Color out of Space: The Return of Richard Stanley
After the trip into madness that was the production of The Island of Dr. Moreau, it seemed that Richard Stanley would never venture into the world of feature filmmaking after the experience. In fact, in the documentary Lost Soul, the filmmaker himself even said that it was highly unlikely that he would direct a feature film ever again, thankfully, that did not come to pass.
In 2013, Stanley announced his intention to make a film based on H.P. Lovecraft's Color out of Space; he even posted a proof of concept trailer online with Elijah Wood's production company SpectreVision signing on to produce in 2015. Thing's went silent for a few years until, in 2018, it was announced the film would star Nicolas Cage, Joely Richardson, Tommy Chong, Elliot Knight, Julian Hillard, and Q'Orianka Kilcher. The production officially started in Portugal in February 2019 and received a wide release in early 2020.
The film's premise is the same as that of Lovecraft's original short story, with a few things changed here and there. One day, a meteorite crashes on the Gardner family farm in rural Arkham, Massachusetts. The object emits a bizarre color before crumbling and dissolving into the ground; it starts affecting the area around it by growing oddly colored plants around the area where it landed, the groundwater becomes tainted and bizarre colored insects begin flying around. The family becomes affected by the effects of the meteor and begin to slowly lose their minds, culminating in an epic display of the vast size of the universe, putting the concept of humanity in perspective.
I have to start by saying that it is a real treat to see Richard Stanley take the helm of a movie for the first time since Dust Devil, which was over 25 years ago. From his first two movies, it was plain to see that Richard Stanley was going to be a unique up-and-coming filmmaker, had his experience on The Island of Dr. Moreau not soured him for roughly two decades. Color out of Space is filled with Richard Stanley's trademarks, such as his distinctive use of color. Stanley also sneaks in a few easter eggs that also make the film fun to watch if you're a diehard fan of Lovecraft and Richard Stanley. Two specific easter eggs I particularly enjoyed are where a character is reading the novella The Willows by Algernon Blackwood, who was a significant influence on Lovecraft, and a scene where Nicolas Cage is watching a Marlon Brando movie on TV. A loving tribute to one of the greats and someone who Richard Stanley considered a friend, if only for a brief time.
From the very beginning of the film, there is a very doomy atmosphere that becomes more palpable as events unfold, going from bad to worse. Given this is an adaptation of an H.P. Lovecraft story, one should expect a descent into madness to take place among central characters, which Nicolas Cage hits an impressive home run with his performance of Nathan Gardner. Over the years, we've come to know Nicolas Cage as the loveable meme-worthy ham from many of his films in which Nicolas Cage portrayed over-the-top characters. While Nicolas Cage is an over-the-top character in real life anyway, his descent into madness in Color out of Space is done well enough where it doesn't make the film feel silly or campy in any form.
Though Nicholas Cage is always great to watch, thankfully, he's not the only one who portrays their character well. Every actor and actress in Color out of Space draws you in with their portrayals of their characters, specifically Madeleine Arthur, as Lavinia Gardner. Her representation of the oldest of the Gardner children who practices witchcraft is arguably better than Nicolas Cage. Elliot Knight is also great as Ward Phillips, a hydrologist who is surveying the water in the area in preparation for the building of a new dam. He is the outsider looking in on the strange events of the movie, the only bad thing I'll say is he's not given enough screen time to give audiences the chance to connect with him entirely. Even Tommy Chong's very minor character of Ezra, the hermit, is both fun and adds to the plot of the story.
What also makes Color out of Space so good is its sound design; this is most certainly a movie one needs to watch at a decent level. Otherwise, some things might be lost if watching this movie at a lower volume with subtitles. From shrieks, screams, and otherworldly drones, as well as a tense score by Colin Stetson makes Color out of Space a movie not only worth seeing but also hearing.
The final verdict for Color out of Space is a 5 out of 5. If you're a fan of Nicolas Cage, Richard Stanley, H.P. Lovecraft, cosmic-horror, or just sci-fi horror, in general, you'll enjoy this film. The story is well crafted, and the right actors were chosen to portray each character convincingly. The film starts and builds on an uneasy feeling as the story progresses, culminating in a gruesome and spectacular climax that is very befitting of an H.P Lovecraft adaptation.
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