At the Mountains of Madness - Guillermo Del Toro's Next Project!

[TruerToTheCore]

Are you referring to the gay Cthulhu movie?

Nay. Just saying that Cthulhu doesn't appear in Mountains of Madness, only in a flashback would be possible. The only story where he is in directly is "The Call of Cthulhu", but he isn't even supposed to be visualized, because he is undescribable for the human mind.

And no, I am not using "gay" as a pejorative. This was a really horrible gay movie from 2007 that appropriated the name Cthulhu. In a stretch, one might be able to call it a really crappy adaptation of "Shadow over Innsmouth," but the resemblance was minimal and it was full of gratuitous gay sex scenes (something I'm sure Lovecraft would not have approved of in the least). I have not seen it, but from what I hear the director didn't know jack squat about the mythos and just borrowed the name to get some attention for what otherwise is a crappy indie gay cinema project that no-one would have cared about.

WTF?

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Not really sure what this is about but if GDT is involved I am interested, from the brief description it does sound like a GDT movie so I will keep an eye on this!

 

[MOVIELORD101]

I've never read ATMOM, but I think del Toro paring up with James Cameron for this is going to turn out VERY well. However, I'm still hoping for him to do Hellboy 3 as his next film after this. I know from reading the deleted after-credits scene in The Art of Hellboy 2 (which has the full final screenplay draft in it) that he has SOMETHING planned for it, and I want to see that put on screen badly. Who's with me?t:

 

[DarkSovereignty]

Are you referring to the gay Cthulhu movie?

And no, I am not using "gay" as a pejorative. This was a really horrible gay movie from 2007 that appropriated the name Cthulhu. In a stretch, one might be able to call it a really crappy adaptation of "Shadow over Innsmouth," but the resemblance was minimal and it was full of gratuitous gay sex scenes (something I'm sure Lovecraft would not have approved of in the least). I have not seen it, but from what I hear the director didn't know jack squat about the mythos and just borrowed the name to get some attention for what otherwise is a crappy indie gay cinema project that no-one would have cared about.

dude, homophobic much? i get the movie was bad as an adaptation, but you're like, going out of your WAY to emphasize how "gay" this movie was. now i'm against political correctness under most circumstances, but this was was a truly ignorant post.

edit: by the way, looking forward to this movie, del toro rocks.

 

[Paroxysm]

Six feet end to end, three and five-tenths feet central diameter, tapering to one foot at each end. Like a barrel with five bulging ridges in place of staves. Lateral breakages, as of thinnish stalks, are at equator in middle of these ridges. In furrows between ridges are curious growths – combs or wings that fold up and spread out like fans. . . which gives almost seven-foot wing spread. Arrangement reminds one of certain monsters of primal myth, especially fabled Elder Things in [the] Necronomicon.
—H.P. Lovecraft, At the Mountains of Madness

These are going to look creepy on the big screen.

 

[Octoberist]

I remember I had an art book of aliens and that dude was in it.

 

[Paroxysm]

I remember I had an art book of aliens and that dude was in it.

Barlowe's Guide to Extraterrestrials, I also used to own it too.

 

[Octoberist]

yup, i had that book and I lost it!

 

[Sentinel X]

I meant, in the context of the book, was it actually graphic?

No, there is no graphic violence in the book. However, the mood is extremely dark and gritty.

Cthulhu is not in a faithful adaption of the story

Its been a long time since I've read the story but I remember Cthulu being mentioned a couple of times even though he doesn't make a physical appearance. Of course, the main monsters are going to be the elders but I wouldn't mind if they actually show cthulhu in the film. There might be a chance that there won't be a sequel so why not.

 

[Octoberist]

wait. the Cthulhu doesn't make a real apperance in the book? I thought that it was the showstopper and the posterboy of HP Lovecraft's lore.

 

[Lighthouse]

Lovecraft's "Mountains of Madness" has been a really difficult book for me to get through. On one hand, Lovecraft really sells the story as a scientist recounting what happened on his trip. On the other hand, I think he does it too well. The geologist narrator really goes into detail on the scientific stuff, and I had to keep going back trying to make sense of what he was talking about.

 

[Lighthouse]

wait. the Cthulhu doesn't make a real apperance in the book? I thought that it was the showstopper and the posterboy of HP Lovecraft's lore.

Nope. He only "appears" in Call of Cthulhu. I think the reason he's the posterboy is because he's the only Great Old One that actually has some kind of description. Every other Lovecraft monster is, quite frankly, indescribable.

