Call of Cthulhu – Andrew Leman

The Call of Cthulhu is a fairly faithful representation of the infamous Lovecraft story, although, compared to the literary work, some trivial changes can be noted. It has been produced by the HP Lovecraft Historical Society (HPLHS), whose activities concern everything related to Lovecraft, mainly the associated live-action role-playing game called Cthulhu Lives, but also include the production of films and music, and even the organizing dedicated film festivals, thus creating a Lovecraft film genre.

Director Leman, one of the founding members of the HPLHS, presents us with a 45-minute silent era black and white play loosely based on German silent film pioneers of the 1920s and 1930s. We can’t hear any dialogue, and only part of it is written on the title cards; The original classical score, composed by Troy Sterling Nies, Ben Holbrook, Nicholas Pavkovic and Chad Fifer, is haunting and not only complements the story well, but gives the whole a beautiful feel. The imitation of the old film medium was achieved through a technique that the producers call Mythoscope, and 1920s audio thanks to the Mythoponic sound.

Many of his almost manic fans have claimed that this is the best film adaptation of Lovecraft ever made, faithful to both the story’s plot and its non-linear narrative, as well as the heavy and sinister atmosphere; As a result, this, achieved thanks to the choice to produce a work like the one that could have been done at the time of the publication of the story, in 1926.

Besides the silent movie imitation and Lovecraft story, The Call of Cthulhu is a great horror movie and fans of the genre are sure to appreciate it for the dense and captivating atmosphere, rather than the blood, just like the movies from Modern Japanese horror. , like Ringu and One Missed Call.