Review of The Call of Cthulhu (2006) by Patricio M — 23 May 2010

Call of Cthulhu is an audacious and ambitious project that succeeds completely in its endeavor to resurrect silent era expressionistic horror cinema, particularly films like Nosferatu, Vampyr, The Cabinet of Dr.

Caligari, etc. Director Andrew Leman lovingly recreates the aesthetic of this cinematic style including make-up, masking, intertitles, theatrical looking props and stages, etc. Simultaneously, Leman lovingly and painstakingly recreates Lovecraft's story verbatim for the camera including all of its nested frame stories and constant digressions.

What emerges from this homage to both expressionism and Lovecraft is forty-five minutes of pure filmic pleasure. I can think of few films I have seen recently that are so fun to watch both on a story level and an aesthetic level.

Of course, the pairing of expressionism and Lovecraft works so perfectly because they stem from the same era of history. While the film has the cheesy feel that silent cinema often strays into, it also manages to create genuinely creepy moments, especially the Voodoo worship of Cthulhu in a Louisiana swamp.

A brilliant film from beginning to end that should not be missed by any fan of horror cinema or of cinema in general.