Many readers will be familiar with the work of H. P. Lovecraft, who produced a unique genre of horror stories in the early 20th century. Lovecraft explored the idea that humanity lived in a world dominated by ancient creatures and alien intelligences, as far advanced beyond us as we are above the insects under our feet. Humanity was ultimately doomed as one day these creatures would reclaim the surface of their world – and those unhappy souls that realised this were driven to madness and despair.
Years later, the roleplaying game “Call of Cthulhu”, currently published by Chaosium Inc, popularised the genre amongst a new generation. We loved playing those games and the excitement and drama of the adventures informed this short film, which tells a horror story in the form of a film trailer.
The trailer is placed firmly within that Lovecraftian genre, in the year 1907, in London – then the beating heart of the world’s greatest empire. In this world, many of the occultic and paranormal societies established through the Victorian era, laying claim to secret, ancient insights, were in fact correct. From the Templars of the Hollow Flame – seen briefly ascending, burning brightly, towards some other world – to the worshippers of Rivashka, the Thorned Bride, there is something very rotten in the centre of the capital.
Naturally, any film set in Edwardian London, and in the Lovecraft tradition, has to visit certain locations. The House of Parliament and Trafalgar Square hopefully stand out. But there’s also the slums of Limehouse, the Victorian sewers, the British Library and the British Museum. We’re particularly proud of the fight on top of Tower Bridge.
We had an early concept of an opening shot along the River Thames, based on accurate maps of the period… like many early ideas in projects, by the end of the process of recreating the city of London, we were heartily sick of creating and positioning tenements, factories, bridges and boats. We think the effect is pretty good, but it was so much work…!
Were there really Zeppelins in 1907 London? Well, not quite. They were invented in the 1890s, but they didn’t start commercial travel until 1910. The “Cronz Prinz” (“Crown Prince”) in this film is sadly a couple of years too early. But it seemed too much fun not to include.
The film leaves the fate of the three brave adventurers uncertain. What has been unleashed on London? Is the rise of Cthulhu inevitable? Is this really, as Dr Anthony Black, MP, suggests, “the end of human time”? Perhaps this is where the viewers’ own role-playing scenarios will take over… it would be excellent to discover how this existential disaster really ends.