Cult: The Collaborators who will open the gate for the Mi-Go, who manipulate the humans through promises of knowledge or power.

Cosmic Horror Story: Obviously, it's Lovecraft.

Consummate Liar: The Mi-Go about most things, according to Masterson.

Close-Up on Head: Turns out it's only the head, as Wilmarth is narrating events via the holographic projection machine.

Chekhov's Gun: The cropduster on the Masterson farm.

Cat Scare: Hannah grabs Wilmarth's shoulder while he's listening in on the cultists.

They were developed from Call of Cthulhu role-playing characters created by the filmmakers years before. Wilmarth's three friends at Miskatonic University-in the original story, he doesn't consult any of his colleagues, despite being tempted to, because Akeley persuades him it's better not to put any more people in danger.He is also unable to escape from the Mi-Go, with the final scene revealing his brain has been removed and placed into a jar for transport. He succeeds in preventing said invasion, though most likely only temporarily. Broke Your Arm Punching Out Cthulhu: Wilmarth discovers the Mi-Go performing a ritual that will open a portal and allow for a mass invasion.Brain Transplant: The Mi-Go can remove and implant brains with ease.

The film ends with The Reveal that this happened to Albert Wilmarth himself, and the entire story he's been relating is a holographic projection coming from a brain in a can. Brain in a Jar: The alien Mi-Go place living human brains in cylinders to transport them through space to other planets, which the human body apparently cannot withstand.Blood-Splattered Innocents: Hannah is splattered with her father's blood when he kills himself.Black Speech: Nathaniel Ward quickly switches off the phonograph when Wilmarth says he's been listening to the wax cylinder recording of the cultist ceremony throughout the night.Big Electric Switch: As per the genre, one is used by Wilmarth to shut down the Mi-Go's Mad Scientist Laboratory.Better to Die than Be Killed: Will Masterson shoots himself rather than face the Cosmic Horror to come.Battle Discretion Shot: Wilmarth notes the bulletholes in the wall next to the door, implying that Akeley had fired at something inside the house.In the movie, he is a key liaison between his father and Professor Wilmarth. Ascended Extra: George Akeley was only mentioned in the original story and didn't make any physical appearances.And Then John Was a Zombie: Played with Akeley does not actually become one of the creatures, but he does join their community, as it were.And Introducing: Autumn Wendel as Hannah.When B-67 is murdered by Noyce all he can do is scream. And I Must Scream: When Akeley realises he's been turned into a Brain in a Jar, he begs Wilmarth to kill him.Ancient Astronauts: The Mi-Go have been coming to Earth for millions of years.

Watch the whisperer in darkness