The Call of Cthulhu - A Review

The Call of Cthulhu, an independent film produced by the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society, is the best Lovecraft-based movies produced yet. That's saying a lot, since Lovecraft has not been treated well by the movie industry. Can anyone think of a good Lovecraftrian movie on the top of their heads? I wish I could say, because even I have not seen Re-animator.

So why is Call of Cthulhu the best Lovecraftian movie so far? First off, it is filmed with a combination of 1920s silent film techniques with some modern film making know-how to keep the action and horror balanced. Second, it is produced by an organization devoted to the works of Lovecraft. Third, this is not a Hollywood production. That means most the original story is left untouched and that viewers are not bombarded by lame CGI effects. This is just a quick summary of why this film is so good. Call of Cthulhu does what most Lovecraft-based films have failed to do: succeeding and getting those "stars" right.

The "stars" in this silent movie are very convincing in their performance. The use of improvised dialogue with boxed text produces the nifty effect of silent film dialogue. The movie is not heavily reliant on text to tell the story, for the action is the true storyteller. Whether it is the protagonist finding out the horrible secret his great-grandfather found, or a troubled artist being interviewed or an inspector fending off a group of raving cultists, Call of Cthulhu pulls moviegoers-and Lovecraft fans-into a tale of a dark god hidden beneath the ocean dreaming of the chance to rise again. Silent films are captivating for "showing" rather than "telling," and Call of Cthulhu pulls that off nearly flawlessly.

The movie's special effects and set production will also astound with its historical authenticity and nightmarish settings. A moderate level of CGI was used to produce most of the effects. When the effects are used, they are used very, very effectively. From groups of crazed cultists lurking in the swamps of the south to the cyclopean (A term Lovecraft was fond of using) structures of Cthulhu's home, there is quite an eyeful to see. The effects are good because they are not overdone, they are simply used correctly. They enhance the story rather than overlap it so viewers will not be overwhelmed. Even Cthulhu is impressive in his own right, but I'm not at the liberty to spoil how effective he is!

Call of Cthulhu's music also deserves props. It is haunting and deeply thematic, setting the movie's 1920s mood. Certain bits of action are enhanced with the musical score in a classic way, especially during the more tense scenes. It is a score that does not wear down on you but one that you become accustomed to as the movie progresses. Silent films were reliant on musical scores to enhance the story and action. Call of Cthulhu succeeds in the music department because like the special effects, the music is orchestrated to work with the movie as opposed to resisting it.

So I have said a lot of good things about Call of Cthulhu. What are some of its flaws? Because this is a low budget film, some of the special effects, while effective, are still noticeably fake. Take an example with a ship traveling down an ocean or cars driving down the road. Viewers will tell they are just effects and not the genuine article. Still, as the effects are used minimally, these flaws are largely nonexistant. The effects are still great because director Andrew Lehman points the lens in directions to enhance the mood of the film than showcasing a how grotesque or how horrifying something is.

I have written this at the beginning of this review and I will write it again: Call of Cthulhu is the best Lovecraft-based movie yet! This is an excellent movie for Lovecraft fans and horror film fans new to Lovecraft's twisted mythos of ancient gods and insanity. The film is currently available for order on the HPLHS's website. Lovecraft himself would be pleased.

- Kristopher