Color Out of Space (2019)

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I claimed that Annihilation (2018) was the best Color out of Space film adaptation, but here I stand corrected. Vibrantly hued, psychedelically delirious, this is a simultaneously intelligent yet gonzo adaptation of the source material, taking its cue from earlier Stuart Gordon Lovecraft films. (The namesake color itself comes arguably ‘From Beyond’). This film is utterly faithful to the source while expanding and expounding upon the short story’s limited characterization and framework to create a fantastically fun pulp horror romp. The director takes his time in setting up the family unit and allowing us time to understand their quirks and sensibilities before the madness descends from beyond the stars. There is a well paced introduction of wonder and beauty from the strange new spectrum and resultant creations before a stark descent into terror. This movie never hesitates in showing the viewer amazingly grotesque sights, but still manages to hint at terrors beyond what we are witnessing. There is a moment where the characters describe how time itself breaks down in the presence of the color, a self-perpetuating singularity that may or may not be ‘alive’ as we understand the term. The last act goes absolutely crazy, aided in no small part by an inconsistently lunatic Nic Cage, serving best he can as a wacky caricature of Nic Cage. What hinders the film is an oddly inconsistent tone, which alternates from serious horror to outlandish and nigh comedic. The tonal disparity often sits squarely on Cage’s shoulders, as his performance can become nigh farcical and drags the whole movie along with him, especially when the tonal whiplash then demands serious empathy. Despite this tonal inconsistency and pacing issues, this film still provides some lunatic fun times, and one of the better direct Lovecraft adaptations to date.

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