Abeut.com. Horror & Suspense Movies ‘Cthulhu’ Movie Review wiki Horror & Suspense Newsletter - Sign ual Print By Mark H. Harris, About.com Discuss in My Forum ‘To fans of early 20th century author H.P. Lovecraft, the title Cthulhu will Immediately CHU resonate as the name of a giant, god-like being. Lovecraft’s "Cthulhu Mythos” is @ complex WVUN ‘mythology that deals with the insignificance of man, who remains ignorant of ancient creatures like Cthulhu who once ruled the Earth and will Someday do so again. The mythos has gained a cult following since Lovecraf’s death, and t's within the general context of his wrltings that Cthulhu takes place -- although it shares specific plot points with the book The Shadow Over Innsmouth. the tot Russ (Jason Cottle), like most people raised in a small town, moves away after college and vows never to return, However, he has an unusually good reason for not coming back. His father not only disapproves of him being gay, but he's also the head of an apocalyptic cult called the Esoteric Order of Dagon that's prone to wearing purple robes and spouting fire- ‘and: brimstone prophecies about "the end." How embarrassing. © Regent Releasing ‘The End Product Some films based on literary works don't require any prior knowledge of the source material, but you might need to do some prep work for Cthulhu. The first time I watched It, 1 wasn’t sure what had happened, but after reading a summary lf The Shadow Over Innsmouth, it made a lot more sense. Although some Lovecraft purists might not appreciate the liberties taken with the story, they should enjoy the fact that the Cthulhu Mythos Isnt spoon-fed in too elementary a format. Non-Lovecraftians, however, J#s0” Cotie as Ruse, Danie might be left scratching their heads. acu. Regent Releasing ‘That said, even if you're unsure of the plot, Cthulhu is stil an effective film. Its primary ‘appeal is its look, which combines the natural beauty of the stormy Oregon coastline with a cool blue hue that ties in the ‘oceanic theme. It's a gorgeous fim, given the budgetary constraints (Including being shot digitally rather than on film), ‘and it provides stunning visuals that underscore the dreamlike, apocalyptic nature of the story. Even when Russ Isn't seeing surreal visions in his sleep, the reality of his world is just a bit off, and director Dan Gildark and cinematographer ‘Sean Kirby immerse us squarely in this universe with scenes like the ambitious single-shot car accident in the film's first few minutes. Sstory-wise, Cthulhu has unusual depth and dramatic scope for a horror movie. For those seeking to read messages into the script, there are statements that could be culled about homosexuality, global warming, bigotry, religion, government and war. The fact that the lead character is gay will no doubt draw the most attention, but anyone concerned about there being heavy-handed sermonizing about equality and social acceptance should know that Russ's sexuality actualy is @ key clement of the story that ties into the mythology and ostensibly serves no grander purpose. Unlike Stuart Gordon's fun Shadow Over Innsmouth adaptation, Dagon, Cthulhu eschews campy, special effects-heavy tirills in favor of the sort of cerebral terror and one-against-many tension that made the original The Wicker Man so popular. The script is literate and smart -- granted, perhaps a bit too smart for Lovecraft novices -- although some of the fRuss/Mike background material is a bit unclear (A suicide attempt). Some viewer confusion could also arise from an editing process that muddies a few scene transitions, seemingly disregarding what just happened in the previous scene. ‘The cast of Cthuihu is solid, despite few recognizable names outside of Spelling. The few acting hiccups are expected in @ ‘small indie fick, but as Russ, Cottle shines with a subtle intensity (aided by the shaved head; not sure why, but It just works) and great "Am I here?" reactions to the oddness surrounding him.