If you'd like to be surprised by the Colour Out of Space film, I don't recommend you to watch the trailer beyond 0:54, because it starts to give away parts of the plot.
Colour Out of Space, movie (2019) - Watch the trailer on YouTube
Watch the trailer in: English - French - German - Spanish
video © ACE Pictures Entertainment
Article updated: 2024.07.16
The Colour Out of Space (2019) is a supernatural horror film. The movie was reviewed by Kadmon.
Product: Colour Out of Space, movie (2019)
Original title: Color Out of Space
Series: none, but loosely references the Cthulhu Mythos
Other adaptations of the story: Die, Monster, Die! (1965), The Curse (1987), Colour from the Dark (2008), Die Farbe / The Color (2010)
Setting: contemporary fantasy Earth (Cthulhu Mythos)
Product type: Film, ca. 2 hours, Genre: supernatural horror, Style: science fiction, fantasy - contemporary fantasy, horror - supernatural horror, creature - alien
Release: Premiere: 2019.09.07 (2019 Toronto International Film Festival), Release: 2020.01.24
Reviewer: Kadmon, Type: Male, 40s, Preferences: Immersive, logical story, consistent setting, prefers surprises to spoilers, prefers establishing elements before referencing them
Watched: very recent (2020.06), first time
Rating: Average (2 out of 3 points), Enjoyment: Weak (2- out of 3 points)
* * *
This is my review of Colour Out of Space, a supernatural horror movie from 2019. It's about a family having to deal with supernatural changes in their environment. The Colour Out of Space film is watchable, but I only recommend it to fans of the genre.
Colour Out of Space, movie (2019)
image © ACE Pictures Entertainment
* * *
Review (spoiler-free) - Colour Out of Space, movie (2019)
I was probably aware that they are making a movie from The Colour Out of Space, although I was cautious to watch it. I like the works of Lovecraft, and there are many good movies based on them, but an equal number of Abyssmal abominations. When I’ve heard good reviews of this movie, I decided to watch it when I had the opportunity. I don’t think I have watched the trailer, but even if I did, I didn’t remember anything from that.
The Colour Out of Space movie is about a family having to deal with supernatural changes in their environment.
The story is okay. The pacing was mostly consistent, but some interludes interrupted the story. There were no character arcs. There were no major logical problems with the plot if you accept the basic premise.
The cinematography is good, there are some nice scenes. The movie is visually interesting, especially when the changes to the setting start. The special effects are good. The action scenes are okay.
The characters are okay, we get enough information about the main characters to care about their fates. The actors are good for their roles.
The music (by Colin Stetson) is strange, sometimes too loud, but it probably fits the movie.
Colour Out of Space is a watchable supernatural horror, that I think only fans of the genre would enjoy.
My experience
I wasn't entirely satisfied with Colour Out of Space (2019).
Rating: Average (2 out of 3 points). Colour Out of Space is a watchable film.
Enjoyment: Weak (2- out of 3 points). Colour Out of Space has some good looking scenes, but the story was somewhat confusing..
Rewatchability: High. I think if you liked the movie for the first time, you’ll enjoy watching it multiple times.
Chance of watching it again: I don’t think I would, but I might watch it when the stars are right.
Chance of watching a sequel: I'd probably watch it.
Colour Out of Space, movie (2019)
image © ACE Pictures Entertainment
Will you enjoy this?
If you like movies based on Lovecraft’s works, you might like Colour Out of Space.
If you'd like to watch every Nicholas Cage movie, you might get some entertainment out of his acting.
If you like horror movies, you might like the Colour Out of Space movie.
If you like supernatural horror films, you might enjoy Colour Out of Space.
If you like mystery stories, you might like Colour Out of Space.
If you liked reading The Colour Out of Space, you might be interested in an adaptation of the story.
If you prefer visuals over story, the Colour Out of Space film has some interesting scenes.
If you hate disgusting scenes or body horror, you should avoid this movie.
Do you need to read the original short story to enjoy this?
There's enough explanation that you'll understand what's going on without reading the original story from Lovecraft. As it's unrelated to the rest of HPL stories, further reading is also unnecessary.
Watching for plot points
If you are interested in supernatural horror stories, I think it's worth watching the Colour Out of Space movie for the plot points. Or read the short story, that would be probably better.
Should you watch this on your own screen at home, or is it worth going to the cinema?
The visuals probably look better if you watch it in cinema.
