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Sarah from Dublin
I like this film. It's a great and very innovative approach to this work by Lovecraft. The idea to make it a "silent" movie was ingenious. I'm waiting, waiting, waiting for the Whisperer in Darkness (and am going to shorten that wait by getting Dunwich and Innsmouth the audio plays).
It's a must-buy for everyone who likes the Call of Cthulhu.

If you're looking for something out of the ordinary and are tired of cookie-cutter mainstream "blockbusters" and the like, this movie is for you. Someday a Peter Jackson-type will do a "proper" interpretation of the Lovecraft mythology, and the purists and newbies will finally understand and be satisfied. But until then, this is just the most adorable (can I say that about 'horror?') short film I've seen in ages, and a wonderful introduction to the innocence and glamor of a lost age of sci-fi and film. Great job, kids! Thanks.

This is THE BEST adaptation of an H.P. Lovecraft story onto film/video we have ever seen.

Rhode Island Horror Rocks!

'The Call of Cthulhu' does just that. By using the effects of H.P.'s own era and utilyzing the silent film to focus on the sheer creepiness of the investigatory process and Lovecraft's eerie dialogues, this film is a scarring success.

I'm a huge fan of films that use era effects such as Bram Stoker's Dracula and Donnie Darko, and this movie 144% delivered. I came in expecting a low budget silly B flick and within the first few minutes knew that I had severely underestimated what this company was capable of.

I loved this film.

-C.E.Zacherl.

This said, when the Dunwich Horror was announced, I hopped on it. I've heard the first Radio show based off the story, and this one beats it hands down, especially with the additional content which really adds to the story in general. I'm tickled pink!

Imagine my reaction when I stumbled upon a group of truly dedicated enthusiasts who understood the nuances of my passion. This in itself was revelatory but I cannot put into words my jubilation upon finding the HPLHS had "'Craft'ed" a screen version of what is perhaps the greatest horror story ever conceived. With incredible excitement (but very low expectation) I sent away for my copy...

What can I say after viewing? Astonishing would be an understatement. Not only is the essence of horror resolutely captured, it is done so in a professional manner bespeaking those with a fine grasp of film making. And this on the razor thinnest of shoestring budgets. I was born and raised in Hollywood and most of my family is in the entertainment business, myself included. I've seen many a production depleted by dogged commercialism, hackneyed short-cutting and the general pursuits of greed. "The Call of Cthulhu" is obviously a labor of great love and I find it so absolutely refreshing that I must say, "Thank you, thank you, thank you, HPLHS!"

What next? And mainly,how do I join the Society? I have been an HPL famatic for about 40 years and once conducted a literary pilgrimage to his family plot at the Swan Point Burying Ground in Providence.

From the opening credits to the end this is just perfect.

Thanks and look forward to the next

Three words from earlier reviews also bear repeating: "brilliant", "triumph", and "masterpiece". The creative decision to make this a 1920's B&W silent film was exactly right, and was persuasively carried out, turning low-budget effects from a weakness into a strength -- as actual films of the period resorted to many of the same inexpensive techniques (minus computer/video compositing).

Thus if any flaw in execution merits mention, it's only that the picture quality and frame rate were perhaps a bit too high, and that slightly choppier live action might have been both more period and more compatible with the (lower frame rate) stop-motion animation. In this respect, the HPLHS apparently chose viewer comfort over authenticity. If that is a flaw, it's forgivable.

But the one omission I regret, and which the HPLHS should rectify as soon as possible, is that this movie should have been transferred to actual film, with one reel (and a score for musicians) being sent to a Providence, R.I., theatre for screening in 1926.

EXT. THEATRE. VIEW FROM ACROSS A QUIET STREET.
Mid-evening. The marquee and other exterior lights are lit, as are the lobby lights visible through the glass doors. Nothing moves. All is calm, all is still. Then, suddenly, a theatre-full of audience bursts out through the doors, running wildly in radial lines away from the theatre, in choppy motion and shades of grey, their faces clearly showing screams, though no sound can be heard.

