Cthulhu (2007)

I watched this film because it was titled "Cthulhu." Also, because the synopsis sounded leagues and away better than any other movie with the word "Cthulhu" in the title.

Basically, this film is a retelling of "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" and "The Dunwich Horror" with a gay protagonist as the star.

Obviously, it was a very low-budget feature. I am always willing to give low-budget films the benefit of the doubt. It's hard to put up on the screen every message you want to put out.

I liked it, even though it is still a rather poor movie, especially since it is one of many films that attempts to capitalize on the richness of Lovecraft's ideas.

So-and-so (I don't remember his name), goes back to his hometown to attend his mother's funeral. He is the quintessential small-town escapee, made more so because he is gay and now a big-wig at a credited university. Unfortunately (and not a surprise if you are familiar with the original Lovecraft stories), he is heir to many small-town expectations. One of the more true-to-life story aspects is this characters starting up a relationship with a former small-town friend who shared a relationship with him.

Unfortunately for the film, the movie spends a solid hour working through this gay man's tortured relationship with his family and small town mores. This is not interesting.

The movie picks up at the end when the "Deep Ones" come back, and there is a bit of mass hysteria. Also, So-and-so has to embrace his true heritage.

SPOILER!
The best gag in this movie revolves around the plot of "The Dunwich Horror." The grandfather reinserts himself into the soul of his grandchild, so that he can live again and achieve immortality. Unfortunately, he ends up with a son who is gay and has no interest in procreation. Well, I thought it was funny.
END SPOILER!

It's still a rather poor film, and it probably only deserves two stars. I would rate it three for two reasons. One, it's obviously very low budget. The second reason is that is a movie that features a gay man as its star, and not in an exploitative way. The relationship in the film is very real, not just used as an excuse to show half-naked men. David DeCoteau, I'm looking at you. This is a horror film that features gay characters, not to titillate, but because that is just who the characters are.

See? It can be done.

Unfortunately, most of the film is dull. There's also a recurring motif where all the characters are familiar with the horrific ideas of Lovecraft, of which most of the film's characters are very nonchalant about.

Watch it if you are interested in low-budget films, or in seeing a decent gay-themed horror film.

Other than that, a fairly poor film.