Movies •Books •Music •Food •Tv Shows •Technology •Politics •Video Games •Parenting •Fashion •Green Living •more >

Lunch » Tags » Stop Motion Animation » Reviews » The Call of Cthulhu » User review

The Call of Cthulhu

Modern silent film adaptation of the classic H.P. Lovecraft story.

Edit Topic

< read all 2 reviews

Eldritch Lore Unearthed

Sep 24, 2011

by rbuchanan

Rating:

Devotees of silent films and the great scribe of Providence alike will certainly enjoy this video, a faithful adaptation of Lovecraft's tale of ominous divinity shot in exacting imitation of expressionist films, courtesy of The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society. Its production's period detail is astounding - sets, props, costumes and miniatures designed in imitation of interwar conventions and German mise en scène are of exceptional verisimilitude. Appropriately, its performers play their roles in calculated exaggeration, mimicking the theatrical gesticulation of most silent-era acting. Stop-motion animation deployed to realize the story's gruesome god-beast are merely a cherry atop this flick's sundae.

Shot on DV treated with effects in simulation of vintage 35mm film stock, the movie's cunningly designated "Mythoscope" is a treat to behold, though still lacking the natural contrast and depth of film. Telecined Super 8 stock subjected to like processing would yield better results, yet this is but a quibble - just as director Andrew Leman's mode incorporates a few contemporary conceits, so the photography is to be recognized as an inevitability of latter-day presentation. Likewise, an apposite, quality score composed by Ben Holbrook, Chad Fifer, Troy Sterling Nies and Nicholas Pavkovic is realized by dint of synthesizers, yet drolly advertised on the picture's fantastic theatrical poster as a "Rich Symphonic Score!"

It's a delight to finally see a Lovecraft feature created with assiduous care and steadfast fidelity to its source material. Shot on a budget of only $50K, this microproduction's artistic success was assured by an abundance of talent in compensation for its relative poverty. This represents a cultural opposite of Hollywood film making, and it's so much better for it.

What did you think of this review?

Helpful

Thought-Provoking

Fun to Read

Well-Organized

Post a Comment

Annusya September 24, 2011

OUAOU! :D This looks *so* neatsie! :D Your reviewsie is beautiful, Snuudles! ^-^ I'm *so* excitedsie to watchie this with You! ^-^ How about around Halloweensie? :D It will be so much *funsies*! ^-^ Heehee! ^-^ Muu! ^-^

*snugglesnus*
*rubs nosies & cheekies*
*juicy yummy kissssssssssssssies* ^-^

♥ Annusya ♥

rbuchanan September 25, 2011

Agreed! Good and bad alike, all of these recently reviewed horror films are choice selections for Halloween viewing!

*wiggly snuggles*
*pip kisses to lips, nose, noggin, nose, lips, chin, lips, cheeks, lips*
*love bites*

Annusya September 25, 2011

Yaysies! :D I'm excitedsie to watchie *all* of these with you, heehee! ^-^

*wigglysnugglysnugglesies*
*sweet pip kissies all oversie!* ^-^
*sexie love bitesies* ^-^

♥ Annusya ♥

show text editor

reply to this comment

Follow this review

drifter51 September 24, 2011

Sounds postively fascinating. Being from Rhode Island we would love to see this. My wife and I are members of the Rhode Island Historical Society and last winter they debuted a new series of recently restored silent films that were made in Rhode Island in in the 1910's and 1920's. They were great. How did you discover his film??

rbuchanan September 24, 2011

Actually, I was oblivious to this movie before discovering it on NetFlix and adding it to my queue in 2009. Though I never rented it before canceling my subscription, its online acclaim finally drove me to see it.

The series you've described must be a thrill to watch! This is definitely something that I'll investigate.

show text editor

reply to this comment

Follow this review

More The Call of Cthulhu reviews

review by QUEENBFLIX. May 03, 2009

posted in Movie Hype

When Cthulhu Calls You'd Better Answer!

THE CALL OF CTHULHU is that long dreamed of but seemingly impossible feat--a film that is absolutely true to the work of author H.P. Lovecraft! Many have tried and failed starting in 60s with abominable films such as DIE MONSTER DIE and CTHULHU MANSION in the 80s. Granted there have been a few near misses such as Stuart Gordon's DAGON, and the rare modernized successes such as THE RESURRECTED and Gordon's RE-ANIMATOR , but fans have always been left longing for that one perfectly … more

Comments (35) Compliments (23)

see all The Call of Cthulhu reviews (2)

About the reviewer

Robert Buchanan (rbuchanan)
Ranked #35

My personality type is INTJ. I'm a bibliophile. I like cats!