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| Suitable Flesh - Credits Below Text |
Suitable Flesh is loosely based on H.P. Lovecraft's short story, The Thing On The Doorstep. One of the stars, Barbara Crampton, previously starred in other Lovecraft remakes, Re-Animator and From Beyond. It's not a bad movie, especially if you're familiar with the source material. If not, it's a confusing show to watch. Below are my thoughts on what took place in the movie.
Dr. Dani Upton (Barbara Crampton) and a pathologist (Graham Skipper) unzip a body bag. They seem to be in a hospital morgue. Dr. Upton remarks that it's difficult to imagine that the body was once human.
Upon leaving the morgue, Dr. Upton is addressed by a security guard. He asks if it's true that Dr. Derby is present. Upton replies in the affirmative, upon which the guard tells her to be careful.
The scene changes to an outside shot of the hospital. It's the Miskatonic Medical School in Arkham, Massachusetts. Dr. Upton is then shown taking two orderlies with her to see a patient, Dr. Elizabeth "Beth" Derby (Heather Graham). The patient is mumbling to herself, "Cut off the head, destroy the body."
Beth demands of Dr. Upton whether "the body was cremated." She is told that the autopsy will begin in a few minutes. Beth, upset at the news, declares, "he can still get me." She is restrained by the two orderlies but is then Upton orders her to be released. The orderlies are told to leave the room, then Beth and Upton (who are friends) begin to talk. We are then taken "to the beginning" of the tale, as told by Beth.
Beth, a successful psychiatrist, encounters Asa Waite, who says he has had an out-of-body experience. He tells Beth that he believes that his father caused it, and that he wants Asa's body. He then gets a phone call from his father. After several rings he answers it, and then falls to his knees, eyes rolling into his head. It appears that the caller is responsible for this. When he seems to be in control again, it seems obvious (at least to Lovecraft fans) that someone else is inhabiting Asa's body. Even his manner of speaking is different. He goes from a scared but polite Asa to a rude person who spouts curse words and uses some archaic language. Dr. Upton gives him a business card. For a brief moment, we see the name Pickman on it, perhaps as part of the address. (It was so quick that I didn't try to rewind it to have a look.)
Beth becomes fixated on Waite's case. She goes to his house, feeling compelled to do so. She says her mind was "drawn" to him. She rings the doorbell and knocks but gets no answer. She then discovers that the door is unlocked. She enters the house.
Beth finds Asa's father slumped over a desk, seemingly unresponsive. He suddenly responds to her, and jerks awake. He asks for a pick and says they're in his pocket. Beth gives him one. She then tells Mr. Waite that she is looking for Asa. He tells her that he "ran off" days ago.
Beth notices a strange book, opened, on Waite's desk. It looks like what one would imagine an illustrated book of magic to be. She asks about it and is told it is none of her business (in a very way). Waite finally dismisses the doctor by brandishing a knife in her direction. He then suffers a coughing fit. Beth attempts to help him, but he cuts her with the knife. She leaves. Waite lays the knife on the open book, and it draws in Beth's blood.
At home, Beth gets a frantic call from Asa. She goes to his home and discovers Mr. Waite on the floor. Asa appears with a knife, preparing to slay Mr. Waite. Beth convinces him to give her the knife.
Waite is apparently deceased. Asa tells Beth that Waite was not his father. It was something else inhabiting his body. Asa attempts to stab Waite, who suddenly sits up and begins to pronounce a formula in some sort of Lovecraftian language. Waite falls to the floor again, and Asa is once again possessed.
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See Part Two here.
