Dark Intruder (1965) was the pilot for a failed television series to be called The Black Cloak. The pilot was not shown on television, and instead was sold to Universal Pictures and shown theatrically.
I was surprised by the quality of the story, and of its star, Canadian actor Leslie Nielson. He plays a supernatural detective in 1890s San Francisco, who investigates a string of murders that hint of the occult, which he learns are part of a larger scheme to bring forth a Sumerian demon.
Lots of nods to Lovecraft and his mythos.
Pssst. Hey you! Lovecraft fan! I cannot recommend this film highly enough. Did you want a sassy paranormal detective in Victorian-era San Francisco? Because you got a sassy paranormal detective in Victorian-era SanFran. Did you want a “Lovecraftian” film with heart? With charm? One that’s not trying too hard to shoehorn deities and Necronomicons in every five minutes? Got yah covered.
This is utterly superb and I lament a series was never made. Wonderful for us Lovecraftians.