Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
#1
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Thread Starter
Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
COLOR OUT OF SPACE In Theaters January 24, 2020
Starring Nicolas Cage, Joely Richardson, Madeleine Arthur, Brendan Meyer, Julian Hilliard, Elliot Knight, Josh C. Waller, Q’orianka Kilcher and Tommy Chong
Directed by Richard Stanley
Written by Richard Stanley and Scarlett Aramis
After a meteorite lands in the front yard of their farm, Nathan Gardner (Nicolas Cage) and his family find themselves battling a mutant extraterrestrial organism as it infects their minds and bodies, transforming their quiet rural life into a living nightmare. Based on the classic H.P. Lovecraft short story, Color Out of Space is “gorgeous, vibrant and terrifying” (Jonathan Barkan, Dread Central).
Starring Nicolas Cage, Joely Richardson, Madeleine Arthur, Brendan Meyer, Julian Hilliard, Elliot Knight, Josh C. Waller, Q’orianka Kilcher and Tommy Chong
Directed by Richard Stanley
Written by Richard Stanley and Scarlett Aramis
After a meteorite lands in the front yard of their farm, Nathan Gardner (Nicolas Cage) and his family find themselves battling a mutant extraterrestrial organism as it infects their minds and bodies, transforming their quiet rural life into a living nightmare. Based on the classic H.P. Lovecraft short story, Color Out of Space is “gorgeous, vibrant and terrifying” (Jonathan Barkan, Dread Central).
85% currently on RT: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/color_out_of_space
Last edited by dex14; 01-17-20 at 09:50 AM.
#2
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
Saw this at TIFF back in September, but only mentioned it briefly when the MOM & DAD thread was revived for a few minutes. It's a pretty trippy (obviously), and I presume at least a somewhat more faithful adaptation of Lovecraft's book (which I haven't read) than the old Karloff version, although that one still has its moments. I think this will earn a place alongside HARDWARE and DUST DEVIL in terms of Richard Stanley's idiosyncratic style, and the overall cult appeal of those films despite their flaws. Cage wouldn't be my first choice for something like this, although it's certainly in keeping with some of his more offbeat projects in recent years, and not surprisingly (though somewhat to a fault, I think) Stanley lets him off the leash to mixed effect, which becomes wearying. Cage's nutso moments come in small but familiar doses right off the bat, and grow more epic once the meteor lands (his appearance on a local TV news segment got some pretty big laughs, but may not do the same on a home viewing). He does earn laughs both genuine and cringey against all the extremely well-done body horror and "color" effects and whatnot, but when he intermittently slips into his patented 'pycho-crazy-man' mode he seems even more mannered than usual, spitting venom in a mannered, nasally whine when he's supposed to be signalling withering rage. It's not perfect — so don't go blaming your expectations on me, folks! — but it's eminently watchable, especially when the practical and digital special effects really pile on in the second half. It would be nice if Stanley could parlay this into a productive career rejuvenation rather than disappearing back into unseen short films for another 25 years.
I like that poster design. Personally reminds me of those old Terran Trade Authority sci-fi book covers of the 1970's (and yes, I'm sure there's really no connection ).
I like that poster design. Personally reminds me of those old Terran Trade Authority sci-fi book covers of the 1970's (and yes, I'm sure there's really no connection ).
Last edited by Brian T; 01-17-20 at 11:32 AM.
#3
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
Yeah, this has some of my favorite posters of recent releases because of that old sci-fi book cover motif, hope the movie is fun.
#4
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
That 80s horror paper back font is really popular at the moment.
I love Lovecraft's stories but I don't know if it will live up to the short story. Wasn't it described as colors that exist outside the color spectrum we know of? Here it's apparently just purple or violet.
I think the best Lovecraft film isn't a direct adaptation: In the Mouth of Madness.
There was a retro black and white one that was pretty good though, but that wasn't a mainstream release.
I love Lovecraft's stories but I don't know if it will live up to the short story. Wasn't it described as colors that exist outside the color spectrum we know of? Here it's apparently just purple or violet.
I think the best Lovecraft film isn't a direct adaptation: In the Mouth of Madness.
There was a retro black and white one that was pretty good though, but that wasn't a mainstream release.
#5
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
That 80s horror paper back font is really popular at the moment.
I love Lovecraft's stories but I don't know if it will live up to the short story. Wasn't it described as colors that exist outside the color spectrum we know of? Here it's apparently just purple or violet.
I love Lovecraft's stories but I don't know if it will live up to the short story. Wasn't it described as colors that exist outside the color spectrum we know of? Here it's apparently just purple or violet.
#6
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
Maybe a different story would have been better suited for a film adaptation? Maybe not actually show the color on screen? Maybe film in black and white? I don’t know. But from how everything is portrayed in the trailer, it doesn’t seem very exciting or intriguing. A purple light is making things weird.
This is reminds me I need to check out “The Void.”
