The Call of Cthulhu (2005 short)

Still from The Call of Cthulhu (2005)

Summary

A faithful rendition of H.P. Lovecraft's short story, presented in the style of a silent film from the 1920s. While organizing the affairs of his late Uncle, a man accidentally stumbles across a series of clues toward an ancient horror lurking beneath the sea, not dead but dreaming and influencing the nightmares of sensitive artists and mad cultists, until that time when the "Stars are Right" to revive the beast, at which time it will again walk the Earth to teach man horrible new ways to revel and kill and enjoy itself.... The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society (HPLHS) presents its 2005 all new silent film of The Call of Cthulhu. The famed story is brought richly to life in the style of a classic 1920s silent movie, with a haunting original symphonic score. Using the "Mythoscope" process — a mix of modern and vintage techniques, the HPLHS has worked to create the most authentic and faithful screen adaptation of a Lovecraft story yet attempted.

Details

• Release Date: 2005
• Country/Language: USA, Silent (with English title cards)
• Genres/Technical: Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Black and White, Silent, Short
• Setting: 1920s
• Runtime: 47 min
• Starring: Matt Foyer, John Bolen, Ralph Lucas
• Director: Andrew Leman
• Writer: H.P. Lovecraft (short story), Sean Branney (film adaptation)
• Producer/Production Co: H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society
• Film Website: (link)
• IMDB: (link)

Ratings

MPAA Ratings

• Rated: (none)

This film is unrated, but would probably pass for "PG" for generally mild (mostly off-screen) violence and (very) brief nudity.

Tentacle Ratings

A rough measure of how "Lovecraftian" the work is:

• SSSSS (Five Tentacles: Adapted from an iconic Lovecraft story, and probably one of the most faithful film adaptations of a Lovecraft story ever made.)

Note: This rating is not intended as a measure of quality, merely of how closely related to Lovecraftian "Weird" fiction the work is.

Reviews

Review Links:

• Ross Peterson at horrornews.net, (link) - "It should go without saying that, for Lovecraft buffs, this film is a must-see. It’s also interesting and entertaining enough for anyone into movies, generally. It’s creepy, melodramatic, a little silly (on purpose), and, most of all, Lovecraftian."

Synopsis

 Spoiler Section (Highlight to Read)

A faithful rendition of H.P. Lovecraft's short story, presented in the style of a silent film from the 1920s. While organizing the affairs of his late Uncle, a man accidentally stumbles across a series of clues toward an ancient horror lurking beneath the sea, not dead but dreaming and influencing the nightmares of sensitive artists and mad cultists, until that time when the "Stars are Right" to revive the beast, at which time it will again walk the Earth to teach man horrible new ways to revel and kill and enjoy itself....

Comments, Trivia, Dedication

• The book which the Man reads at the bedside of his dying uncle is an actual published work: The Story of Atlantis & the Lost Lemuria by W. Scott-Elliott (1894).

Associated Mythos Elements

• tome: Necronomicon
• deity: Cthulhu
• cult: Esoteric Order of Dagon
• location: R'lyeh
• cult: "Cult of Cthulhu"
• race: Star-Spawn of Cthulhu