The Call of Cthulhu

I think Lovecraft fans will like this, it's much more Lovecraftian than many other adaptations, which often play it for laughs.

The works of venerable horror writer H.P. Lovecraft have, in some ways, become the backbone of the genre, especially cinematic horror. An astonishing number of relatively contemporary horror flicks and genre TV shows--everything from 1965's DIE, MONSTER, DIE through Rod Serling's series THE NIGHT GALLERY (1970s) to Sam Raimi's THE EVIL DEAD (1981) and beyond--have either borrowed elements from Lovecraft's literary mythos or attempted to adapt one of his stories. In spite of Lovecraft's unquestionable influence on the genre, few filmmakers have been able to accurately or faithfully translate the writer's works to either the small or large screen. At best, most attempts to adapt Lovecraft either vaguely evoke the nihilistic subtext of the author's work (e.g., Stuart Gordon's 1985 classic RE-ANIMATOR) or pay simple homage by making a reference or two (as Raimi does by building his EVIL DEAD stories around Lovecraft's ubiquitous fictional book of the occult, the Necronomicon). Until now, that is. Under the guidance of director Andrew Leman and screenwriter Sean Branney, the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society has filmed and released a little film entitled THE CALL OF CTHULHU (2005), based on the author's story of the same name. And it is being praised by critics and fans alike as being one of the most faithful Lovecraft cinematic adaptations ever. The film follows the three-part narrative construction of Lovecraft's original story, using flashbacks and similar devices to shift back and forth to various time frames. The story centers on a young man who has inherited his late great-uncle's research documents pertaining to the Cthulhu Cult. Intrigued by his uncle's obsession with the cult, the nephew studies the documents closely and pieces together the dread implications of the research, and soon after he himself resumes his uncle's investigation of the Cthulhu Cult. When he finally understands the dreadful and disturbing reality of what his uncle has uncovered, his own sanity begins to crumble. Unable to cope and ultimately institutionalized, he passes the information on to his psychiatrist, who in turn hears Cthulhu's call.... In a daring but clever and creative move, filmmakers Leman and Branney decided to cinematically adapt Lovecraft's influential 1925 horror story THE CALL OF CTHULHU in the form of a faux early silent film, complete with black-and-white photography, title cards for dialogue, and a classical music score. There are even artificial scratches and wear marks, making it appear as if the film were indeed made in mid-1920s--the period in which Lovecraft wrote many of his famous works--and only recently pulled from the studio vaults and dusted off for posterity. By making the film look like a product of 1925 instead of one from 2005, the filmmakers have been able to utilize old-school FX like stop-motion animation, in-the-camera trick-photography, and miniatures, avoiding the temptation to heavily rely on CGI and other high-tech contrivances that could bog the film down and cause distraction or deviation from the actual story. The result is a "vintage" film that draws the audience into another place AND another time as it faithfully unfurls Lovecraft's tale of ancient mystery and hair-raising horror. The cast does an excellent job in realizing director Leman's Lovecraftian vision and writer Branney's script. Acting in a silent film requires skills foreign to most contemporary actors, and it is consequently a dying art. Yet the performances in THE CALL OF CTHULHU are very effective. Especially good are Matt Foyer, who portrays the nephew, and Noah Wagner, who plays the captain of an ill-fated island expedition. It is obvious that, before stepping before the camera, both actors carefully studied classic silent cinema to learn the pantomime and exaggerated facial expressions required to relay emotion without the benefit of sound. Not only do they and their fellow actors do an on-target job of recreating the "feel" of a genuine film from the Silver Screen's silent era, they also do a great job of acting and thereby create a credible populace for the world of Lovecraft's mythos. In addition, the special FX by Dan Novy and crew are very well executed and totally believable within the context of the film. Dream sequences are reminiscent of the German Expressionist silent classic THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI (1920), and the stop-motion sequences are a clear nod to the master of the form, Ray Harryhausen. True, some of the sets and FX are obviously of the low-budget ilk, but this really only adds to the overall old-school charm of the flick. The DVD edition of THE CALL OF CTHULHU from Lurker Films is well worth the price of admission. Not only does it offer a pristine digital transfer of the faux silent-era flick, it also offers a very interesting making-of documentary (with sound) that features some behind-the-scene footage and interviews with cast and crew. Even the menu screens on this disc are cool, evoking the style of the art-deco movie houses of the 1920s and 1930s. This DVD is a must-have for fans of Lovecraft, and it will make a fine addition to the film collection of any true fan of horror cinema.