#7
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
They lost me at Nic Cage... it's hard to think anything he does is better than a DTV or B movie.
#8
Moderator
Thread Starter
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
I see there is a showing of this at 8pm on the 22nd at a nearby AMC. I may go see this.
#9
DVD Talk Legend
#10
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
Some stories are medium-specific, and are made to take advantage of its strengths. Lovecraft did this a lot, having his characters experience the indescribable and letting the readers imaginations fill in the blanks. So when you make a film adaptation, that’s the challenge.
Maybe a different story would have been better suited for a film adaptation? Maybe not actually show the color on screen? Maybe film in black and white? I don’t know. But from how everything is portrayed in the trailer, it doesn’t seem very exciting or intriguing. A purple light is making things weird.
Maybe a different story would have been better suited for a film adaptation? Maybe not actually show the color on screen? Maybe film in black and white? I don’t know. But from how everything is portrayed in the trailer, it doesn’t seem very exciting or intriguing. A purple light is making things weird.
That turned out to be much better than I was expecting, especially for a low-budget Canadian horror show. I picked it up cold at the library here, in part because I noticed that the name of a former TIFF programmer I knew once upon a time was listed as a producer. I think VOID and COLOUR are both about as good as Lovecraft-ian adaptations can be right now. He just seems to be an author suited to adaptation at a niche-y, B-movie level, rather than in some mega-budget studio production, and these two show filmmakers at least trying to do right by the source (and yes, I know VOID isn't an adaptation, but its influences are on its sleeve)
#11
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
The whole movie looks crazy, not just cause Nic is in it. I’m not a horror guy, but I’ll give this a shot.
#12
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
I met Richard Stanley when he came to the Lovecraft festival and was able to ask him a few various questions about this film and his other films. As crazy as Cage gets, Stanley mentioned it actually got more bizarre than what ended up in the final film. Cage insisted on doing one take of a key scene, standing on his head. Overall, Cage's crazy is perfect for this as it really feels like a Lovecraftian madness as the story progresses. In my book, this may be the best Lovecraft adaptation yet (I've seen it twice theatrically), just edging out Dagon in my book, which had an incredibly atmosphere of isolated dread, despite some shaky performances.
#13
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
I am really looking forward to this. Probably going to blind buy it and I rarely ever do that.
#15
Moderator
Thread Starter
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
Recently I had the chance to sit down and chat with HARDWARE and DUST DEVIL director Richard Stanley about his new film, COLOR OUT OF SPACE, an adaptation of an H.P. Lovecraft short story starring Nicolas Cage. And during the interview, Stanley let me know that he already has his next film in line, a new adaptation of Lovecraft's THE DUNWICH HORROR.
He tells AITH:
I'm pleased to say that SpectreVision has greenlit me to go forward with two further Lovecraft adaptations. So COLOR OUT OF SPACE will be the first of a trilogy. I have already started prepping on the second movie which is going to be a new adaptation of THE DUNWICH HORROR. It will take us back to Miskatonic University for the first time since RE-ANIMATOR. And it will also give us a chance to deal directly with the Necronomicon, the black book that lies at the center of the Lovecraft universe.
And the third movie?
I can't tell you. For all kinds of reasons. But I will say that 2020 is set to be the year of The Old Ones. For whatever reason, everyone seems to be developing a Lovecraft project. The GAME OF THRONES guys are doing their Lovecraft movie. Jordan Peele's LOVECRAFT COUNTRY is about to hit. And I think we're going to be seeing a lot of Lovecraft adaptations in the next two to three years, being that the great man's work is now in the public domain. So that means we've got to be a little strategic in how much talking we do about where this trajectory is heading.
He tells AITH:
I'm pleased to say that SpectreVision has greenlit me to go forward with two further Lovecraft adaptations. So COLOR OUT OF SPACE will be the first of a trilogy. I have already started prepping on the second movie which is going to be a new adaptation of THE DUNWICH HORROR. It will take us back to Miskatonic University for the first time since RE-ANIMATOR. And it will also give us a chance to deal directly with the Necronomicon, the black book that lies at the center of the Lovecraft universe.
And the third movie?
I can't tell you. For all kinds of reasons. But I will say that 2020 is set to be the year of The Old Ones. For whatever reason, everyone seems to be developing a Lovecraft project. The GAME OF THRONES guys are doing their Lovecraft movie. Jordan Peele's LOVECRAFT COUNTRY is about to hit. And I think we're going to be seeing a lot of Lovecraft adaptations in the next two to three years, being that the great man's work is now in the public domain. So that means we've got to be a little strategic in how much talking we do about where this trajectory is heading.
#16
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
That's awesome, I was surprised this had as high a budget as it did ($12m). Though there are no sources to back up that cost other than Wikipedia.
