There is a myth about a type of cult that worships the mysterious Cthulhu. A series of documents come to light when their owner dies, and his nephew becomes curious about what his uncle had been involved in. Slowly but surely, the pieces of the strange puzzle fall into place—a puzzle that has either driven people insane or led them to certain death.
The Call of Cthulhu was written in 1926 by the legendary H.P. Lovecraft, and despite the film being new, it looks as if it was made in the same year.
It’s quite unusual to make a silent film in this day and age that looks like it was made 80 years ago—but what’s even more peculiar is that it works incredibly well. There is a thick atmosphere throughout the film, and the plot is conveyed clearly the entire time, while the powerful music sets the perfect mood at just the right moments. It’s also refreshing to witness filmmakers who don’t feel the need to stretch the runtime to the obligatory ninety minutes but instead deliver three-quarters of an hour of pure intensity.
It’s rare for Lovecraft’s stories to work well on film, and the ones that do are usually very loosely based, like “Re-Animator” and “Dagon.” This one, however, works exceptionally well, which isn’t surprising when you know it was produced by HPLHS: “The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society,” an organisation that performs Lovecraft theatre plays. In other words, this adaptation stays very true to the original story.
This is not a film for everyone but rather for those with a particular interest. You should either be a fan of German Expressionism or a big Lovecraft fan to truly enjoy the experience. At the very least, you should be open-minded to something different. If so, you might just find yourself in for a rather unique cinematic experience.
About The Author
