The Call Of Cthulhu (2005)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Bruce B

  
  A silent movie made in 2005 in Black and White is pretty strange in itself, but this movie is nothing short of very strange. It's HP Lovecraft's most famous story. Taken and mastered by H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society. This movie appeard in over 30 major film festivals… More
  A silent movie made in 2005 in Black and White is pretty strange in itself, but this movie is nothing short of very strange. It's HP Lovecraft's most famous story. Taken and mastered by H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society. This movie appeard in over 30 major film festivals across the world. A very interesting web site of this move can be located at http://www.cthulhulives.org/cocmovie/index.html , It goes into much further detail then I can in a few short lines. The movie is about 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. 3 1/2 stars on this one.

• Drew S

  
  Close, but not quite...The Call of Cthulhu is admirable on a non-budget, and Andrew Leman's choice to emulate German expressionist classics like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is well informed. Making the film silent and black and white was a great choice. There's an obvious… More
  Close, but not quite...The Call of Cthulhu is admirable on a non-budget, and Andrew Leman's choice to emulate German expressionist classics like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is well informed. Making the film silent and black and white was a great choice. There's an obvious respect for and knowledge of the source material that makes this short film a really great homage, and almost certainly the best Lovecraft work to date, but I just don't think the tone or compositions here truly pop. In some ways, I think adhering to source material that attempts to convey a menace of inconceivable grandiosity is probably impossible for just about any movie, and though this comes close, I think it falls short of true artistic inspiration.

• Robert C

  
  I have have to say that I have not read Cthulhu, so this is coming from a completely fresh perspective. I'm speaking of the film on it's own merits and not as an analysis of it's adherence to the original story. I'll leave that to the Lovecraft Historical… More
  I have have to say that I have not read Cthulhu, so this is coming from a completely fresh perspective. I'm speaking of the film on it's own merits and not as an analysis of it's adherence to the original story. I'll leave that to the Lovecraft Historical Society. This film is just as much a homage to the silent film era as it is a passionately made adaptation of the original Lovecraft story. And I feel that telling this story in the "silent film" format did just as much to create a great look and feel to the story as it did to soften some of the "dark edginess" that is quintessentially Lovecraft. I don't think it is possible to encapsulate that kind of darkness successfully in a genre that relies so heavily on over dramatic acting, make-up and music. You can not help but admire the passion in which this film was made. I felt it immediately and then upon watching some of the "extras" and hearing the details from those involved with getting this film made, my admiration grew exponentially. Well worth a watch if you are a fan of films and/or film making.

• Kylie B

  
  I liked the idea to tie the production to the date of the story. The look and feel of a silent film is recaptured quite well, but the Cthulhu stop motion figue seems a little cheesy - but I can't really say for sure because it was hardly on screen. I think their interpretation… More
  I liked the idea to tie the production to the date of the story. The look and feel of a silent film is recaptured quite well, but the Cthulhu stop motion figue seems a little cheesy - but I can't really say for sure because it was hardly on screen. I think their interpretation of the 'cyclopean' architecture was pretty impressive too (particularly for low budget). However, be prepared to read, and if you like a great deal of action this may put you to sleep.

• A.D. V

  
  Technically amazing and quite faithful to Lovecraft's original story. If you're a fan of silent films and/or H.P. Lovecraft then this is a must see, everyone else probably won't find much to be interested in.

• Francisco G

  
  A very imaginative short little films with plenty of power, having in mind that this was made by a handfull of people with very little means. Fantastic set designs, superbly well told story and spot on pacing, more than an homage to silent films this is a very well realized movie.

• Sylvester K

  
  Astounding master piece, the vintage look is unreplaced!!!!!!!!!!!

• Eduardo C

  
  Easily the most faithful representation of Lovecraft's writings on screen.

• John M

  
  This movie just works. Setting it as a silent film was a stroke of genius, and the low budget effects are given a free pass. One could almost believe this really was made in the 20's. The musical score is wonderful and the use of light and shadows grand.

• Alex F

  
  Hm... interesting, but you can't really adapt the tale as literally as this and get a great movie -there's too many 'inside stories'. Still worth watching because of the revival-like style.

• Marion R

  
  This is 100 times better than some blockbuster films. Those movies don't have have much heart as this film. I was actually scared watching this. The story is pretty intense, and it was very enjoyable. Being a fan of silent era films and good Independent film it was something that… More
  This is 100 times better than some blockbuster films. Those movies don't have have much heart as this film. I was actually scared watching this. The story is pretty intense, and it was very enjoyable. Being a fan of silent era films and good Independent film it was something that was right up my alley, seeing other adaptations of Lovecraft's works this is definitely the best.

• MJS M

  
  A 47 minute adaptation of the H.P. Lovecraft story, done in the style of a 1926 silent film. Actually reading the works of Lovecraft is something I?ve always meant to get around to, but most of my knowledge of his work was more through things he inspired including a pair of wicked… More
  A 47 minute adaptation of the H.P. Lovecraft story, done in the style of a 1926 silent film. Actually reading the works of Lovecraft is something I?ve always meant to get around to, but most of my knowledge of his work was more through things he inspired including a pair of wicked Metallica songs. As an attempt to make this look like an actual 75 year old film this is ultimately a failure, I wasn?t fooled by it at all the way the actors looked and moved as well as a number of the sets looked just didn?t fit with that era. I personally would have probably looked more toward a 40s nourish B-movie style to tell the story myself, but that?s just me. Even if the technical elements didn?t wildly impress me, this is still this is a good story being very well told. There was some really good tension during the last scene and a generally creepy aura throughout. A fun experiment, but rough around the edges.

• Christopher B

  
  One of the best Lovecraft adaptations, this is an excellent way to tell a classic horror story; as a silent film. Somewhat similar to a Guy Maddin film, Cthulhu creates an atmosphere that oozes mystery and melodrama. A great climax caps it all off, making this one of the more… More
  One of the best Lovecraft adaptations, this is an excellent way to tell a classic horror story; as a silent film. Somewhat similar to a Guy Maddin film, Cthulhu creates an atmosphere that oozes mystery and melodrama. A great climax caps it all off, making this one of the more enjoyable "experimental" horror films I've ever seen.

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