Inferno compositor
Joan Amer	....	digital artist: animation (as Joan Amer 'Jamer')
José María Aragonés	....	artistic & technical manager (as Jose María Aragonés)
Gloria Bernabeu	....	digital compositor
Cesc Biénzobas	....	Inferno compositor
Alfredo Blasco	....	Inferno compositor
Enric Candela	....	film scanning and recording
Jordi Costa	....	digital artist: animation
Javier Esteban	....	digital artist: animation
Toni Garcia	....	digital artist: animation
David Gómez	....	Inferno compositor
Miguel Angel Gómez	....	telecine
Mikel Gómez	....	Inferno compositor (as Mikel Gomez)
Laura Maynadé	....	digital effects coordinator
Quique Medina	....	Inferno compositor
Joan Pardo	....	digital artist: animation
José Pedraza	....	telecine
Oskar Pérez	....	producer
Sergi Segura	....	Inferno compositor
Xavier Tribó	....	system administrator
Joan Carles Vendrell	....	digital artist: animation
Jaume Vilaseca	....	digital compositor
Jaume Vilaseca	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Alejandro Asensio	....	stunts
Julia Bonilla	....	stunts
Ignacio Carreño	....	stunt coordinator
Dani Codina	....	stunts
Maido Gargayo	....	stunts
Diego Herberg	....	stunts (as Diego Herbeg)
María Mar Morilla	....	stunts (as Maria Del Mar Moratilla)
César Martínez	....	stunts (as Cesar Martínez)
Eduardo Moratilla	....	stunts
Juan José Rodríguez	....	stunts (as Juan José Rodriguez)
Carlos Serrano	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Sergi Bartrolí	....	electrician (as Sergi Bartroli)
Sergi Bartrolí	....	electrician: second unit
Eduardo Bonilla	....	electrician (as Eduard Bonilla)
Oriol Bosch	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Jordi Brigos	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Oscar Cano	....	grip
Manuel Carballo	....	camera trainee
Elisenda Cardona	....	first assistant camera
Arnau Valls Colomer	....	electrician: second unit (as Arnau Valls)
Diego Escribano	....	key grip
Clàudia Esteruelas	....	video playback operator (as Claudia Esteruellas)
Joaquín Fernández	....	underwater assistant camera: second unit
Jordi Florensa	....	second assistant camera
Juan Gonzalez Guerrero	....	electrician (as Juan Gonzalez)
Javi González	....	grip (as Javier Gonzales)
Carles Guerrero	....	grip (as Charly Guerrero)
José Manuel Herrero	....	underwater camera operator: second unit
Guillem Huertas	....	second assistant camera
Pablo León	....	best boy electric (as Pablo Leon)
Toni Llopart	....	gaffer: second unit (as Antoni Llopart)
Adria Lorente	....	key grip: second unit
Miguel Moll	....	underwater still photographer: second unit
Antoni Puertas	....	gaffer
Michel Revest	....	underwater lighting: second unit
Núria Roldos	....	camera operator (as Nuria Roldos)
Tersi Roquer	....	still photographer
Carlos Suárez	....	director of photography: second unit

Editorial Department
Jesús L. Pérez Villar	....	post-production director (as Jesus L. Pérez Villar)

Music Department
Jordi Badía	....	music recording assistant (as Jordi Badia)
David Casamitjana	....	music editor
Carles Cases	....	conductor
Carles Cases	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Alberto Marini	....	development executive
Manuel Monzón Fueyo	....	development executive (as Manuel Monzón)
Maria Parrón	....	business and legal affairs
Pere Roca	....	head of development
Elena Serra	....	development executive
Isaac Torrás	....	production assistant
Ursi Van der Herten	....	assistant: Brian Yuzna

Production Companies

• Castelao Producciones
• Estudios Picasso
• Fantastic Factory (Filmax)
• Generalitat De Catalunya Institut Catala De Les Industries Culturals (ICCA)
• Generalitat de Catalunya, Institut Català de Finances
• Televisió de Catalunya (TV3)
• Televisión de Galicia (TVG) S.A.
• Vía Digital
• Xunta de Galicia