4K Ultra Blu-ray/Blu-ray/DVD is schedule for
Blu Cover:
4K Ultra Blu-ray/Blu-ray/DVD is schedule for
Blu Cover:
Spoiler:
Last edited by RichC2; 01-20-20 at 01:46 PM.
#17
Moderator
Thread Starter
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
I'm still planning on checking this out on Wednesday.
#18
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
Welp this certainly swung for the fences. Crazy ass movie, more than adequately creepy and sufficiently unhinged.
This is the kind of late night movie that doesn't really exist anymore, really enjoyed it.
This is the kind of late night movie that doesn't really exist anymore, really enjoyed it.
Last edited by RichC2; 01-31-20 at 10:58 PM.
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Kurt D (02-06-20)
#19
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
I really wanted to like this more than I did. It had some out-there body horror, but the film didn't grab me the way that, say, Jordan Peele's or Robert Eggers's movies did.
I did enjoy Stanley's realization of the color. So now we know it's fuschia. Also liked how the movie didn't try to explain everything.
The acting was fairly solid--I really liked Madeleine Arthur as Lavinia, who was totally convincing as a rebellious teen. The five actors playing the Gardners had great chemistry and worked well together as an on-screen family.
I did have an issue with Nicolas Cage, though. I've read reviews that said his going into freakout mode was very organic. I didn't think so--those berserk moments seemed obligatory because he's probably contractually bound to do them (jk), but it could be that I was waiting for them to happen.
Also wasn't sure why the film made it a point to focus on Lavinia's Wiccan practices the way it did. The only reason I could see for the story to that was to justify
The same goes for the subplot involving the mayor's plans. That seemed to be an extra detail thrown in so
I'm not sure that added anything to the story, but maybe I was just tired and some obvious connections escaped me.
I did enjoy Stanley's realization of the color. So now we know it's fuschia. Also liked how the movie didn't try to explain everything.
The acting was fairly solid--I really liked Madeleine Arthur as Lavinia, who was totally convincing as a rebellious teen. The five actors playing the Gardners had great chemistry and worked well together as an on-screen family.
I did have an issue with Nicolas Cage, though. I've read reviews that said his going into freakout mode was very organic. I didn't think so--those berserk moments seemed obligatory because he's probably contractually bound to do them (jk), but it could be that I was waiting for them to happen.
Also wasn't sure why the film made it a point to focus on Lavinia's Wiccan practices the way it did. The only reason I could see for the story to that was to justify
Spoiler:
The same goes for the subplot involving the mayor's plans. That seemed to be an extra detail thrown in so
Spoiler:
I'm not sure that added anything to the story, but maybe I was just tired and some obvious connections escaped me.
#20
Moderator
Thread Starter
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
I saw this a few weeks back and agree pretty much everything you wrote.
The Cage stuff was over the top to me and not in a good way. People in the theatre seemed to laugh at it, but it completely took me out of the film.
The Cage stuff was over the top to me and not in a good way. People in the theatre seemed to laugh at it, but it completely took me out of the film.
#21
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
I can definitely see where you guys are coming from, I weirdly enjoyed the early Cage stuff in the flick but they definitely go over the top with him as it progresses.
#22
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Thread Starter
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
Towards the end is where it got too much for me. I know is was suppose to be apart of things... taking over... but it was way too zany.
#23
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
Some stories are medium-specific, and are made to take advantage of its strengths. Lovecraft did this a lot, having his characters experience the indescribable and letting the readers imaginations fill in the blanks. So when you make a film adaptation, that’s the challenge.
Maybe a different story would have been better suited for a film adaptation? Maybe not actually show the color on screen? Maybe film in black and white? I don’t know. But from how everything is portrayed in the trailer, it doesn’t seem very exciting or intriguing. A purple light is making things weird.
This is reminds me I need to check out “The Void.”
Maybe a different story would have been better suited for a film adaptation? Maybe not actually show the color on screen? Maybe film in black and white? I don’t know. But from how everything is portrayed in the trailer, it doesn’t seem very exciting or intriguing. A purple light is making things weird.
This is reminds me I need to check out “The Void.”
It looks like the YouTube video doesn't have subtitles.
#24
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
Saw this last night and quite dug it. It’s damn near impossible to capture Lovecraft’s tone on screen, but Stanley makes a good show of it and the “cosmic horror” is pretty trippy. I like how they didn’t try to Hollywoodify it too much - the stuff with the mother was incredibly intense - and Cage worked for me mostly. Great nightmare fuel.
#25
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Re: Color Out of Space (2020, D: Stanley) S: Cage, Richardson, Arthur, Hilliard, Meyer
The German version of The Color Out of Space (2010) was filmed in black and white . . . except for the unearthly color. It's a good if somewhat amateur version of the story. We bought the DVD after seeing it in the theater.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJtlmOzYXTw
It looks like the YouTube video doesn't have subtitles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJtlmOzYXTw
It looks like the YouTube video doesn't have subtitles.