I am a fan of Lovecraft, of the Val Lewton school of film-making, of the black and white version of The Outer Limits... essentially THE CALL OF CTHULHU would have had to be abysmal to not get at least a star and a half out of me. However, it is absolutely astonishing what the HPLHS crew has done with it! A story that could well have been stodgy and static (I've often thought it could best be realized as a one-man presentation, sans sfx!) was instead fluid, suspenseful, eerie; undoubtedly the best Lovecraft adaptation I have ever seen, far superior to all the "professional" productions of the Old Gent's work. I have very little complaint with the acting; some reviews have mentioned wooden performers, but I could not disagree more with that assessment. The scriptwriter has brilliantly solved the problems in bringing this story to the screen, beginning with the decision to make it a silent film! I recall Dan O'Bannon once stating that he couldn't get beyond Cthulhu's appearance, but Branney's framing story and finale brings the tale to a satisfying, frisson-inducing end. The Lovecraft quotes at the finish have a delightfully chilling resonance, exactly what Lovecraft himself would have hoped for, I'm sure. Cthulhu, seen only in brief glimpses and largely manifested through shadow and the reactions of the actors faced with the horror, could not have been more alien. The animation process itself makes the entity bizarre and anomalous (see Outer Limits' "Zanti Misfits" or "It Crawled Out of the Woodwork" for other examples). Only the fight scenes in the swamp seemed a bit ridiculous, quite stiff, underchoreographed, perhaps... but the slow crescendo of atmosphere during Castro's grim interrogation makes up for that in spades. The Lewtonian shadows, the Ditko-esque sets, the Expressionist direction: A work of art! A must-own for any Lovecraftian or fan of the bizarre.

When I saw this listed as a DVD release I was hesitant but also elated because, as far as a lifetime of wishes are concerned, I have always wanted a Lovecratian tale that didn't make me wonder why I bothered watching Lovecraftian tales in the first place. The things I had heard about the construction of the movie were somewhat soothing as I paced the floor with memories of Cthulhu Mansion and the like, hoping for the best and maybe even more. I kept remembering how many filmmakers said that doing Call of Cthulhu was impossible because it would require too much to do correctly, and how that had scared off so many from making an effort. Then I FINALLY watched the movie and saw that the makers of Call of Cthulhu had managed to silence so many a critic because (1) they did the source material a great amount of justice in the way they present it (2) they re-imagined the things people have been trying to do for a long time and did not get caught up in trying to make an expensive movie with a little flash of "monster" because they understood the aforementioned source material and (3) they did something different and attempted to capture an entire mood instead of a partial emotions. The movie basically sidestepped a lot of issues thrown at it in the now by taking the film out of the now and placing it where it belonged - in the 1920s. And it is so good to say that, for once, I didn't cringe when I saw the name "Lovecraft" connected with a story. The one really interesting thing about this movie was the fact that the film was shot as a silent piece (with musical overlay), allowing the viewer the feel of the 20's and the world that story belonged to. The way the people were portrayed, the way the cultists were portrayed, and even the way some of the props were made really felt like something that belonged to something older (and perhaps better in terms of conception, considering many of the themes seen in modern movies) and added the ambiance of a world wide open to new and horrific discoveries. There was this feeling that the movie projected of a world that existed outside that of the examined world, allowing cults to thrive in the shadows and islands to exist in the heart of the still-vast ocean. This worked beautifully with the "when" of the film, with some of the tale examining evidence as far back as 1870. Personally I attribute a lot of that to the way the material was presented, leaving a lot of today's technology behind and aiming for something that a least allowed for a much wider and unexamined world. This is not to say that there was no modern appeal to the movie - far from that, in fact. There were modern tones hidden in the arrangements of shots and in some of the additional props, giving the movie a great mix of the "then and now" without it being too overt. This meant that the dream sequences really had a disconcerting feel, perhaps not frightening in a modern sense of the word but really conveying the source behind all the dreams and working toward the overall goal. The same goes for the island sequences and the times Cthulhu - I don't want to say much on Cthulhu but I have to say that I enjoyed the things that came from something so beloved in almost every horror circle and so crucial to this tale. Additionally, the DVD has a few things on it worth mentioning. First, the insert itself is entertaining and explains the people behind the effort and allows one to check into buying a "movie prop of terror." The disc itself contains some deleted pieces, a trailer, and one thing I really liked - access to the prop Bulletin that appears in the movie via computer for both reading leisure AND printing (provided you can use Adobe). It also has intertitles in 24 languages, something I commend as well because everyone should know about poor Chtulhu's plight. You basically get 47 minutes of beauty that does a real amount of justice like this to the tale of old ones, taking you beyond the modicum of blah movies and finally landing you in the middle of a story that has needed to be told since - well, let's just say I never thought I would see it on DVD and am happy to get to review it here. "Great Cthulhu waits dreaming in the sunken city of K'lyeh. The stars will again be right, and He shall return." Even the cover art is captivating when examined, making this a joy from beginning to end.

