The Shadow over Innsmouth: Difference between revisions

Innsmouth is a small, run-down village on the northern coast of Massachusetts, near Ipswich, Gloucester, and [[Lovecraft Country|Arkham]]. Locals don't like it much. There are whispered rumors about dark dealings with the supernatural, the taint of foreign blood, and some sort of hereditary deformity. While touring New England, a young man learns of the town's sinister reputation and [[Schmuck Bait|decides it's worth a visit]]. Curiouser and curiouser, he bribes the local drunk, said to be the [[Only Sane Man|only normal human left]], with his favorite poison. The tale he tells is crazy yet the narrator cannot ignore the sinister atmosphere and the evidence before his own eyes. After barely escaping with his own life, our hero eventually {{spoiler|discovers that he himself is one of the hybrid [[Fish People]], a direct descendant of Innsmouth's most prominent family}}.

 

 

''Innsmouth'' has also been adapted twice as an audio drama by the [[Atlanta Radio Theater Company]] and the HP Lovecraft Historical Society. It has also been [http://www.clasicadecomedias.com/version_teatral.html adapted for stage in Spain.]

* [[Evil-Detecting Dog]] / [[Glamour Failure]]: Animals hate the Innsmouth folk, and the town is naturally devoid of them.

* [[Evil Smells Bad]]: Innsmouth and its inhabitants emanate a nauseating fish odor.

*** The smell is present in live fish as well, as anyone who's gone fishing can attest. It just gets stronger after the fish dies.

*** Also the only remaining notable industry in town is fishing so there's a lot of fish to stink up the joint.

* [[Fish People]]: The Deep Ones.

* [[Half-Human Hybrid]]

* [[Sinister Minister]]: Zadok Allen recalls how the Esoteric Order of Dagon took over the town and Captain Marsh's crewmen were promoted as priests of the new religion. Creepy tiara-wearing priests still lurk in dark corners, and several are seen among the narrator's pursuers toward the end.

* [[Take Our Word for It]]: Typical of Lovecraft, the worst is only hinted at.

* [[Uncanny Valley]]: [[Invoked]] via the "Innsmouth Look."

{{quote| "There certainly is a strange kind of streak in the Innsmouth folks today - I don't know how to explain it but it sort of makes you crawl. You'll notice a little in Sargent if you take his bus. Some of 'em have queer narrow heads with flat noses and bulgy, starry eyes that never seem to shut, and their skin ain't quite right. Rough and scabby, and the sides of the necks are all shriveled or creased up. Get bald, too, very young."}}