Although there is a small wealth of films based on the classic works of H.P. Lovecraft, there has never been anything in the mainstream, and it looks like it’ll stay that way (especially since Guillermo Del Toro’s “At the Mountains of Madness” seems to have fallen through the cracks). It’s pretty sad, considering that Lovecraft’s work has been highly influential for myriads of modern artists in all genres and mediums; if it wasn’t for him, the works of Stephen King, John Carpenter, HR Giger, and heck, even Black Sabbath and Metallica would have all been different. As it is, “The Re-Animator” remains the most popular film, and it makes for a fantastic romp of a gorefest film, but it’s still purely cult status.
Even though it may not have penetrated the mainstream, “The Call of Cthulhu” might be the best adaptation of a Lovecraft story to date. Produced by the HP Lovecraft Historic Society, it shows impeccable attention to the narrative and nuances of the original story, and it follows the story to the letter. To match up with the era of Lovecraft’s lifetime, the film was even made as a silent black-and-white feature. Its style is a perfect replication of old-fashioned cinema, complete with over-the-top acting, simple special effects, and emphasis on light and shadow. It might have even taken some inspiration from the works of F.W. Murnau, due to its emphasis on visual storytelling.
Much like the original story, the “CoC” film starts off a little dry, but eventually moves on to some very intriguing and freaky encounters. The film’s most interesting highlights will include the policemen confronting the cult of Cthulhu in the swamps of New Orleans, and the final encounters at the lost city of R’lyeh (which is conceived perfectly on screen). The film definitely succeeds at visualizing the story in the best way possible; a fine blend of style and content. It is a short film, but it manages to pack in everything it needs to without feeling padded or rushed.
As mentioned above, the story is a very close, if not a perfect, adaptation of the original story. Characters were never a huge standout, even in the original, but the journey they take to uncover the truth is pretty profound. The story ultimately uncovers the inherent terror of otherworldly monsters, and the film does a fine job of underscoring that theme.
As silent black-and-white film, the film looks stylish. In fact, this style helps make the cheapness and amateur nature of the film feel natural and forgivable. After all, the film has some incredibly cheap special effects, but they are done in a way that looks like something genuinely made in the 20s, so it fits. Some of the photography is impressive, and the editing is not bad at all. Acting and writing are not bad, and help get the job done. This production is not terribly lavish, but it does its best to make the most out of limited budget and resources. The film has a nice music score which is appropriately moody.
It’s pretty clear to me that “The Call of Cthulhu” movie is a passion project, made by those who respect the source material and have done their best to make a quality adaptation. I rather wish that more filmmakers could do the same and give Lovecraft’s work a proper big-screen treatment. Oh well, as it is, this is the best Lovecraft-inspired film to date, and it’s definitely worth a look.
Recommended!
4/5 (Entertainment: Pretty Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Good)
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