Interesteg What makes it different from others?

Cortechba Overrated

BroadcastChic Excellent, a Must See

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Michael_Elliott The Call of Cthulhu (2005)** 1/2 (out of 4)The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society produced this silent movie, which is certainly one of the more unique horror films of recent years. Based on one of Lovecraft's best works, the film follows a man who starts to dig around about his uncle a short time after his death. This leads the man down several dangerous paths, which might end up costing him his life. The CALL OF CTHULHU is a very flawed movie at times but you really have to tip your hate to the producers, writers and director for even attempting to do a film in this style. The movie takes place in 1926 and they film it as if it was being made during that time. The B&W cinematography does a very good job at capturing the look and feel of a silent film and I thought that director Andrew Leman did a very good job with the sets, costume design and the overall atmosphere making this look as if it was made in 1926. At times I did feel that the style was the main focus and this let the story slip into the background quite often. A someone that's not familiar with the original story I had a hard time following it at spots but I've heard from those familiar with Lovecraft's work that it's pretty faithful. The performances for the most part are good and I'd say that the cast members at least managed to make you believe they were performing in a silent picture. Obviously the appeal of a movie like this is going to be limited but I think fans of silent pictures should at least get some good moments out of it.

Al_The_Strange Although there is a small wealth of films based on the classic works of H.P. Lovecraft, there has never been anything in the mainstream, and it looks like it'll stay that way (especially since Guillermo Del Toro's "At the Mountains of Madness" seems to have fallen through the cracks). It's pretty sad, considering that Lovecraft's work has been highly influential for myriads of modern artists in all genres and mediums; if it wasn't for him, the works of Stephen King, John Carpenter, HR Giger, and heck, even Black Sabbath and Metallica would have all been different. As it is, "The Re-Animator" remains the most popular film, and it makes for a fantastic romp of a gorefest film, but it's still purely cult status.Even though it may not have penetrated the mainstream, "The Call of Cthulhu" might be the best adaptation of a Lovecraft story to date. Produced by the HP Lovecraft Historic Society, it shows impeccable attention to the narrative and nuances of the original story, and it follows the story to the letter. To match up with the era of Lovecraft's lifetime, the film was even made as a silent black-and-white feature. Its style is a perfect replication of old-fashioned cinema, complete with over-the-top acting, simple special effects, and emphasis on light and shadow. It might have even taken some inspiration from the works of F.W. Murnau, due to its emphasis on visual storytelling.Much like the original story, the "CoC" film starts off a little dry, but eventually moves on to some very intriguing and freaky encounters. The film's most interesting highlights will include the policemen confronting the cult of Cthulhu in the swamps of New Orleans, and the final encounters at the lost city of R'lyeh (which is conceived perfectly on screen). The film definitely succeeds at visualizing the story in the best way possible; a fine blend of style and content. It is a short film, but it manages to pack in everything it needs to without feeling padded or rushed.As mentioned above, the story is a very close, if not a perfect, adaptation of the original story. Characters were never a huge standout, even in the original, but the journey they take to uncover the truth is pretty profound. The story ultimately uncovers the inherent terror of otherworldly monsters, and the film does a fine job of underscoring that theme.As silent black-and-white film, the film looks stylish. In fact, this style helps make the cheapness and amateur nature of the film feel natural and forgivable. After all, the film has some incredibly cheap special effects, but they are done in a way that looks like something genuinely made in the 20s, so it fits. Some of the photography is impressive, and the editing is not bad at all. Acting and writing are not bad, and help get the job done. This production is not terribly lavish, but it does its best to make the most out of limited budget and resources. The film has a nice music score which is appropriately moody.It's pretty clear to me that "The Call of Cthulhu" movie is a passion project, made by those who respect the source material and have done their best to make a quality adaptation. I rather wish that more filmmakers could do the same and give Lovecraft's work a proper big-screen treatment. Oh well, as it is, this is the best Lovecraft-inspired film to date, and it's definitely worth a look.Recommended! 4/5 (Entertainment: Pretty Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Good)

akeel1701 Honestly this film is a labour of love, made by enthusiasts who knew that Hollywood would never do this film justice, but at the same time, wanted to see a film about their favourite source material.So like Peter Jackson, making his epic Lord Of The Rings, they took it upon themselves to make their own movie the way they wanted it made. And to do it as if the film was contemporary with the author was brilliant.I've read the story before, a few times, so I was familiar with the Mythos, but the film could have done with a little more exposition for the benefit of the newcomers, on the other hand maybe that just adds to the mystery.All in all - highly recommended

fatehsmann I was born in the era of CGI so watching a black and white, silent movie with awful special effects is rare. I only watched this because I'm a budding Lovecraft fan and an admirer of cosmicism. The fact that it's a silent movie actually aids it,I think. It was a better ploy than going for dialogue , which, I think, would have made it too long drawn and complex. The fact that it's length is really short also means that the punch is greater than it would have been otherwise. The direction is good, the performances are good. The movie is made very well, but this is where the small budget hinders it. The effects are almost comical, and they do lower the punch. The scare factor would have been much more, for example, if the cyclopean cities would have been shown as something other than just props and Cthullu looking, well, less kiddish. But other than that, it was a very well made film.A solid 7.5 out of 10