Has anyone seen, or do they know about....

[j d worthington]

About this film, that is:

Cthulhu the Movie

I've seen some varying stories on what it's supposed to be about, or like, but not enough to give a truly good idea. From the various clips I've seen (of which the latest is here... the ending of this one is not nearly as intriguing as the last one I saw, which I found to be quite a chilling shot) this could be a very interesting take on the Old Gent's work... or could be an absolute abomination.

So... anyone have any feedback from actually having seen the thing, or read a review, or ...?

 

[Curt Chiarelli]

Lovecraft goes metrosexual. I remember seeing stuff on this film as far back as 2003 when it was little more than a teaser and still searching for financing. The clips I saw back then emphasized the sex angle and, therefore, I assumed that they were using that aspect as a diversion for a paucity of imagination and a prohibitively low budget.

Accordingly, I fairly dismissed it from my mind. This more recent trailer is richer in promise, more atmospheric. However, I'm more than a bit annoyed at their appropriation of some imagery from Michael Whelan's brilliant Lovecraftian illustrations:

I'll check it out and get back to you on this one J.D. Who knows, perhaps Andrew Migliore over at lurker Films will pick it up for the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival this October!

P.S. Get a load of this hoax 1933 newsreel footage of Lovecraft speaking about his work. The actor they got to do this sounds just like Truman Capote! Ridiculous! YouTube - H. P. Lovecraft 1933 WPA Newsreel Interview

 

[TK-421]

As I mentionned in another thread, the new JJ Abrams (Producer of Lost) movie Cloverfield may be about the Cthulhu. See the Wiki story and teaser trailer currently playing before Transformers:

Apple - Trailers - 01-18-08 - Large

Cloverfield - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[mogora]

There's a scathing review here.

There's a picture in there of what's supposed to be a shoggoth. I can forgive a lot in low budget movies, but if that photo is real, then I think I'll just give up now and go insane. And just go watch the silent Call of Cthulhu again instead...

 

[Fried Egg]

Wow, that is pretty scathing...

How difficult can it be to just do a decent adaption?

 

[j d worthington]

Apparently... very. Especially with HPL.

Hmmm.... With it being such a scathing review, I'd like to see a bit more on it... I've learned a long time ago not to take any single reviewer's opinion when they're quite so outspoken... in favor or against.

But I'll admit... I never have had much hope for this one... just a little... and a fair amount of curiosity....

 

[Urlik]

the basic plot sounds like this is a remake of a film starring Dean Stockwell (of Quantum Leap fame)

 

[Curt Chiarelli]

There's a scathing review here.

There's a picture in there of what's supposed to be a shoggoth. I can forgive a lot in low budget movies, but if that photo is real, then I think I'll just give up now and go insane. And just go watch the silent Call of Cthulhu again instead...

Hi Mogora:

Thanks for posting that review! Funny, but I spoke to Sarah Mason, Associate Producer over at Lurker Films this last Friday and she confirmed that it was unlikely that Cthulhu would be shown at the H.P Lovecraft Film Festival for many of the same reasons mentioned in that review: the filmmakers were just riding on the coattails of HPL's fame to make their "personal statements".

That "shoggoth"(?) looks like an ambulatory killer tumbleweed that was dipped in a vat of Day-Glo paint, something a Zippo lighter should easily be able to dispatch. Somehow I feel like paroxysms of laughter rather than lymph fluid freezing in my glands is the appropriate response to all this . . . .

I hate it when they use him and his works like that! And, apparently, so does Andrew Migliore, Producer over at Lurker Films. Poor HPL . . . . the stars are not yet in the correct alignment for a proper adaptation . . . .

 

[j d worthington]

*sigh* Ach... yes, I hate that, too; I was just hoping that, even if they were using his ideas to say something of their own (not quite the same thing) that it would be done with a bit of style and panache, and some honest respect for the man and his work.

Damn......

Speaking of... has anyone here heard of a group called Cradle of Filth? They did a piece called "Cthulhu Dawn", which I probably would not have heard of, except a well-meaning friend sent me a link to a video of the thing.... Ummm... is there any way we can sort of speed things up with this aligning of stars, by any chance....?

 

[HoopyFrood]

Heard of Cradle of Filth? Why, yes. And now you've mentioned it, I do believe a friend of mine (who knows I'm a Cthulhu fan because I keep mentioning him ) told me about that song, I'm sure...must've just been in passing though, as I didn't remember until just now. Methinks I might go and do some YouTubing...

 

[Curt Chiarelli]

Ummm... is there any way we can sort of speed things up with this aligning of stars, by any chance....?

Why . . . . yes . . . . yes, indeed there is . . . . It will, of course, require the proper unspeakable "acquisitions" through the Inter-Library Loan System, blood sacrifices, etc. . . . . but yes, we can arrange it . . . . I'm so glad you asked . . . .

