Color Out of Space movie review: A serious attempt at a Lovecraft adaptation

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Q'orianka Kilcher, Joely Richardson Brendan Meyer, Brett W. Bachman, Elliot Knight, Julian Hilliard, Madeleine Arthur, Melissa Nearman, Tommy Chong

Director: Richard Stanley

Genre: Horror/Sci-Fi

Rating: 8/10

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 Technicolor nightmare.

Thumbs up:

The film was written and directed by Richard Stanley (his first in 25 years, after he was infamously fired three days into production on his long-gestating 1996 dream project, The Island of Dr. Moreau). It is a solid film and the cinematography is great with very well-done CGI. The creepiest and unnerving scene is with actor Tommy Chong near the end of the film; it is nearly perfect. The soundtrack is also pretty good. The film is a serious attempt at a Lovecraft adaptation and hits the cosmic horror nail on the head.

Thumbs down:

Color Out of Space has more ideas than it knows what to do with. It also relies heavily on Nicolas Cage's comedy to make it somewhat entertaining and lowers his credibility as an Oscar award winner. His overacting, manic laugh and direction that defied logic becomes ridiculous at some point.

Verdict:

Color Out of Space is a wild, effectively creepy, psychedelic horror that will keep you hooked. Mainstream viewers won't get the love to source material so maybe skip it if that’s you.