INT. THEATRE. VIEW FROM MID-FRONT OF AUDITORIUM, TOWARD CENTER.
Flickering light from the screen illuminates the fronts of seats in the middle of the auditorium. All the seats are empty, save one: in the exact center sits HOWARD PHILLIPS LOVECRAFT, his long and usually somber face contorted into an uncharacteristic grin of delight. He reaches into his popcorn cup for a fingertips-full cluster, and settles back into his seat with an almost audible sigh of contentment as he tosses a few popped kernels into his mouth and begins chewing.

FADE TO BLACK.
_______________

... Oh, and below the review form, is "carnivorous archictecutre" supposed to be "carnivorous <b>architecture</b>" (like the man-eating angle on R'lyeh), or "carnivorous <b>architeuthis</b>" (giant squid)? Either one would work....

Three words from earlier reviews also bear repeating: "brilliant", "triumph", and "masterpiece". The creative decision to make this a 1920's B&W silent film was exactly right, and was persuasively carried out, turning low-budget effects from a weakness into a strength -- as actual films of the period resorted to many of the same inexpensive techniques (minus computer/video compositing).

Thus if any flaw in execution merits mention, it's only that the picture quality and frame rate were perhaps a bit too high, and that slightly choppier live action might have been both more period and more compatible with the (lower frame rate) stop-motion animation. In this respect, the HPLHS apparently chose viewer comfort over authenticity. If that is a flaw, it's forgivable.

But the one omission I regret, and which the HPLHS should rectify as soon as possible, is that this movie should have been transferred to actual film, with one reel (and a score for musicians) being sent to a Providence, R.I., theatre for screening in 1926.

EXT. THEATRE. VIEW FROM ACROSS A QUIET STREET.
Mid-evening. The marquee and other exterior lights are lit, as are the lobby lights visible through the glass doors. Nothing moves. All is calm, all is still. Then, suddenly, a theatre-full of audience bursts out through the doors, running wildly in radial lines away from the theatre, in choppy motion and shades of grey, their faces clearly showing screams, though no sound can be heard.

INT. THEATRE. VIEW FROM MID-FRONT OF AUDITORIUM, TOWARD CENTER.
Flickering light from the screen illuminates the fronts of seats in the middle of the auditorium. All the seats are empty, save one: in the exact center sits HOWARD PHILLIPS LOVECRAFT, his long and usually somber face contorted into an uncharacteristic grin of delight. He reaches into his popcorn cup for a fingertips-full cluster, and settles back into his seat with an almost audible sigh of contentment as he tosses a few popped kernels into his mouth and begins chewing.

FADE TO BLACK.
_______________

... Oh, and below the review form, is "carnivorous archictecutre" supposed to be "carnivorous <b>architecture</b>" (like the man-eating angle on R'lyeh), or "carnivorous <b>architeuthis</b>" (giant squid)? Either one would work....

Here is the website for CWRU Film Society: http://films.cwru.edu/

Many thanks, and keep up the good work,
George

Their cinematography was great, their SFX were very in keeping with a film produced in 1926. The acting was wonderful. It is much harder to act when you know your voice isn't going to be heard. You need to have your expressions set the mood (though they did speak during filming. Some of which was rather funny [see the bonus features]).
They have done a beautiful job with this.

I am also very glad that they included a bonus/Making of feature as well. That made the movie even more enjoyable.
I hope you do that again with your next film.

I am so looking forward to their next release, 'The Whisperer in Darkness'.
If that is even half the quality of 'The Call of Cthulu' (and after seeing the trailer, it's equal to, at the least), then the new movie will be fabulous.

I recommend 'The Call of Cthulu' to any fan of HPL. You will definitely NOT be sorry.

By the way- even if the whole customer service staff have been eaten by Shoggoths, the website and the products are excellent.

HPLHS says: Jim, we don't know who you are or what your issue is. Please email us and we'd be happy to sort things out for you.

The film is aesthetically pleasing with few exceptions (weak spots are few and far between). This is indeed a tall order in regards to making a film adaption of a Lovecraftian story, however HPLHS have achieved this comfortably. The look of the Call of Cthulhu is reminiscent of Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)which is evidence of its adherence to the conventions of silent film.