Actually, there is only ONE way out of this horrible state of affairs: by encouraging Andrew to hop into the producer's chair once again. He hasn't helmed a film since Return to Innsmouth and many of us believe that he's long overdue to make another. I for one am of that opinion!

That and the aforementioned acquisitions, blood sacrifices, etc., etc. should do the trick!

 

[mogora]

Thanks for posting that review! Funny, but I spoke to Sarah Mason, Associate Producer over at Lurker Films this last Friday and she confirmed that it was unlikely that Cthulhu would be shown at the H.P Lovecraft Film Festival for many of the same reasons mentioned in that review: the filmmakers were just riding on the coattails of HPL's fame to make their "personal statements".
. . . .

Thanks for the info Curt. I don't know anything about the reviewer I linked to, but I do trust Lurker Films on this.

And sadly, here's another film using Lovecraft's name. It doesn't look like any 'personal statements' are being made, just an attempt to make money. It's called 'HP Lovecraft's The Tomb'. The review states:
" When one thinks of H.P. it is doubtful that the first thought that would come to mind would be a Saw knock-off, a jumbled plot, and rape."

Talk about absolutely no respect.

 

[HoopyFrood]

That's damned annoying. Especially to use his name on something that couldn't possibly be any more different from a Lovecraft story, if the review is to be believed.

There should be ban on using his name for anything until film makers can prove that it's actually a Lovecraft story that they're recreating!

Otherwise there will be no choice but to feed them to the Shoggoths. Slowly.

 

[Urlik]

personally, I think that an HP based film should concentrate more on the dark and brooding atmosphere than anything else and too many of today's directors feel compelled to aim for an effects filled action film.

the closest I've found to that, in anything HP inspired, is the game Dark Corners of the Earth. that is not a game to play with the lights off :shudders:

 

[brsrkrkomdy]

Saw that preview on one of those Youtube thangs. And yes, I do get annoyed at one of the visuals "borrowed" from one of Michael Whelan's paintings, that big crates with hands poking out. That to me is first sign of trouble ahead. If this is another pathetic attempt at a screw-up, I think Cthulhu himself would want to have few words with the filmmaker or rather have Nyarlathotep come and jaw at him. (Pun intended! )

 

[j d worthington]

Ah, yes... the price of fame. The man had trouble getting his work sold when he was alive, and now he's being buried under a huge mound of s*** "based" on what he so painstakingly crafted.

No, Hoops. In this case, I think the shoggoths might get indigestion. Feed them into a mulcher... piecemeal....

You know... "The Tomb" is a story that could be adapted to film quite easily, really... and, done well, could make a very eerie, unsettling piece. It would be a bit closer to traditional ghostlore than usual for HPL, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, audience-wise.

As for films based on, or influenced by, his work, that are worth watching... I highly recommend those that Lurker films have out. Even with the low, low budgets and the fact that some of the shorts are along the lines of student films... they do manage to show both respect for and understanding of HPL's vision, and the main features are very good indeed. Even when they take something of a different tack (as with "Cool Air") it's a good difference, and simply brings out an aspect the story has, but doesn't develop as extensively (the tragic and even noble character of Doctor Muñoz).

Sadly, I fear that we're going to continue to get fertilizer instead of art with most of the things Hollywood (or filmmakers in general) do to (not with) HPL; but at least a couple of possibilities may be out on the horizon... maybe....

 

[brsrkrkomdy]

We'll just have to keep our tentacles crossed and not get tangled and tied up in pretzel knots.

 

[j d worthington]

Actually, I was looking up something on YouTube, and just for a lark looked to see what they had connected to H. P. Lovecraft.... Well, yes, there's a lot of dreck, but there are a surprising number of very quiet, thoughtful pieces that go for eeriness, a dreamlike quality, or that numinous quality so much a part of his work... all on next-to-no budget. I'd suggest checking some of those out.

Now, if only Hollywood (or, for that matter, the indies making feature-length films) could figure out how to do something with that delicate a touch.....

 

[brsrkrkomdy]

Well, the silent film called "Call Of Cthulhu" was most excellent in film adaptation. It was done on a shoe string budget and got it done. You seen this one yet?

 

[j d worthington]

Oh, yes... I own that one. Yes, it has some wonkinesses to it because of being done (largely) by amateurs and on such a tiny budget... but it really is very, very good... much better than the pros seem to be able to turn out, in most cases, and much closer to the feel of HPL (which damn' few seem to be able to capture at all).

Funny, isn't it... these people with $1.85 in their pocket can manage to capture the essence of HPL on film, while those with the bloated budgets and accessibility to resources have such a difficult time with that......