Distributors

• Emerald (Argentina) (DVD)
• Emerald (Argentina) (VHS)
• Flashstar Home Vídeo (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Flashstar Home Vídeo (200?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Imagine Entertainment (2002) (Australia) (DVD)
• Lions Gate Films
• Sociedad General de Derechos Audiovisuales (SOGEDASA) (Spain)
• Spentzos Film Home Video (2003) (Greece) (video)
• Trimark Video
• e-m-s the DVD-Company

Special Effects

• DDT Efectos Especiales (mechanical and makeup effects)
• Filmtel S.A. (digital effects)
• San Dimas Avallable Molina (material effects)

Other Companies

• Actor's Gallery  extras casting
• Amalgama S.A.  cranes
• Amalgama S.A.  electric equipment
• D.J. Sound  sound equipment
• EMS S.L.  underwater film technology and services
• EPOCA  wardrobe
• Enelmo  generator
• Estudi 84  music recording facility
• Filmigranas  sound editing facilities
• Filmtel S.A.  post-production editing services
• Galicua  parking
• Marti & Homs  insurance
• Modasa  transportation
• Soundtrack  post-production sound services
• Soundtrack  sound mixing facilities
• Sparks  additional electricians

Also Known As:

Dagon - La secta del mar (Spain)
Dagon: Sect of the Sea
H.P. Lovecraft's Dagon (USA) (complete title)
The Lost Island (Philippines: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence/gore, sexuality/nudity and language.

Runtime:

95 min | USA:98 min | Argentina:97 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

English | Galician | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18SG | Argentina:13 | Australia:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Finland:K-18 | Germany:18 (cut) | Italy:VM14 | Peru:14 | Philippines:R-13 | Singapore:R21 | Spain:13 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Combarro, Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain

Company:

Castelao Producciones

Trivia:

Is based on the story "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" By H.P. Lovecraft. The movie has been in various stages of production for well over 15 years.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where Paul is the hotel room, he removes the door slide bolt from the dresser and puts it on the door. He only puts one screw on it and its also positioned awkwardly. In the next shoot, there are two screws on the slide bolt with it placed correctly on the door.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Eldritch Influence: The Life, Vision, and Phenomenon of H.P. Lovecraft (2003)

Cold, Icky and Eerie

I'm not a huge Lovecraft fan. Don't get me wrong, the man was a master - but that's the problem I have with him. He simply wrote too well. His mutant fish fixation has always upset my equilibrium, and his tentacled Monster Gods still give me nightmares. Maybe, as a Pisces, I was subconsciously insulted, I don't know...but I've never sought out either his written works or the films based upon them. So, it was with little enthusiasm that I watched "Dagon" one cold, rainy morning. I wasn't sorry.

This film could probably be easily lost in the deluge of direct-to-video slashers with unimaginative plots and stale gore effects, which is a shame because it is neither stale nor a slasher. Based on a short story (which runs no more than five or six pages, if memory serves me correctly) "Dagon" is a cold, slithery, unnerving tale set in one of those isolated seaside towns that Lovecraft loved so much to write about. A boat accident sends a young couple ashore seeking help for their stranded friends. There have been warnings already, in the shapes of underwater nightmares suffered by the young man; a huge, submerged stone disk, a mermaid with a vampire's mouth, etc. The town's listless inhabitants soon reveal themselves to the terrified young couple - white, slimy gills and fish black eyes make their appearance, and by the time they do, it is too late.

There's a beautiful syren with mesmerizing eyes and an unfortunate case of tentacles, a bloody sacrifice above a stone pit, a sick face-ripping scene, a self-immolation and a twist ending. "Dagon" is hardly a throwaway slasher flick - its a dark, nasty, twisted fairy tale with neither a happy nor an unhappy ending. People with fish phobias probably would do well to steer clear, but this is a very well done little film that deserves better attention.