The lunch itch refers to a common phenomenon experienced by many individuals during their lunch break. It is the overwhelming urge or craving to go out and eat at a restaurant or order takeout instead of eating a homemade or packed lunch. This itch often arises from a desire for variety or to break the monotony of bringing the same lunch to work or school every day. The lunch itch can be particularly strong when individuals are surrounded by enticing smells and visuals of food establishments in their immediate vicinity. It is not uncommon for people to walk past a restaurant and see others enjoying a delicious-looking meal, which can intensify the craving and make it harder to resist. Factors such as stress, fatigue, or low energy levels can also contribute to the lunch itch.
Factors such as stress, fatigue, or low energy levels can also contribute to the lunch itch. When people feel tired or overwhelmed, they may seek comfort or instant gratification through indulging in a meal prepared by someone else rather than taking the time to prepare their own lunch. Additionally, social factors can play a role in the lunch itch.
How Dreams in the Witch House Adapts The Sounds of Lovecraft
Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities: "Dreams in the Witch House" makes an H.P. Lovecraft story more human.
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This article contains spoilers for Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities: “Dreams in the Witch House.”
By its very definition, the work of H.P. Lovecraft is often challenging to adapt properly. The massively influential early 20th century sci-fi and horror author reveled in depicting the indescribable. The terrors of Lovecraft’s “Cthulhu Mythos” are so profound that his characters are often incapable of even perceiving them without going mad. How, exactly, is any visual medium supposed to go about crafting the unseeable? According to “Dreams in the Witch House” director Catherine Hardwicke, you opt to ensnare one of the other human senses instead.
“It was almost a story written for a sound designer, in my mind,” Hardwicke says of her adaptation of the Lovecraft story of the same name. “(The story) just talks about the creaks and the sounds moving all through the witch house. I got the sound designers to really go step by step in there.”
“Dreams in the Witch House” is the sixth installment in Netflix horror anthology Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities. Directed by Hardwicke (Twilight) and written by Mika Watkins (Black Mirror), the short film was released alongside “Pickman’s Model,” another Lovecraft adaptation as part of the series’ “Night Three: Lovecraft.” “Dreams” is slightly atypical for a Lovecraft joint in that it’s A. not regarded as very good, and B. actually adaptable, as evidenced by its previous retelling in Showtime’s Masters of Horror series. Another part of it is that Cabinet’s tellers of this story made extra efforts to properly transition it to the screen.
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“(The script) deviated a lot from the Lovecraft story,” Hardwicke says. “Mika came up with all these ideas to enrich it and introduce more human dynamics. We added more layers to it and enriched the female characters.”
While in Lovecraft’s original tale, the occupant of the titular Witch House is a student of mathematics and folklore seeking out the mysteries of the occult for academic purposes, in this adaptation Walter Gilman (Rupert Grint) seeks out the Witch House for intensely personal purposes. After watching his twin sister die and her spirit being dragged out into the Forest of Lost Souls, he spends all of his adult life consumed with bringing her back. Both Walter’s twin connection and the Forest of Lost Souls itself are inventions for the show.
Even while making Lovecraft more accessible for cameras, there are certain elements from this story that warrant inclusion. Chief among them, of course, is the monstrous witch at the center of the Witch House: Keziah Mason. Nearly all of Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities episodes feature a showstopping monster design that the creature connoisseur has become known for. But even in a crowd of abominable competitors, Keziah Mason stands out. Part foliage, part human, and all hate, this undead witch cuts an imposing figure throughout the back half of the tale.
“That was one the best parts of this whole thing is to collaborate with Guillermo and his team on the witch,” Hardwicke says. “(del Toro) has this cool concept artist (Guy Davis) he’s worked with for years. He’s got the creature designers who makes all the prosthetics and then he’s got (Luis Sequeira) the costume designer who made all the roots and everything. Between Guillermo and all of those three teams it was just pure fun. Just building that design up and putting the prosthetics on (actress Like Johnston) – when you see it all come together is just so creepy.”
And then there’s the rat of it all. Keziah Mason being a witch means that she gets to enjoy the company of a witch’s familiar – a spooky little animal buddy to assist her in dark magic. In Lovecraft’s short story, Keziah’s familiar is “a small white-fanged furry thing” that takes the rough appearance of a rat with a human face named Brown Jenkin. In the Cabinet of Curiosities version, the familiar maintains its mostly rat/human features but gets an inverted name of Jenkins Brown.
Six episodes in, rats have become something of a recurring motif for the Cabinet of Curiosities, whose first day featured the rat-a-palooza that was “Graveyard Rats.” Still, Hardwicke is fiercely partisan when it comes to her rodent.
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Based on the story by H. P. Lovecraft
Radio adaptation by Sean Branney and Andrew Leman
Original music by Troy Sterling Nies
Theme from "The Sleepwalker" by Mike Dalager and Anders Ringman,
from Dreams in the Witch House: A Lovecraftian Rock Opera
"Bub-L-Pep Jingle" written by Andrew Leman
arranged and performed by Harald Lindell and Kathleen Demarest
Additional music cues by Reber Clark
Audio engineering by Chris Horvath
Cover and disc illustrations by Darrell Tutchton
Bonus props by Andrew Leman and Sean Branney
Scenic Miniature by Fred Manchento, Jason Voss, and Andrew Leman
Stone Circle Sketch by Martin Schlierkamp
Eating out with colleagues or friends can be a way to bond and socialize during the lunch break, which can make it more appealing than eating alone. The desire to be part of a group and not miss out on social experiences can make individuals more susceptible to the lunch itch. However, succumbing to the lunch itch too often can have negative consequences. Regularly eating out for lunch can be more expensive and less healthy than bringing a packed lunch. It can also contribute to weight gain or other health problems if individuals frequently choose high-calorie, unhealthy options. To resist the lunch itch, individuals can try various strategies. Bringing a diverse range of homemade meals can help combat the desire for variety. Planning and preparing meals in advance can also make it easier to resist the temptation of eating out. It may also be helpful to find alternative ways to unwind, de-stress, or socialize during the lunch break that do not involve eating out. In conclusion, the lunch itch is a common craving experienced during the lunch break, driven by a desire for variety, convenience, or social interactions. By understanding the factors that contribute to this itch and adopting strategies to resist it, individuals can make healthier choices and save money in the long run..
Reviews for "Lunch eatery secrets revealed: what goes on behind the scenes"
- Sarah - ★★☆☆☆
I had high hopes for "The Lunch Witch", but I was disappointed with the overall quality of the film. The animation was lackluster, and the storyline felt weak and predictable. I found the characters to be one-dimensional and uninteresting, which made it difficult for me to connect with the movie. Additionally, the comedy fell flat for me, with very few jokes actually landing. Overall, I was hoping for a fun and entertaining experience, but "The Lunch Witch" just didn't deliver.
- Michael - ★☆☆☆☆
"The Lunch Witch" was a complete waste of time. The animation was subpar, with clunky movements and unimpressive visuals. The story was disjointed and lacked direction, making it difficult to follow and engage with. The characters were forgettable and unrelatable, and the attempts at humor were cringeworthy at best. I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone looking for a quality animated film. Save your time and watch something else.
- Emily - ★★☆☆☆
I had heard good things about "The Lunch Witch", so I was excited to give it a watch. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The animation felt outdated and cheap, and the characters were bland and unmemorable. The story had potential, but it fell flat and lacked depth. Overall, I found "The Lunch Witch" to be a forgettable and mediocre film that didn't leave any lasting impression.