Hi everyone!

So, here’s the thing. And yes, it’s Friday, so that means Fantastic Fest and Andrew Campbell and all of that but let me just say that I am supremely jealous that Andrew got a chance to see this film, because as he alluded to in last week’s episode, I am a huge fan of H.P. Lovecraft. Not the barely concealed racism or the other quite valid social and cultural criticisms of the man and his work, but for the absolutely unique mix of gothic horror, scientific advancement, dread of the unknown, and a wholly cosmic perspective. Or as I said last week, [UNINTELLIGIBLE]. I’m going to check out this film at some point, but until then, here’s Andrew’s thoughts on this Lovecraft adaptation.

Before the review, we’ll have a promo from our good friends at the Comics in Motion podcast. Every week, Dave and Chris look at a film which made its way from the comic book page to the silver screen, and sometimes even back again. They look at the lore, the rendition, and everything related, delivering a fun look at each film. You can find them on Twitter and Instagram @comicsinmotionp and on Facebook @ComicsInMotionPodcast. They were some of our biggest supporters last year, and we can’t thank them enough!

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Here we go!

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Hello film fans!

Andrew here. Back today with the promised second of my two back-to-back Lovecraftian features. And it does not get any more Lovecraft than today’s film which is based on Lovecraft short story published in a science fiction magazine nearly 100 hundred years ago. Did you get a chance to check out the subtle, unyielding terror of STARFISH (Episode #688) after my review last week? Well, despite the common thematic threads that tie the two films together, the actual viewing experiences are polar opposites. STARFISH was understated and full of hidden meaning.

But this one? Oh, this one has Nic Cage!

I’m one of those film-goers that goes out of his way to avoid trailers. Thanks to Jeff Cannata of the /Filmcast for showing me the light of the quote “unsullied” viewing experience several years ago. In this case, if I had seen the trailer, I would never have watched this film. Honestly, the trailer is so rough and full of schlocky dialogue and cheap special effects, that you might want to avoid it as well. The trailer even invokes “the return of director Richard Stanley” who 25 years ago was infamously fired from directing THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU which was later completed and universally panned.

That said...

Today’s movie is COLOR OUT OF SPACE(2019), written by Scarlett Amaris and director Richard Stanley. COLOR OUT OF SPACE stars Nicolas Cage as Nathan Garner, a family man who has left the big city rat race to move his wife Theresa (Joely Richardson) and children out to rural Massachusetts where they of course plan to work from home and raise a herd of alpacas. Not too long after arriving, a meteorite crashes into their yard, emitting an unearthly glow of a color no one can seem to describe (it’s purple). Overnight, the rock turns to dust and whatever energy was inside begins to permeate the water table, causing the plant-life to blossom in otherworldly ways. Slowly, the family begins to fall under the influence as well and madness descends upon the farm.

The performance by Cage is that of a virtuoso. The Gardners’ tween son Jack (Julian Hilliard) begins to hear a voice at the bottom of the well, while his witchcraft-loving teenage daughter Lavinia (Madeleine Arthur) seems to have the strongest sense that something is infecting their quaint farm. We get to see Cage as the straight man, doubting that anything is amiss and being a little too cool with a glowing meteorite on his property. As he inevitably begins to feel the viral effects, his natural tendencies to act erratically are slowly ramped throughout the film until director Stanley finally releases the shackles entirely. Cage shouting out his frustration about having to go “milk the alpacas” is pure cinematic gold.

COLOR OUT OF SPACE has three producers in common with Cage’s last cult success, MANDY, including Fantastic Fest’s beloved poster-boy and Austin resident, Elijah Wood. While I did not understand all the hype around MANDY and its off-beat narrative, today’s film feels like its spiritual successor. COLOR OUT OF SPACE contains a more conventional story by comparison but is by no means a mainstream film.

I have seen budget figures between $4M and $12M for this film that was bankrolled by a Malaysian production company. Regardless of the actual number, Richard Stanley got his money’s worth. For a low-budget film (maybe not low by recent Nic Cage standards), the special effects are fantastic, and I highly recommend checking them out on the big screen during what will likely be a relatively brief theatrical run. The purple-ness that begins seeping into each scene before eventually taking over the color palette is a delight. Whereas the film MANDY felt like it was being shot through a harsh red lens, the soft lilac and magenta tones of COLOR OUT OF SPACE give it a style unique to any other film and amp up the dread.

What makes COLOR OUT OF SPACE fantastic? The film is absolute redemption for Richard Stanley, springing him out of one of the longest-ever sentences in director jail. Capitalizing on the buzz behind this film, Stanley is on the record stating he has two more films currently in development, both based on Lovecraft works. Why mess with a good formula? On paper and in its trailer, COLOR OUT OF SPACE carries no appeal with me. It’s one of those Fantastic Fest gems that I never would have seen had I not had a timeslot to fill and taken a flyer on it.  The film goes so much further than you imagine it will and, trust me, you’ll be right there with it. Grab your sci-fi geek friends and drag them a late night showing.

COLOR OUT OF SPACE(2019) is the culmination of Cage’s career; the first time in ages where the film in which he stars has truly matched his own personal levels of insanity and eccentric dialogue delivery. Fans of watching Cage go mad in films such as MANDY, THE WICKER MAN, and BETWEEN WORLDS (Episode #446) will love this film.

Rotten Tomatoes: 86% 

Metacritic: 67 

One Movie Punch: 8.6/10

COLOR OUT OF SPACE(2019) is not rated and is now playing in select theaters nationwide.

Come back next week for THE LODGE, the follow up-film from the co-directors of the disturbing 2014 horror gem GOODNIGHT, MOMMY. THE LODGE is getting a wide theatrical release next Friday, and the trailer makes it look like just another showcase for cheap jump-scares. But this one is much darker and far more complex than you might expect. We’ll see if this disturbing tale should be a part of your weekend plans.