☆ ☆ ☆ ½
The
Call of Cthulhu (2005) – A. Leman
Faux-silent, seemingly hand-crafted
production of the H. P. Lovecraft short story that feels authentic for the
1920s time period when the story takes place and does capture some of the
author’s spooky forbidden vibe. However,
I’m not sure if it would be as enjoyable to those who have not (recently) read
the story, which veers in all sorts of directions, adding flashback upon
flashback, to tell us about the Old One Cthulhu and his blood-thirsty cult of
followers across the globe (albeit in far-off secretive locales). Cthulhu even appears at a climactic
moment! The H. P. Lovecraft Historical
Society (producers of the film…if real) feel no shame in using obvious models
of ships and buildings (which are quaint) but the acting verges on amateurish
at times (despite the lack of sound) and the feel is one of a student
production. For this reason, I kept
imagining how this might have looked if directed by the young Guy Maddin (circa
Gimli Hospital), knowing that Maddin wouldn’t likely play the material as
straight as it is here. But at only 45
minutes, and made with such love….and horror, it is well worth a look.
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