The Call of Cthulhu is one of the most faithful recreations of the Lovecraftian vision I have ever come across, and the 1920's theme chosen by the filmmakers has been applied with great consistency. The fact it was black and white and silent will I fear limit its appeal to the world beyond the fans of Lovecraft; in balance however Lovecraft's literature has never had mainstream appeal and perhaps this is an intrinsic part of its beauty.

I think this film deserves substantial credit for its contribution to the body of Lovecraftian films.
4 and a half out of 5

http://marc.charley.free.fr

Kudos!

it was quite an amazing movie, and the shots using almost forgotten camera tricks was quite brilliant. hollywood could definately take a lesson from all of you. congrats!

looking forward to seeing more, that is, if im not jostled by any nautical looking folk

I can't wait until The Whisperer in Darkness is released so that I can enjoy some more Lovecraftian live action; much envy here at your achievements.

Looking forward to your future productions,

Thank You HP Historical Society!

In the film, I felt the swamp ritual scene perfectly conveying the degenerate horror of the cultists. I was also very impressed with R'lyeh looking like something from German Expressionist cinema from the twenties (which I'm guessing was the point) and looking all the more alien because of it. In hindsight, such a simple (yet ingenious) idea to make the film as a black-and white silent movie, but doing so allowed so very much to be realised so well.

Thank you again, and I'll see if I can't send some more business your way by impressing my friends with your cool stuff!

Excelent adaptation of the tale, if someone see this and he/she is thinking about buy it, I say: DON'T THINK IT TWICE!

Saludos!

Ignacio

Excelent adaptation of the tale, if someone see this and he/she is thinking about buy it, I say: DON'T THINK IT TWICE!

Saludos!

Ignacio

I'm really looking forward to Whisperer in the Darkness!!

That is not dead which can eternal lie,
and, with strange aeons, even death may die.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a sunken city to try to find.
====
* Which sucks so much less than the latter three efforts that I've formally decided that the entire Anakin story arc as produced by Lucas simply doesn't exist. There never was a Jar-Jar and a prepubescent Darth Vader absolutely never built C-3PO.
** Did you see how subtle I was there?
*** Which, for most cinema aficionados, is damnation enough.

Excellent choice also to have the DVD region-free, meaning I (mere mortal from a small country) was able to view it without any problem whatsoever.
And even though nothing beats Lovecraft's choice of words: the Dutch intertitles are a real treat!

Keep up the good work!

With that in mind I gave the HPLHS the Artistic Benifit for the chages and the Fact they actully pulled off some tough effects with out much of a budget and found this flick actully did a great job with converting an extreamly difficult to film story into a movie.

I give it Three out of four stars.

Of course I thought to myself "Oh great! Another butchered HPL ripoff." Wonder of wonders it was actually a great movie, and so true to the orginal as to hardly matter!

Three tentacles up ;)

I am pleased to say that the HPLHS "Call of Cthulhu" is wonderful and raises the bar for such movies! Having a silent movie in the 1920's style is clever and perfectly executed. The acting is great and the special effects are quite effective and not overdone.

Thank you HPLHS for this great movie. I most highly recommend it!

What can I say. Homerun, guys.

The cast and crew of this move Get It. They got Lovecraft right, with nods to Caligari and Nosferatu, and nice little period details like the ads in the newspaper next to the story of the Alert. Sure, there was a continuity error or two (I'm not saying where - part of the fun of watching any movie is finding them), and I thought a few scenes looked a trifle amateurish - but these are quibbles. HPL himself sometimes went over the top, and how appropriate that a work by the greatest amateur writer of the 20th century be filmed by an amateur film company! The pluses far outweigh the minuses. This movie made me smile, and I was unable to resist applauding at the end.

If you are a fanatical Lovecraft devotee (and you wouldn't be at this site if you weren't), drop $20 and get a copy of this DVD. You won't regret it, and it might just help keep these guys in business. I'd love to see how they might approach "The Rats in the Walls."

You should be proud.

This film was done on a shoe string budget by a rag tag bunch of Lovecraft fanatics who have started their own community known as the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society. They do everything from reading his literature, participating in live action roleplaying, and writing feature articles on Lovecraft. To add to all that they even embarked on the impossible. Adapting what many said could never be done, The Call of Cthulhu to film.