* * *
Colour Out of Space, movie (2019)
image © ACE Pictures Entertainment
Review with spoilers - Colour Out of Space, movie (2019)
I didn't really like the Colour Out of Space movie, although there were some interesting scenes in it. It was too long for the story contained within. Some additional editing might have made it a better movie.
Cover
The cover of the movie is okay, it doesn't say much, but it doesn't spoil the movie.
The trailer
The trailer raises interest in the movie, but also contains some minor spoilers.
If you prefer spoilers, it's a great trailer for the Colour Out of Space film. If you prefer to avoid spoilers, it will make the movie less fun for you.
Promise of the first scene
A girl is performing an occult ritual, while a guy arrives to the place, he's been told is evil. I assume he'll meet some witchcraft, maybe monsters. Also, as the girl wants to get away from this place, maybe this guy will be her opportunity for that.
Execution: The first scene had practically nothing to do with the rest of the movie. The girl dies, and the guy didn't take her anywhere. I'm not satisfied with this execution.
Plot summary / Synopsis
There’s a family living on a farm, breeding alpacas. There’s a father (Nicolas Cage as Nathan Gardner), a mother (Joely Richardson as Theresa Gardner), a teenage daughter (Madeleine Arthur as Lavinia Gardner), a teenage son (Brendan Meyer as Benny Gardner), and a younger son (Julian Hilliard as Jack Gardner).
Their daughter performs occult rituals, to heal the cancer of their mother.
One night, a meteor crashes into their land. A hydrologist (Elliot Knight as Ward Phillips), who works in the area, arrives to inspect the meteor. That night, multiple lightnings strike the meteor during a storm. Next day, reporters arrive, but they find the meteor gone.
The hydrologist finds that something is not right with the water, and tells the family not to drink it. He also visits an old man (Ezra) living in a shed.
The family start to act strangely. The young son stares at the well. The mother cuts off some of her fingers. The teenage son vanishes for hours. The father gets angry. The daughter uses her copy of Necronomicon to perform a ritual of protection.
Then stranger things happen. The Colour turns their alpacas turn into horrible mutant things. Then the mother and the younger son is fused together by the Colour. The father kills the alpacas, but he is unable shoot his wife. The teenage son climbs into the well, and gets taken by the Colour. The father finally shoots the mother when she tries to attack their daughter.
The sheriff arrives with the hydrologist, and shoots the father. The daughter stays by her father, while they visit the old man. The old man is dead. On the way back, a tree takes the sheriff. The hydrologist returns to the daughter, but by then she is also taken by the Colour. The Colour shoots out into the sky. He is shown the alien planet where the Colour came from. The daughter disappears, but the father chases the hydrologist into the basement, as the environment changes around them.
After a while, the hydrologist climbs out, and finds himself of a ravaged wasteland.
The setting
The movie is set in contemporary fantasy Earth, in the USA.
In this universe, magic and aliens exist.
Colour Out of Space, movie (2019)
image © ACE Pictures Entertainment
The creature: The Colour Out of Space
The Colour fell from the sky, either in a meteorite, or as a meteorite, it's not entirely clear.
The Colour is probably an extra-terrestrial creature, although it's not explored or explained in the movie.
The Colour changes its environment. The ending implies that it tries to engineer the area to resemble its home planet. The changed things look magenta coloured. It also seems to disrupt radio waves, and probably electricity, as it rendered phones and vehicles useless.
The creature seems to be sentient, causing these changes intentionally. If it is really sentient, than it is probably malevolent, as the changes affect the people and animals negatively. The mutated trees become animated, capable of killing people by lashing out with their branches.
After a while, the Colour left the Earth. After that, it's just gray ash that remained of the changed area. It's not entirely clear why did it leave.
* * *
Colour Out of Space, movie (2019)
image © ACE Pictures Entertainment
Analysis of the story - Colour Out of Space, movie (2019)
I mostly liked the plot itself, I didn't find major problems that would have prevented me from enjoying Colour Out of Space. The execution of the plot, however, was not entirely satisfying for me.
The message of the story
I'm not sure there's one.
The structure of the story
The scenes of the Colour Out of Space film are mostly played in sequence, following the same storyline.
There is no single viewpoint character.
It has the usual arc of the dramatic structure - introduction, action, resolution.
Parallels with other stories
There are many references in the Colour Out of Space film to other movies.
The Thing (1982)
- The bodies of two humans fused together. It's two Norwegian in The Thing, while the mother and her child in this movie.
