The Call of Cthulhu (2005) Movie Review
Written By: JEH
Edited By: Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: Andrew Leman
Producers: Sean Branney, Andrew Leman
Writers: H.P. Lovecraft (short story), Sean Branney (adapted for the screen by)
Date Released: June 6, 2005
Cast:
Matt Foyer as Francis Wayland Thurston
John Bolen as The Listener
Ralph Lucas as Professor Angell
Chad Fifer as Henry Wilcox
David Mersault as Inspector Legrasse
Barry Lynch as Professor Webb
Rating = 4/5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
A dying professor tasks his nephew (Matt Foyer) to take care of his belongings after his death. As the nephew rummages through stacks of papers, he discovers a collection of documents about a Cthulhu cult. Becoming drawn into the mystery of the ancient horror, the nephew takes on the Cthulhu investigation. After hitting a dead-end, as if by fate, a ship discovers an important clue leading to the ancient horror. The nephew reluctantly continues his investigation but at the cost of his sanity.
Gore Factor
The Call of Cthulhu (2005) does not feature gore. However, most of the special effects that do appear are workable and blends well with its preferred medium.
The Grave Review
H.P. Lovecraft’s The Call of Cthulhu was deemed as a story that’s inherently “unfilmable”. However, the 2005 film adaptation of Lovecraft’s ancient horror changed the minds of fans and critics alike.
The director surprises with the choice to film the movie in black and white, which works well with the source material. Who would’ve thought that a silent movie in the mid-2000s can still impress modern viewers? Usually, people would shy away from silent movies, but there’s something about this adaptation that will definitely captivate you.
The Call of Cthulhu (2005) is a faithful adaptation of the short story, making it one of the best Lovecraft adaptations. However, the movie’s faithfulness to the source material is not the only thing that makes this adaptation great. The movie does a lot of things right, including cinematography and atmosphere. Throughout the film, the sense of impending doom lingers and the atmosphere becomes suffocating. With the smooth flow of the story, it’s easy to be drawn to the nephew’s investigation, no matter how horrifying his discoveries can get.
Another noteworthy element is the music. Along with the well-built atmosphere, the music keeps the tension and suspense alive. Even after the movie ends, the thrill stays with you, and the music is left ringing in your ears.
Surprisingly, this adaptation had a low budget. Despite this, the film remains one of the best horror movies featuring ancient horror. Personally, I am not the biggest fan of this horror subgenre, but The Call of Cthulhu (2005) impressed me and is now one of my favorites. This is great proof that budget is not the basis of an outstanding movie, execution is. Horror movies executed well are rare nowadays, so don’t dare miss this one.
Because of the foregoing reasons, Grave Reviews gives The Call of Cthulhu (2005) four graves out of five graves.
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