It's hard to make a film of this story. Evidence the several more commercial attempts which can't be so well spoken of. The producers wanted to evoke the Lovecraftian emotional and mental background in this film and did so. They also tried to give it a thirties feel by doing it in black and white. They were quite successful in their efforts, though it its a bit rough to follow at times. All in all, though, I think of it as Lovecraft win in film.

How or why is it that the most revered horror novelist of the twentieth century is unable to get any of his work translated correctly onto film? Oh yes, there have been some feeble attempts that credit his work but really don't truthfully follow his story line, or others that liberally borrow from this writings without really connecting with the true and horrible terror behind his work. In 'The Call of Cthulhu' we finally have an honest and trustworthy attempt to capture the true indescrible horror and nature of Lovecraft's work. Leave it to his true fans, the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society to do what the large Hollywood studios have refused, or been afraid to do. It is filmed in old-fashioned silent movie fashion, which is not only perfect for the time period being depicted, but also perfectly done. There is a haunting, dream-like quality to this film that is absolutely mesmerizing. One is ultimately left to ponder whether the images being viewed are on the television screen or within the inner recesses of your mind. Truly a one-of-a-kind production! Let's be honest, the horrific images and happenings that Lovecraft's writings inspire could never be matched on film. The human imagination will always be far superior to the images that can be provided on celloid. This film made in old fashioned silent film format comes as close as anything I have seen so far. I still hold out the hope that sometime in the near future a large studio with a big budget and an inspired director will do justice to this tale like Peter Jackson did with 'Lord of the Rings.' But until then, this is the consumate work! My Highest Recommendation!

I have just viewed the film and thought that it was excellent. It did a fine job of capturing the feel and atmosphere of Lovecraft's stories in general, as well as being fateful to The Call of Cthulhu in particular. I was also impressed with the skill in which the film was crafted. These folks did so much with so little! This became especially apparent to me after I watched the "making of" feature. The R'lyeh set and models translated very well, transporting one to another world. The other set piece that stood out was the swamp. That sequence was just great, I felt like I was watching a classic horror film from years gone by, and yet, it also had a surreal quality to it. The Alert and other sequences on the water were also done well. In fact, I didn't consciously register the fact that the cast wasn't on real water until I watched the behind-the-scenes. On the whole, the cinematography was very effective, the chosen camera angles evoking a dramatic and creepy atmosphere. The director made good use of light and shadow. In particular, I liked the fact that Great Cthulhu was kept in the shadows (or, in some cases, ONLY being able to see his shadow). This left more to the imagination, and gave the creature more impact. The cast were all great, particularly Matt Foyer as The Man. He was the epitome of the Lovecraftian protagonist: a sensitive intellectual who is at once repelled by, and yet drawn to, the horror he is discovering. Oh, I almost forgot! Clarence Henry Hunt was excellent as the unhinged cultist Castro. All in all a great film. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next HPLHS production.

It has been said that most of Lovecraft's works are considered largely 'unfilmable'. We have watched Hollywood try and try again... From Beyond, The Reanimator, Dagon, and the probable 'best', At the Mouth of Madness. These are films that deal specifically with the themes of cosmic horror, which by its own nature is 'unfilmable'. The major conceit is that the evil is always beyond human perception and understanding. The Call of Cthulhu silent film is made by the fans for the fans and with barely a budget. It was a labour of love. It is, to date, the most faithful representation of Lovecraft's work and would probably made the old man proud... if he could get past his hatred of film. If you have read the short story, then you know what happens in the film. If you haven't read it, watching the film will have much the same effect - they are THAT close together. There have been a few reviewers stating that the stop-motion film footage of the High Priest of R'lyeh is less than spectacular. In the film's defence, the creators left the model draped in darkness and mostly obscured... and in my opinion this serves the 'unknowable' qualities of something 'beyond our understanding' and it does so well. As for special features, prepare for the ride of your life. There is an in-depth behind the scenes wherein the cast and crew laugh out loud and say time and time again that they could not believe that they were doing this. And perhaps the best is the laundry list of subtitles, insuring that fans across the globe can get the same level of enjoyment as anyone in the English speaking world. As a fan of the mythos, I cannot express the positive nature of this adaptation well enough. For the newcomers, you cannot do better unless you start reading his stories today. "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn"... and if you ask me, he's not dreaming anymore.

