Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Color Out of Space Blu-ray Movie Review

SPOILER ALERT: It's pink.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III February 21, 2020

Based on H.P. Lovecraft's short story of the same name, Richard Stanley's Color Out of Space marks a long-overdue comeback for the director. Stanley's last major work, although it barely qualifies, was 1996's infamous The Island of Dr. Moreau: the director was replaced by John Frankenheimer one week into production...so technically, this is only his third film since Hardware and Dust Devil, aside from a trio of documentaries produced since that time. It's also his most accessible work to date, thanks to an adaptation of Lovecraft's story that feels timeless and grounded -- two phrases I never thought I'd use to describe something (a) based on a 92-year-old story, and (b) starring Nicolas Cage.

Like this appropriately brief synopsis, Color Out of Space wastes very little time getting down to business. Our story follows Nathan and Theresa Gardner (Cage and Joely Richardson) who, along with their kids Benny (Brendan Meyer), Lavinia (Madeleine Arthur), and Jack (Julian Hilliard), have relocated to his father's picturesque farm in the outskirts of Arkham, Massachusetts. Although their family dynamic feels strained to begin with, things go further south once an unknown, colorful object lands in their front yard late one night: time skips almost randomly, everyone's behavior and focus are greatly affected, and little Jack becomes totally fixated on the well on their property. Even the groundwater and vegetation have taken a bad turn, two things that are first noticed by hydrologist Ward Phillips (Elliot Knight) and local hermit Ezra (Tommy Chong). But the worst part? The Gardners can't even get a good wi-fi signal.

Well, that and their old lives back: Color Out of Space travels along a steep downward spiral as things go drastically, dreadfully wrong for the Gardner family, and the film has the good sense not to explain exactly why. Once this literal color out of space (a deep magenta, which fittingly enough is the only color that does not exist on its own wavelength) enters their lives, a rushing stream of mysterious and downright grotesque happenings is in store for them all. Without venturing too deep into spoiler territory, these include lost appendages, horrific waking nightmares, and a body fusion that wouldn't feel out of place in The Thing or The Fly. It's a series of unfortunate events that'll be a tough watch for all but the most seasoned gore hounds, anchored surprisingly well by the lead and supporting performances with steady, confident direction by Stanley (who is now reportedly slated to helm two upcoming Lovecraft adaptations).

Differences from the source material are, quite appropriately, extensive but not without merit. Lovecraft's story was told from the surveyor's perspective in first person, with the nearby townspeople offering their own observations about the family's fate. (The Gardners were not only supporting characters, but the five-person unit included three sons.) Stanley's film invents the daughter Lavinia, a potentially driving factor for the main plot via her newfound interest in pagan rituals, and gives her the most screen time of any sibling. Many other subtle and sweeping changes are present, yet the roots of Lovecraft's original story seem intact with special attention paid to appropriately over-the-top visuals which represent a formless cosmic entity that basically demolishes every living thing in a five-mile radius.

Color Out of Space would be decent enough without the extra bonus of Richard Stanley's comeback story, although I'll admit that the underdog element may have boosted my overall rating a half-star. But at the very least it's a welcome return to 1980s-style sci-fi horror that, save for the occasional car or mention of a wireless router, could probably have taken place four or five decades ago. It's certainly recommended for fans of the genre and director, with a small caveat that those with a narrow tolerance for body horror and unexplained plot elements may want to try before they buy. Luckily, RLJ Entertainment's Blu-ray offers a good amount of support for the film including a solid A/V presentation and a few short but sweet extras. (A 4K edition is also available and will be reviewed in the coming days.)

Color Out of Space Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio, there's no doubt that Color Out of Space makes for an impressive-looking Blu-ray. As the title implies, color is key and it's replicated nicely with vivid hues and more natural earth tones alike. Skin tones look very accurate (depending on the lighting conditions, of course), with more fantastic moments appearing bright and bold with no obvious signs of contrast boosting or over-saturation. Likewise, black levels are constant when the situation demands it, with no flagrant black crush or loss of shadow detail. Film grain is present alongside many pleasing moments of depth, giving Color Out of Space an appearance true to its technical roots. Although the separate 4K release likely offers an even stronger and more stable transfer, what's here is certainly good enough for those who haven't moved on to that format. There's a bit of room for improvement in the encoding department as infrequent banding and macro blocking can be spotted, but such issues won't be as noticeable on smaller displays.

Color Out of Space Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Channel separation and discrete effects abound in this impressive DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track; not surprising, given the subject matter. Although dialogue is squarely anchored up front, weather-related events and...well, let's just call it cosmic interference serve up a much more chaotic atmosphere, from the initial boom of the asteroid's impact to the massive energy storm that dominates the film's third act. Dynamic range and overall fidelity are excellent, showcasing a strong amount of activity without sacrificing sonic detail in the process. Low frequency effects are hard-hitting and punchy during selected moments, although they sometimes take the form of a more steadily unsettling frequency that proves to be equally effective. No obvious signs of (unintentional) distortion or sync issues could be found along the way, rounding out what's easily one of the better-sounding non-Atmos mixes I've heard in recent memory.

Optional English (SDH) and Spanish subtitles are included during the main feature. They're perfectly legible (if not a little on the small side). are perfectly formatted, and fit snugly within the 2.39: 1 frame.

Color Out of Space Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Color Out of Space arrives on Blu-ray in a standard keepcase with poster-themed artwork and a matching slipcover. While the on-disc extras are a little slimmer than expected, they at least cover most of the expected areas.

• The Making of Color Out of Space (20:12) - This short but well-rounded behind-the-scenes piece includes comments from producers Josh Wallers, Elijah Wood, Lisa Whalen, and Michael McGuire; director Richard Stanley; head of development Daniel Noah; second unit director Jonas Govaerts; all of the primary actors; and several other participants. Topics of interest include the script, casting Nicolas Cage, the disastrous Island of Dr. Moreau and Stanley's return to directing, stories from the set, future Lovecraft adaptations, and more.

• Deleted and Extended Scenes (8 clips, 12:57 total) - "Ward Meets Ezra", "Ward Attempts to Warn the Mayor", "Nathan Drags Lavinia Upstairs", "Bedtime Story", "Benny Walks the Alpacas", "Nathan Begins to Act Strange", "Lavinia Feels Sick", and "Nathan Milks Alpacas". Nothing major, but a few nice moments.

• Photo Gallery: The Gardners' Farm - 25 images are included in this manually-navigated gallery.

Although a theatrical trailer is not included, it's readily available on YouTube if you haven't seen it yet.

Color Out of Space Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

H.P. Lovecraft's influential work has been notoriously difficult to translate on film, but Richard Stanley's Color Out of Space adapts its 92-year-old source material quite well. Nicolas Cage is perfect for the lead role and the supporting performances range from good to excellent, while its measured pace and heady, hallucinogenic effects create an effectively off-balance atmosphere. Even those unfamiliar with Lovecraft's work will find this to be a largely accessible film, assuming they're at least casual fans of John Carpenter or David Cronenberg. And that's essentially what Color Out of Space feels like: a throwback to 1980s sci-fi/horror with a heavy dose of cosmic dread -- not surprising, since its reclusive director last finished a film almost 30 years ago. RLJ Entertainment's Blu-ray offers a great A/V presentation and light but enjoyable extras, making this an easy recommendation for established fans of the genre and director.