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The Call of Cthulhu

Name: The Call of Cthulhu
Director: Andrew Leman
Released: 2006
Duration: 47 min

Representation Score

2.9/10

Limited

2006

Not Rated

Director

Andrew Leman

Runtime

47 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film is a genre-driven exploration of cosmic horror that emphasizes atmospheric dread over social diversity. Its narrative structure is centered around a patriarchal lineage, focusing on the transmission of esoteric knowledge from a male professor to his male relative. Since the story adheres to traditional investigative formulas, it lacks representation that reflects multiple aspects of identity. The setting leans heavily into a Eurocentric academic framework, and the character dynamics do not challenge established demographic hierarchies or gender roles. Ultimately, while the cosmic horror themes challenge human-centric morality, the film remains a conventional genre piece that lacks visible diversity in its cast and character motivations.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Call of Cthulhu have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The story revolves around a genealogical connection between a professor and his great-nephew. There are no LGBTQ+ characters or relationships that go beyond the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does The Call of Cthulhu portray gender?

Fair

The story focuses on a male protagonist and his male predecessor. It relies on traditional masculine roles of the scholar and seeker, without giving much depth to female characters.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Call of Cthulhu?

Limited

The academic investigation into a cult is set within a Eurocentric framework. There are no diverse perspectives or non-white characters mentioned in the plot.

How does The Call of Cthulhu represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film challenges stable Western moral orders by presenting truth as terrifying and unsettling. However, it does not explicitly address secular or anti-capitalist themes.

Does The Call of Cthulhu include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no information about the depiction of physical or neurodivergent disabilities in this work.

Present on Screen

The film effectively uses cosmic horror to disrupt traditional ideas of a stable, moral Western order.

Limited or Absent

The narrative relies on a narrow, male-centric lineage of knowledge.
The setting lacks racial diversity, defaulting to a Eurocentric academic framework.
There is no evidence of women's ability to drive the story or non-straight-centered relationship dynamics.

Official Synopsis

A dying professor leaves his great-nephew a collection of documents pertaining to the Cthulhu Cult. The nephew begins to learn why the study of the cult so fascinated his grandfather. Bit-by-bit he begins piecing together the dread implications of his grandfather's inquiries, and soon he takes on investigating the Cthulhu cult as a crusade of his own.

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