The Call of Cthulhu is not a film that takes place in a single room or a single setting. This film has a fantastic creature, ships at sea, a mysterious island, and several other settings. So even if they could come up with millions of dollars this story is near impossible to make. But they perservered and made this film enjoyable all on a shoe string budget.

The story involves a man who is looking into the whereabouts of a fantastic creature named Cthulhu. All over there are strange cults who worship the creature and await his return. Soon he loses his mind and orders his son to destroy his work. But his sons curiousity gets the best of him and he must discover what the secret of this cult and the delirious dreams he is having hold in common. This leads to some amazing scenes involving boats and a amazing stop motion Cthulhu.

The entire film is shot in what they call "Mythoscope". Which means this is a black and white film with no sound. Essentially a silent film, which is perfect for a story that was written in the 1920's. This allowed them to do some things that they would have otherwise not been able to film. They were able to get away with a lot of things. But this didn't make the shoot any easier, as a matter of fact it probably made certain scenes more difficult. For instance during the boat scene essentially what they are forced to do is build a boat out of whatever they could get a hold of and simulate water by taking a blanket and sprinkling it with glitter. Than they have to shake the blanket while simultaneously having someone else make thunder noises and shaking a gigantic boat.

I really appauld the filmmakers and everyone involved in this film as they were able to make a film despite all the adversary. This film is a must see for any independent filmmaker. You can really see that you can make any kind of film from any script. This is truly great picture, do yourself a favor and check this film out.

I would love to see this as a "talkie", as well as using today's computer effects. But I realize, and understand, the whole aspect of "reaaaly expensive".

Still, I say this, Wonderful job! Very beautiful. Awesome work.

I can't wait to see another of his works done on film.

Your movie is fabulous!

I think I am going to pop it in now! I am getting in the mood to watch it again.

Perhaps after it's finished, I will write another 'Lovecraftian-style' short story. I love his work and have written a few stories in his Mythos style. Creations of my own, and in my own HPL-inspired style.

The Master lives on.

Thank you for the DVD.

What an incredible, inspiring production! I am throroughly impressed!

Thank you for producing it!

I can offer you no higher compliment than this, and I swear to God it's true -- the night I watched it, I had DREAMS about that island city.

In short, the HPLHS has made my winter.

[Editorial Note: See? We don't just post the good reviews. We will note though that the movie is 47 minutes long.]

Film adaptations of Lovecraft's works have often suffered either through budget limitations or a perception of what potential audiences would find acceptable viewing. With a few exceptions, Lovecraft's stories have been used as simply another source of story ideas to plunder and often mangle. The HPLHS version of The Call of Cthulhu is very different. It is an amateur work in the very best sense of the word, done by non-professional film-makers, for the love of Lovecraft - and yet produced to high standards and with reverence to the original story. It is the most faithful adaptation of one of Lovecraft's stories ever committed to film. The decision to shoot in a retrospective style contempory to Lovecraft's original publication (1926) makes it highly distinctive and allowed the creators to overcome potential production issues on a very modest budget, even for an independent film.

As mentioned, it is an extremely faithful adaptation of Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu, following the investigations of Professor Angell as he uncovers the horrific nature behind the world-wide 'Cthulhu Cult'. Directed by Andrew Leman with a screen adaptation by Sean Branney (who are the HPLHS), the film, originally shot on Digital Video has been subject to Leman's "Mythoscope" process, as has the attendant soundtrack - a method of taking high quality recordings and re-processing them to have the look and feel of a 1920s movie. As with a production of that period, the film features intertitles (explanatory text in between scenes) and cleverly the HPLHS have managed to produce them for 24 different languages, yes, 24, including Galician, Luxembourgish and Welsh to name a few (as well as more commonly expected ones); each can be selected from the DVD menu and the film plays seamlessly in the chosen language.

