sadly another butchering of hp's mythos
Added 10/19/2009
First I like tori spelling, she realizes she is a great actress for b style movies,
that being said I like b movies. Why I do not like this movie simple.
I am a Bigger fan of the Cthulhu mythos and when you attempt to make a movie with the Cthulhu name you better deliver, they did not.
here's an idea keep your romantic angst views for a romantic angst type movie, you want to make a horror movie make a horror movie.
Next if you want to make an innsmouth movie....
my advice try harder or change genres.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Totally Cthululess.
Added 9/11/2009
Cthulhu Mythos fans will be badly disappointed by this one. Only things it has to do with the Cthulhu mythos or Cthulhu are a few place names. It was actually kind of boring. Watched it once, couldn't see myself watching it ever again, so straight into the trash it went.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Gay drama (very) thinly disguised as classic Shadow over Innsmouth and misrepresented with title 'Cthulu'
Added 7/30/2009
Disgracefully disappointing attempt to infiltrate the, revered literary artist, H.P. Lovecrafts domain.
The first offense was to name the film Cthulhu when this appears to be (at first anyway) primarily based on the classic 'Shadow over Innsmouth'. The second mistake was to adhere to the obvious request of the film distributors to consistently insist upon gay drama instead of focusing on the intriguing mythos that H.P. Lovecraft so brilliantly hinted at throughout most of his stories
I would like to make it clear that I do not resent or disapprove of either artistic license or gay drama but there does have to be a limit and I, personally, do not appreciate the feeling of insistence upon the viewer that they need to take an interest in the relationships of a sexually confused writer with anger issues delivered throughout as opposed to spending more time focusing on H.P.L and the universe that he created for us.
Now to the third - what happened to the story? What are you trying to do to H.P.Ls work? The first hints of tension appear and wha? ...what's this? 'The Shadow over Insmouth' now appears to be integrated with snippets from the rest of H.P.Ls canon. Please do tell me ...What exactly was the writer thinking about when creating this script? I firmly belive that the writer may have suffered what some may call 'Needus Moneyous Badlius' or "Please sir can I have the funds for this film if I write a part for your sibling and change anything that you don't like?"
The final disappointment was the acting, while professionally delivered, there is a very distinct stiffness from all of the actors with the exception of Tori Spelling who (again nothing personal) played a predictable flirty college girl wow!!!!!! hold me back I haven't seen that before - let's put that down to either poor direction or atypical scriptwriting to acquire the "company's" approval and retrieve the funds they needed to make their film.
Note to the film crew Next time please ensure that the appropriate respect is reflected should you choose to make a film based on an H.P. Lovecraft story instead of succumbing to the temptation to take money for a project as opposed to maintaining the integrity of the story and the film project.
The film does not deliver a sense of menace until the film is almost over and that sense of terror\fear is extremely diminished by the preceding focus on what seemed to me to be akin to a gay dawsons creek drama as opposed to a tension building drama (e.g. Ringu)
That having been said I won't deny that there was spectacular scenery filmed.
If you were expecting any further praise prepare for dissapointment (at least you have recieved a warning - those of us that purchased this film had none)
Final comment ..I don't even approve of one star to rate this film but didn't have a choice - not quite Dreadful cac but only a few steps away (not even clever enough to at least come off as pretentious) ..don't waste your money on this drek
If you want good H.P. Lovecraft oriented films then look up Director Stuart Gordon for better artistically transposed goodies such as the incredible 'Dagon','Re-Animator' and 'From Beyond' and if you're a hardcore H.P.L purist you will truly enjoy the astounding 'The Call of Cthulhu'
Absolutely not recommended viewing for the H.P. Lovecraft fan but might be good fodder for those looking for a little bi-sexual titillation and approximately five (count 'em) outbursts with the main protaganist repeatedly spouting fbombs every other word of his dialogue, again I don't really have any issue with profanity but give it a rest after one or two fbombs don't write one in after every single word for a 40 word speech (know your bloody limits) ...not really very clever chaps, better luck next time and leave H.P.L to the professionals.
16 out of 22 people found this helpful.
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Eldritch Awfulness
Added 5/28/2009
2-2.5/5
As a longtime fan of H.P. Lovecraft's work, I was excited when I heard about Cthulhu. The film is kind of an art house horror flick that modernizes Lovecraft (his themes, at least) to address major contemporary issues. Unfortunately, it's marred by terrible editing and several huge missteps in story direction.
*Possible Spoiler Alert*
In one scene, for example, Russ, the protagonist runs into a couple with whom he previously had a profoundly unpleasant experience. They drug him and the scene shifts to a dreamlike sequence in a bar, where the bartender tells Russ something about how he's always belonged in the town. Then it cuts back to the alleyway where they drugged him, and Russ is being dragged through a dark doorway by some unseen thing. He basically justgets up and continues on his way, rendering the whole second encounter with the couple totally inconsequential. The conversation in the bar was fine, but the director's decision to shoot it as such deflates all dramatic tension and alienates the audience (and not in a good way!)
**
Cthulhu's only saving grace is the cinematography. Beyond that, this wasn't any better than the usual direct-to-dvd horror movie. If you really want to see this one (like I did), maybe you can borrow a copy from someone or find a cheap rental. You might end up regretting that you didn't choose something -- anything -- else, but at least you'll have satisfied your curiosity.
2 out of 4 people found this helpful.
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Despite being a decent horror flick by the end it was horrible
Added 4/21/2009
Chthulhu.... What should have been a homage for a fabulous writer was instead turned into a platform for various leftist ideas such as the collapse of the US, Global Warming and Homosexual themes. The first half of this movie is pointless to the story and more about a gay man being discriminated than about cosmic horror.
By the end of the movie it manages to create a sense of tension and fear. I can't give it a 1 but its damn close. I must say my hopes for this movie were horribly dashed.
4 out of 14 people found this helpful.
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