1. 11:54 19th Apr 2010

    Notes: 1

    image: Download

    OOC3d.17 Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn ///////////////// Alright. It is true. In episode 43, I mentioned how “Call of Cthulhu” was one of the best adaptations of an HP Lovecraft story. Allow me to fill you in on a complicated back story and needless details. The Call of Cthulhu is the flagship story in a mythos which spans several stories writers and decades. Published in 1928, Call of Cthulhu tells multiple accounts of the resurrection of a forgotten metadimensional monster. The multiple accounts range from dreams and eye witness accounts of sailors, police, social savages and academics. The antagonist in the story is only apart of a complex pantheon of gods which share a universe comprising of the conscious world and the unconscious. The terror of Lovecraft’s stories rest in the tension with an unknowable horror. The fear of the unexplainable could be highlighted at this section. Within Lovecraft’s world rests the normal and explainable surrounded by a wall in constant decay. These holes in the knowable are where some of his most beloved stories come to life. For the most part, Lovecraft stories rarely end in a dramatic sword fight or with any sense of closure.The complexity with Lovecraft mythos is also compounded by legions of writers and metal bands paying tribute and adding to the cycle of stories. Lovecraft adaptations in popular media fail most of the time because they do not allow the subtle horror and psychological terror to permeate through the story. While most of Lovecraft’s monsters are towering aliens with tentacles; they will never stomp through a city blowing gamma radiation on toy tanks. Few films have been full adaptations of Lovecraft stories. In 1995, At The Mountains Of Madness took multiple Lovecraft elements and threw them into a story. More recent, Dagon was an adaptation of Shadow Over Insamouth. The Dunwitch Horror has been made a couple of times including an awfully amazing syfy Sunday movie. The HP Lovecraft Historical Society is a California based dramatic company bent on recreating Lovecracft mythos in various media. They are responsible for the musicals; Shoggoth on the Roof and A Very Scary Solstace. Aside from comedic musical numbers; the HPLCHS constructs and preforms radio drama for various Lovecraft stories. This nostalgia for older mediums dominates their film “Call Of Cthulhu.” Cthulhu is a film in the style of a silent movie. Despite the artistic tag of “in the style” Cthulhu has every intention of replicating the look and feel of a silent movie. Despite obvious budget restriction, it does a decent job. Some high points include film pulsing, heavy handed makeup and high contrasts to the point of being washed out. If any era of silent film is intending to be mimicked; it would be German Expressionism. As stated before no amount of effects can replicate rudimentary film equipment. No matter how hard your try, your camera is too expensive to make your movie look old. Additionally, minor points such as zooming, use of flashbacks, editing and camera angles anchor this film in the 2000’s. But hey; they did an admirable job. The film’s use of the silent motif enhances the long bits of dialogue which unthinkably fills in the plot with a cohesive story. The low budget for this movie also adds to the overall charm where creativity trumps realism. The dream sequences and backgrounds are made of cardboard and the monster is a claymated puppet. The ending for the film feels less like a movie and more like the greatest high school play ever directed by Michael Gondry. The film is 46 minutes long and available on netflix streaming. It is worth it not only for Lovecraft fans but also interested parties with 46 minutes to spare. this post is but the first entry into my lovecraft diaries. Please stay tuned for a detailed analysis of lovecraftian Heavy Metal. -Detective Graves

    OOC3d.17

    Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn

    /////////////////

    Alright. It is true. In episode 43, I mentioned how “Call of Cthulhu” was one of the best adaptations of an HP Lovecraft story. Allow me to fill you in on a complicated back story and needless details.

    The Call of Cthulhu is the flagship story in a mythos which spans several stories writers and decades. Published in 1928, Call of Cthulhu tells multiple accounts of the resurrection of a forgotten metadimensional monster. The multiple accounts range from dreams and eye witness accounts of sailors, police, social savages and academics. The antagonist in the story is only apart of a complex pantheon of gods which share a universe comprising of the conscious world and the unconscious. The terror of Lovecraft’s stories rest in the tension with an unknowable horror. The fear of the unexplainable could be highlighted at this section. Within Lovecraft’s world rests the normal and explainable surrounded by a wall in constant decay. These holes in the knowable are where some of his most beloved stories come to life. For the most part, Lovecraft stories rarely end in a dramatic sword fight or with any sense of closure.The complexity with Lovecraft mythos is also compounded by legions of writers and metal bands paying tribute and adding to the cycle of stories.

    Lovecraft adaptations in popular media fail most of the time because they do not allow the subtle horror and psychological terror to permeate through the story. While most of Lovecraft’s monsters are towering aliens with tentacles; they will never stomp through a city blowing gamma radiation on toy tanks. Few films have been full adaptations of Lovecraft stories. In 1995, At The Mountains Of Madness took multiple Lovecraft elements and threw them into a story. More recent, Dagon was an adaptation of Shadow Over Insamouth. The Dunwitch Horror has been made a couple of times including an awfully amazing syfy Sunday movie.

    The HP Lovecraft Historical Society is a California based dramatic company bent on recreating Lovecracft mythos in various media. They are responsible for the musicals; Shoggoth on the Roof and A Very Scary Solstace. Aside from comedic musical numbers; the HPLCHS constructs and preforms radio drama for various Lovecraft stories. This nostalgia for older mediums dominates their film “Call Of Cthulhu.”

    Cthulhu is a film in the style of a silent movie. Despite the artistic tag of “in the style” Cthulhu has every intention of replicating the look and feel of a silent movie. Despite obvious budget restriction, it does a decent job. Some high points include film pulsing, heavy handed makeup and high contrasts to the point of being washed out. If any era of silent film is intending to be mimicked; it would be German Expressionism. As stated before no amount of effects can replicate rudimentary film equipment. No matter how hard your try, your camera is too expensive to make your movie look old. Additionally, minor points such as zooming, use of flashbacks, editing and camera angles anchor this film in the 2000’s. But hey; they did an admirable job. The film’s use of the silent motif enhances the long bits of dialogue which unthinkably fills in the plot with a cohesive story. The low budget for this movie also adds to the overall charm where creativity trumps realism. The dream sequences and backgrounds are made of cardboard and the monster is a claymated puppet. The ending for the film feels less like a movie and more like the greatest high school play ever directed by Michael Gondry.

    The film is 46 minutes long and available on netflix streaming. It is worth it not only for Lovecraft fans but also interested parties with 46 minutes to spare. this post is but the first entry into my lovecraft diaries. Please stay tuned for a detailed analysis of lovecraftian Heavy Metal.

    -Detective Graves

     
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