This is all very well, but is the film actually any good? In short, yes. The Call of Cthulhu movie from the HPLHS is a black & white, silent, 47 minute masterpiece. The acting, the direction and execution of the film make a truly entertaining and evocative work, add to this the sympathetic orchestral music provided by the likes of Troy Sterling Niles, Ben Holbrook & Co. and you finally have a piece of film-making that begins to do justice to Lovecraft's works, made by talented people with a long and abiding love for HPL, The Call of Cthulhu is the nearest you will see to a perfect adaptation of the old gent's works.

The DVD itself contains the 47 minute main feature along with an informative and hilarious behind the scenes documentary, as well as deleted material and the ability to listen to the soundtrack in modern high quality or the 1920s-style "Mythoscope" version. If you're a fan of Lovecraft, or even classic horror in general I would recommend you see this film, at least twice - once in your own language and again in Welsh - the closest you'll get to the proper language of the Great Old Ones...

Since its release the movie has done deservedly well, garnering awards at film festivals across the globe. As I write, the HPLHS are now beginning work on their next film work - an adaptation of HPL's The Whisperer in Darkness and this time it's a talkie... I can hardly wait!

Have you arrived at accepted pronunciations of Cthulhu and R'lyeh?

My compliments to all associated with this enterprise. I've been a Lovecraft addict since I was 14, quite a while ago, and never dreamed I would experience it visually, and so well done.

Nice to see the more naturalistic style of acting (featured in many later German and British silents) was favoured over the sometimes overblownÝexpressionistic style of the early 20s. I remember reading once that when "talkies" arrived many directors felt that the "art" when out ofÝ"moving pictures." I thinkÝyour silent film hasÝproven that a supposedly superseded and often unfairly derided cinematic form is still more than capable of delivering genuine shock, suspense and pathos. I am sure repeated viewing will only enhance my wonderment!

I could of course ask you guys to make another film in the future but inÝa wayÝI wonder if such creativity can be so easily repeated. The sheer amount of hard work and ingenuity that went into this film is plainly evident in every shot. A remarkable achievement!

I can only say thank you for bringing HPL's vision toÝthe screen.
PS. Gotta say Chad Fifer's improvs (therapy?!) on the Extras were astounding! Was he channeling Lovecraft or what!?! =)

Are there any plans to do any more Lovecraft movies. I see you say "At The Mountains of Madness" is coming soon. Please say that's the new DVD.

I keep having this image in my head of a modern police department having to handle this stuff. Like The Man said - "The cult lives on - and Cthulhu still lies waiting". Sort of a fusion of "CSI: Miami" or "Miami Vice" (the movie) and Lovecraft. Does that sound doable (even if it needs a major studio) - or is that just too warped for words?

Keep up the excellent work and I look forward to the next masterpiece.

Tony Morris (tonymorris57@hotmail.co.uk

So, do NOT hesitate, the stars are right, it is still time to watch this GREAT movie before they change their cosmic pattern and again deny us the unspeakable revelations about what awaits humanity! (was that too much?)

Thanks to the gone-insane ones who had the courage to summon it!

Philippe

PS: I would'nt have shown Cthulhu, actually. I would have used shadows, terrorised faces... but maybe it wouldn't be as good as it is now.
PPS: What about Arkham Asylum shirts? (like doctor's, nurse's or patient's..)
PPPS: A pity there is no japanese subtitles, it would have been great!
PPPPS: Sorry for those negative looking points, my poor english, and too long a message!
Many thanks again!!

Shows what can be done with some imaginative thinking and a real love of your source material. If only mainstream film had the same qualities!

Well done to everyone involved, I think HPL would have approved!

All in all, I can't praise it enough - even the DVD artwork and title graphics are perfectly pitched! It really could be a 1920s film!

You have crafted a perfect gem here. I don't believe this story could possibly be filmed better. Well done to all concerned.

The film's music score was superb, perfectly complementing the screen. One of the traits that really caught my attention was the film's design. Very well done and reminiscent of German Expressionist films such as "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari." The angular architecture was true to Lovecraft's words and created an eerie feel of unreality. Similarly, the choice to use stop-motion for Cthulhu was perfect and added to the strangeness of the characterís experience. Overall, the film (particularly the latter half) expressed an exquisite ìsurreality.î

After watching the film once, only one flaw comes to mind (though it may be that I just didnít notice, since I was so immersed in creepiness). I would have liked to have seen greater emphasis on the body language and expression commonly found in silent films. Simply a personal preference, but I think it would have been truer to the era. This opinion may change after a second viewingÖ

Anyway, congratulations to the HPLHS for this great accomplishment!

