30.III.1430
is produced by the H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society (HPLHS).
It is a film that replicates many aspects of the silent era film format. It also embraces idioms and dialects like german expressionism.
The format is uniquely suited for an adaptation of Lovecraft's "celebrated" story.
Thus the film is silent and black and white, featuring the stylized acting and makeup of Lovecraft's era,
and of course the score.
Thus also we see a reproduction of german expressionist cinematic imagery of the cabinet of dr. caligari, to match H. P. Lovecraft's "impossible angles" of the structures on the island of the old ones,
(i expected to see glimpses of eisenstein, fritz lang, but i'm not that observant cinematically).
To add a tad more perfectionism, this also comes complete with not only the old nearly square aspect-ratio , but also with dirty film reel effects like crackling dots and lines and the odd hairs , simulating watching an old film reel.
Yet, cinematographically it is not as consistent, sometimes it looks like a 50s movie or like it shot with a TV camera.
A nod to the Rose Croix paralleling Lovecraft's frequent nods to other occult institutions dotting every town throughout New England.
I always loved the police badge of New Orleans.
note also the archaic French-influenced shape of the cap. The star and crescent's configuration are similar to that of the tools of the AAONMS, the Shrine, but adopted at 1855 predates the latter which was founded ca. 15 years later at the Knickerbocker cottage on Manhattan's west side, near or in Hell's Kitchen.
Great sets throughout - real theater on film a rarified art.
also interesting props and monster designs.
The movie closes with a quote offers a reread of that Lovecraft passage that is very relevant.
The HPLHS is said to be preparing another production that emulates fifties B-movies.
I look forward to that.
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