Adorei a produção e o filme E ainda tem tradução para o português 🎉

This movie was made with a little budget and unknown actors by people I never heard about - but after the first minute I completely forgot to care about it! I believe that Andrew Lenan (director-producer) and Sean Braney (scenarist-producer) were right on target when they decided to make this film silent and turn it in white and black - exactly as movies were made in 1926, when Lovecraft wrote "The call of Cthulhu". It gives an absolutely unique effect, which, I must admit, caused me to freeze before the screen for the whole 47 minutes... "The Call of Cthulhu" story, although quite short, is one of the most powerful, most disturbing and most influential things in the whole fantastic literature. Nobody ever tried to film it, because the challenge seemed too difficult - when one thinks about the CGIs necessary to make a credible Cthulhu and a credible city of R'lyeh, it is easy to understand why nobody even tried to make such an attempt. But all this difficulty was avoided by making this film in the style which both Fritz Lang ("Metropolis") and F.W. Murnau ("Nosferatu") would recognize immediately. Expressions on the faces replacing the words convey a greater sense of fear and impending doom than any special effects. The LACK of details in some scenes is more disturbing than the overdose of pixels in the best Blu-Ray - and the obviously cheap decorations in the city of R'lyeh surprisingly created (at least in my perception) more awe and shock than the best shots of Mordor in "Lord of the Rings". Bottom line, the settings in this film allowed Lovecraftian magic to play in a very powerful and pure way. The very brief and very vague apparition of Cthulhu was very well done, with the maximum use of his shadow and only a little glimpse of the Great Old God himself. On another hand, small figures of Cthulhu worshipped by his cultists are very well shown and they are REALLY scary! Actors performed wonderfully! I really had the impression that I watched a genuine film from 20s and that Doctor Mabuse would enter through that door at any moment... To conclude, I was absolutely conquered by this movie and I am really, really glad that I bought it! And I am absolutely keeping it to rewatch it from time to time!

Long considered unfilmable, this great short film from the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society demonstrates how it can and should be done. The decision to film it as a black and white silent film in the style of the 1920's was inspired and works brilliantly. It mostly uses the kind of effects you would expect from that era as well as very effective miniature and stop motion effects. The idea of using sheets of cloth to imitate the sea sounds terrible but looks fantastic on screen and adds perfectly to the period atmosphere. The sets for the city of R'leyh looked great, reminding me of the sets for the classic 1919 German film "The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari" and you would never believe that they were just canvas and cardboard assembled in someone's back yard. Highly recommended, not only for fans of Lovecraft but also fans of early cinema.

A film of the unfilmable Lovecraft story, this effort is a real cracker. Made to represent the type of production which would have been around in the late 1920s, the film is a faithful rendering of a classic tale of cosmic terror from beneath the sea (and beyond time and space). The use of unknown (to me at least) actors and actresses, gives the production a real period feel and cleverly reproduces the sort of effects which would have been available at the time. Very cleverly done, with neat, economical sets and good use of green screen effects. A great idea, very well filmed. Probably the best rendition of a Lovecraft story to date. (I must see about getting "Whisperer" next!)

This version of 'The Call of Cthulhu', filmed in fabulous Mythoscope, is a must for any and all H. P. Lovecraft fans. Quite rightly, and as other reviewers have observed, it would be easy enough to dismiss the idea of satisfactorily filming any of the Cthulhu Mythos stories featuring such other-dimensional horrors as Nyarlathotep, Yog-Sothoth and of course Great Cthulhu himself, particularly if you are doing it on a tiny budget with no CGI. But the team responsible for this film have managed it splendidly, and no small part of its strength comes from it being filmed as a silent black and white movie redolent of the early horror classics, which chimes with when the story was written. It's quite possible that some 'every digital effect you can think of' version would not been as powerful. To give one example from when the hapless sailors explore the cyclopean ruins of risen R'lyeh, the sequence where one of the men falls into an "impossible angle" in the masonry and disappears utterly is chillingly effective and - as you discover from the enjoyable and informative 'extra' about the making of the film - very simply achieved. For those of us in the UK (or Europe) let's hope that the team are going to make a Region 2 version of their more recent effort 'The Whisperer in Darkness' available soon. In the meantime all those Lovecraftians out there who do not yet have this film should obey the call and secure a copy as soon as they can.