The film is awsome, totally blew me away, great acting and so atmospheric, best film i've seen in years, brilliant idea to do it B/W and silent.

When will you make another? I cant wait!!!

I started reading lovecraft at about thirteen, and fell in love with his style.

Your film is the closest anyone has ever come to catching the true feel of lovecrafts style, and the silent black and white treatment of call was perfect to set the mood , you guys are real fans.

Thank you for an excellent service and for your kind, personal attention.

I hope you guys do more films in this style - you've got it down pat, and I think black-and-white would really suit "The Colour Out of Space." I know I'd buy it, and the tee-shirt too.

I think that your work is extremly careful in all details, the film is a verytable homenage to Lovecraft but I think that is a homenage to the birth of the cinema. A real jowell!!!

I have taken a pleasing surprise when I have discovered that the film is intertitled in catalan (my lenguage) and in euskera all two lenguages comes from to two nations (don't considered like such) from the spanish State.

Thanks and... encore bravo !

We'll stick aroung the HPLHS and see what comes up next! :-)

G?bor B?jt?s
Fangoria Horrormagazin, Magyarorsz?g

Just wanted to drop a line and exclaim, gesticulate and gush over how good your "Call of Cthulhu" film is. I'm a HUGE fan of Silent cinema and I've seen countless silent films in the past ten years that I've discovered the genre...and I have to say yours is amongst the best. I honestly believe that were it made in the time it was set, it would be hailed as much a classic as anything Murnau or Fritz Lang could've offered.

Your film is a sublime, ingenius and artful work that is not only a great product of fraudulence (in your ability to so realistically recreate the feel, style and conventions of silent movies), but also a great FILM altogether. Definitely one of the greatest self-made, digital, independent films ever made. Your creative crew have a talent for not just being faithful and having a minute eye for detail...they are great filmmakers and can weave a story like anyone out of Hollywood.

I am so impressed and I've shown your film to countless numbers of people and will continue to do so. It's arguably one of the best things I've seen this year and definitely THE GREATEST 'fan film' I've ever seen. You should be proud of your achievements and of the respect and knowledge that you've demonstrated for your subject and for the medium of silent cinema.

You guys rock! End of story!

Anyway, thank you for a great film, and I hope to see more in the near
future!

I thought the story itself was very well presented as departures from the original text were few and made sense with regard to the cinematic medium, in fact, you probably took more risks than not with the more difficult to film scenes.

I appreciated that in your transcription, you removed all of the racist overtones exhibited in the original work. I had wondered how you were going to do the cult scenes without it looking derogatory towards african-americans. Your answer was to side step the issue entirely by using white or racially ambiguous actors, which even added authenticity as it would have
been something they might have done in an actual '20s production had they not wanted to splurge on black face. You certainly showed much more awareness of these issues than Peter Jackson did in his utterly offensive portrayal of native-people in the new KingKong.

The special effects I noticed were well done in a 1920's sort of way and I was even more impressed when I watched the making of the film and learned that
there were many more special effects that I had not recognized as such. The cloth water and the model swamp were incredible. I had no idea that the swamp setting shots were a model at all so kudos for that achievement. Really well done special effects artistry can often be underpraised when it's so well done that the effects themselves are not noticed. When "2001: A Space Odyssey" lost the Academy Award for best Make Up to "The Planet of the Apes," Arthur C. Clarke remarked, "Did they think we used real apes?" Your
swamp scenes might evoke a similar response.

So, overall I was very impressed and immensely enjoyed the film. My only disappointment was that you didn't make a greater effort to portray the non-euclidian geometry of R'lyeh. I would have been interested to see how you would have shown the confusing nature of R'lyeh's architecture and was disappointed that you seemed to skip it entirely save for the one scene where a sailor disappearred where two angles met.

So, what's up next for the HPLHS?