The Call of Cthulhu is a rather faithful representation of the infamous Lovecraft story, although, compared to the literary work, a few trivial changes can be noticed. 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 organization of dedicated film festivals, thus creating a Lovecraft film genre.
The director Leman, one of the founding members of the HPLHS, presents us with a black and white silent era-style work, 45 minutes long, loosely based on the German 20's and 30's silent cinema pioneers. We cannot 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 it not only complements the story well, but it adds to the whole feel beautifully.. The imitation of the medium of the old film was achieved through a technique the producers call Mythoscope, and the 1920's audio thanks to Mythoponic sound.
Many of his quasi-maniacal followers have claimed this is the best Lovecraft film adaptation ever made, faithful both to the story plot and its non-linear narration, and to the heavy, ominous atmosphere; a result, this, achieved thanks to the choice of producing a work such as could have been made at the time of the publication of the story, in 1926.
Apart from the silent film imitation and the story by Lovecraft, The Call of Cthulhu is a great horror film and fans of the genre will surely appreciate it for the dense and compelling atmosphere, rather than the gore, much like the modern Jap-horror films, such as Ringu and One Missed Call.
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