The Call of Cthulhu

The story is classic Lovecraft, a man recounts how his discovery of secret knowledge has driven him over the edge and brought him close to death. Its the framework that Lovecraft used again and again to tell his stories of horror. Here the story is that of the cult of Cthulhu which he discovers upon the death of his Great Uncle, a man who was himself driven to the edge of madness and to death by the secrets he uncovered. Essentially a series of flashbacks and narratives this film builds a great deal of unease as bits of story and coincidence create an a narrative that has unpleasant implications. Its not the kind of think that will make you jump out of your seat, but it will make you want to turn the light back on.

Shot now (2005) but in the style of a 1926 silent film this movie manages to make what could be very silly seem very real and menacing. There is something about the black and white imagery that makes it all seem very possible. Many people have said the story was un-filmable because of its structure of multiple tales and because if not handled correctly the hysteria felt by some characters would just be silly, this film however has proved it can be done and in a very satisfying manner.

The film's flaws are mostly technical and except in one case minor. The film, which appears to have been shot on digital video for the most part looks good, though in sequence where fire is seen the film takes on an odd appearance. The films budget also has a some stark sets that seem more like a set than place. Still they are minor complaints. The one major complaint is Cthulhu himself, which is clearly a stop motion model. While its understandable that because of the nature of the beast this was probably the way to go (and probably close to how he might have looked in 1926 had he been put on screen back then), it still removes some degree of the horror that had been created prior to this point. Ultimately its a minor quibble because whats goes before and after makes up for it.

If you like classic horror and the writing of HP Lovecraft see this movie.(just remember its suppose to have been made in 1926, not now). 8 out of 10, one of the best Lovecraft films to get Lovecraft right.

It seems that too many people have little or no appreciation for the art of film making and its history. Being a huge Lovecraft fan and been very disappointed in just about every film adaptation of his works I skeptically found this gem a refreshing change. What could have been its down fall make sit work. Of course those jaded folks who need their horror served up with heaps of blood, guts and slick CGI effects are in for a disappointment. The effects are what they are but even a stop motion of Mighty Cthulhu and classic film tricks don't take away from the challenge, a film adaptation of Lovecraft that is true, this is it. It should appeal to those of high intellect who read the works of Lovecraft in spite of the many short comings in literary style ( I love the themes but how many times can a man us "cyclopean" or "unspeakable, unnamable" "eldritch" "ichor" laden horrors and in every tale?) Better writers then me have noted that his style is ponderous yet his influence and contributions to his genre cannot be missed. Mighty Cthulhu rises from his cold deathless sleep and moves to steal mankind's soul and sanity in a film adaptation that will give a fan of the master a true tale and a good initiation to the novice of the shapes horrors that creep in unnatural geometric chasms between the depths of distant stars gnawing away at the worlds end!! So a silent film made to seem as if it was made in the time of the tale, a vehicle to keep cost down and yet disguise what could be cheesy effects into a subtle nod to the greats such as mighty Kong in all his claymation glory and Harryhausen with all his twisted vision: Cthulhu Lives in this great little treat!!

I am a bit surprised by the terrible reviews Call of Cthulhu has received. While it is not perhaps the best movie ever, or chilling and/or gory like modern horror movies are, that's not the point of the movie.

What it is, and it succeeds in, is a very faithful adaptation of the original story, following also its non-linear storytelling and describing events around the globe. The movie is also atmospheric pastiche of the 20s impressionistic silent movies. As such, it is very much worth seeing, of you are interested in how Lovecraft's stories would have been filmed when they first were written, and/or are interested in 20s impressionism in general.

A man inherits his great-uncle's papers and finds that his uncle had been investigating some strange occurrences surrounding a lost ship at sea and a man's exotic dreams. The nephew picks up the investigation where his uncle left off and is soon driven quite mad.

Let me say the obvious: this film is artistically a masterpiece beyond a doubt. The way the director decided to give it a 1920s feel with the picture quality (to match the time period) as well as making it something like a silent movie (none of the dialog is heard and only some of it appears written on a frame by itself) is awesome. Some people might rag on the picture for this technique or perhaps because it's not exactly like a 1920s picture, but I think it turned out well. Who wants an exact copy of the 1920s style? I'd just watch an older film then (like "Metropolis").

The story is also quite good, even if it is really simple and open-ended. I've heard people complain about plot holes, but I didn't notice any of that. I found a man who dreamed of Cthulhu and carved tablets, and another man who landed on an island with a Cthulhu cult actively trying to raise him. They interconnect, and if the viewer doesn't catch this they aren't paying attention (which is crucial when there's no words spoken).

I also felt the people behind this had a deep love and admiration for Lovecraft, which is essential. They nailed the outfits and the relics -- I couldn't imagine them any better than they appear in this film. I would have liked to see Miskatonic University rather than the university they chose, but I suppose there's the chance of overdoing it.

Really, if you like Lovecraft or artsy films, do check this one out. It's very short (less than an hour) so if you end up not liking it you're not really wasting time. I'm not sure how easy it is to come by; my source of videos is pretty impressive with the independent and rare films. But if you should come across this one, grab it. Definitely worth a watch.

The Call of Cthulhu is one of Lovecrafts superb horror short stories. The action is set in the 1920's and this film does not change any details of the plot (at least as far as I can tell).

Films based on Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos are nearly always terrible. This is because modern horror films rely on gruesome shocks and all too familiar plots. Lovecraft's tales tend to be non linear (e.g. told in dream sequences or as pages from a diary and so on), and the monsters rarely make appearances. Turning 'The Call of Cthulhu' into a film is certainly no easy prospect - especially on a low budget.

The makers of this film have made a virtue out of a necessity. The home made quality of the special effects are charming. The film is presented in black and white and with no dialogue. This all helps to maintain as professional a standard as possible in this small scale production. Captions are provided to accompany the storytelling and the film has quite a striking soundtrack.

Most horror fans will find this film tedious and the special effects jerky (and sometimes home made). I enjoyed the quirky and inexpensive approach to the special effects used in this film and felt that the production imitated the techniques that may have been used in a vintage film or in a stage production.

A must see film for all real HP Lovecraft fans. Not for fans of gore-fests, or slick, expensive horror films.