 

[Octoberist]

is it possible for flashbacks (with Cthulhu) to be used for the movie adaptation?

 

[Paroxysm]

No, there is no graphic violence in the book. However, the mood is extremely dark and gritty.

Its been a long time since I've read the story but I remember Cthulu being mentioned a couple of times even though he doesn't make a physical appearance. Of course, the main monsters are going to be the elders but I wouldn't mind if they actually show cthulhu in the film. There might be a chance that there won't be a sequel so why not.

The Elder Ones butcher Lake, Atwood and the rest of his sub-expedition (including the dogs). They slice them up and remove the flesh from parts of their bodies. That's pretty graphic for 1931.

and only the Cthulhu spawn are mentioned.

 

[Lighthouse]

is it possible for flashbacks (with Cthulhu) to be used for the movie adaptation?

Possible I guess. The star-spawn of Cthulhu are mentioned in "Mountains". The only way I can see it is if Del Toro decides to actually film a depiction of the hieroglyphics they find about the conflict of the Elder Ones.

 

[ALP]

Del Toro has TOOOOOOO many movies in development. He needs to focus on the important ones.

Did he say if he has funding for this at comic con? I remember him saying it is difficult to get a $130 Million R rated horror movie made.

 

[Lighthouse]

Del Toro has TOOOOOOO many movies in development. He needs to focus on the important ones.

Did he say if he has funding for this at comic con? I remember him saying it is difficult to get a $130 Million R rated horror movie made.

I think it's Cameron's involvement that sealed the deal. Without him, he couldn't have gotten the cash.

 

[Man in the Suit]

I think it's Cameron's involvement that sealed the deal. Without him, he couldn't have gotten the cash.

That's what I think.

 

[Scooter]

Great to see this is going forward. I love At the Mountains of Madness. I can't wait to see how they handle the ending.

 

[CrimsonMist]

wait. the Cthulhu doesn't make a real apperance in the book? I thought that it was the showstopper and the posterboy of HP Lovecraft's lore.

Yea, he's mentioned a few times in passing, but he never physically appears. There's talk about a war between the shaggoths and the elder things and Cthulhu and how he ended up at the bottom of the ocean. He only physically appears in "The Call of Cthulhu".

As for "a possibility that there won't be a sequel", I hope to god that there isn't one. It shouldn't even be a question. But if this film is successful, I'd love to see more Lovecraft films made with the same care and competency. Big budget versions of The Dunwich Horror, The Colour Out of Space and The Shadow Over Innsmouth would be ass-kicking.

and I've had an idea that involved taking The Call of Cthulhu and turning it into an Indiana Jones movie, but that's beside point.

 

[MOVIELORD101]

...And no one here seems interested in a Hellboy 3. Damnit!

 

[Timstuff]

dude, homophobic much? i get the movie was bad as an adaptation, but you're like, going out of your WAY to emphasize how "gay" this movie was. now i'm against political correctness under most circumstances, but this was was a truly ignorant post.

I am just conveying what I know about the movie from the reviews. 90% of the reviews I've read have said that the gay sex was very gratuitous and out of place, especially for a movie claiming to be a Lovecraft adaptation. If someone made a movie called Cthulhu that was pushing a positive religious message on us I'd come down on it just as hard. Sexual exploration has no place in a Lovecraft story whether it's straight or gay, nor does a happy ending or positive message. Lovecraft's stories are dark, depressing, and devoid of any comfort whether it's physical or spiritual, and that is why they are scary.

 

[Timstuff]

is it possible for flashbacks (with Cthulhu) to be used for the movie adaptation?

It's possible that Cthulhu may have a cameo in some form, but I would not count on it. If you cross your fingers though, maybe if this movie does well they'll make a big budget adaptation of Call of Cthulhu as well. CoC is Cthulhu's story, and if they really want to do Cthulhu justice they should probably give him his own movie. They may at least make some references / allusions to Cthulhu in AtMoM, though, which could be a good way to set up for a CoC movie.

 

[dark_b]

thre is no way that they would realese a 130 million R rated movie.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I read the script, and Jesus, I couldn't find anything wrong with it. I mean nothing could really be improved upon.

And for people who want to know:

Spoiler

The Cthulhu does appear in the script. But very briefly. And I dont think he's seen completely either. Just glimpses of him. It's basically a grand scale version of The Thing. I can't wait to see what everything will look like.

This could very well be Del Toro's best film yet.