- The bodies of multiple animals fused together. It's the dogs and some humans in The Thing, while the alpaccas and a dog in this film.
- A character records the events and their thoughts on tape. MacReady does this in The Thing. Ezra does the same here.
* * *
Things I liked
- I liked the look of the changed creatures and environment.
- The mother-son merged creature was fun.
Problematic elements
Lost explanations: I've read the plot summary on WikiPedia, and it's probably written by the creators of the movie, as it includes several references to things that were not explained in the movie (or were totally lost on me).
- The mastectomy of the wife: I got it that she had cancer, and she had a surgery 6 months ago, but I'm almost sure they didn't tell in the movie what kind of cancer was that.
- The Wiccan ritual of the girl: Although they mention Wicca in the conversation, the fact that the ritual was Wiccan, is not mentioned. The angels mentioned in the ritual were Christian ones, so the ritual was more likely some kind of esoteric Christian or Occultist ritual. Also, the inspector says "Wiccan or Alexandrian", and the girl doesn't correct him, although Alexandrian is one of the Wiccan traditions. The law of threefold return is referenced, and it's true to Wicca.
Pointless additions: There were new things added to the story, that were totally irrelevant.
- A couple of minutes are spent on explanations about alpacas, even though they could have used any other, less exotic animal, that wouldn't need any explanation wasted on them.
- Ezra, the squatter is only there to be the author's voice, although there is already a narrator, the hydrologist. The time spent at the end with visiting Ezra's hut just makes the movie longer without adding anything to it.
- The addition of Wiccan religion also takes a lot of time, especially for a film that doesn't need religion. We see two rituals (that doesn't affect anything), and while it could be interesting to see them in a film devoted to Wiccans, it's a pointless inclusion here.
Intruding references: There were things that should have been just left out.
- The name of the protagonist (Ward Philips) is an obvious reference to Howard Philips Lovecraft. While not as intrusive, he's wearing a Miskatonic University T-shirt.
- The Necronomicon is heavily featured in many of the Lovecraft writings, but it's not part of this short story. As The Colour Out of Space is more science-fiction than supernatural horror, I don't feel it fits this movie.
- The phrase "No flesh shall be spared" is prominently featured as a writing on the wall of the older kid. I didn't get the reference at the time (it's the tagline to the Hardware (1990) movie), and while it might be a good foreshadowing, showing this to the viewer this directly is probably not the best idea. (Update: I realised that both movies were made by the same director, Richard Stanley, but it still doesn't add anything to this particular story.)
Unanswered questions
- Why did the creature come to Earth? Did it choose the place or was it coincidental?
- Why did the creature leave the Earth? Did it not like it here?
* * *
Possibilities of improvement
A tighter cut might create a better story.
How it could have been better?
* * *
How does it compare to the other works of the creators?
From the writer / director (Richard Stanley), I’ve seen Hardware (1990), and The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996). Just like this one, both were watchable, but neither were exceptional.
From the writer (Scarlett Amaris), I haven't seen anything else.
How does it compare to the original source?
The original was set in the time of the publication (1927), although it’s told as a tale that happened in the 1880s. The movie is set in contemporary times.
Although it was written by Lovecraft, there’s no mention of arcane religions in the story. In the movie, there are magical rituals, using the Necronomicon.
In the original, the Colour seems like some natural disaster, uncaring of the people around it. In the movie, it is sentient, and potentially malevolent.
In the short story, a part of the Colour remained in the well, hinting that moving from planet to planet is a way of propagation for the creature. In the film, it seems like the whole thing left the Earth, making it unclear why did it come to Earth in the first place.
How does it compare to other adaptations of the same story?
I haven’t seen any other adaptations yet.
* * *
Behind the scenes
Thoughts about the reviews of others
* * *
Colour Out of Space, movie (2019)
image © ACE Pictures Entertainment
Uses for the film - Colour Out of Space, movie (2019)
Plot
- It is set on a contemporary fantasy Earth.
- There are aliens on this world.
- Magic seems to be working in this universe.
- There’s a creature that changes its environment.
- It's probably an extra-terrestrial creature, as it came from space.
- People are living in an environment that start to change around them. They also get changed.
Scenes
- When the Colour fuses creatures, it looks good, it could be used to show some mutants or magic gone awry.
- When the Colour destroys the area in the end, it's good to show some magical catastrophe.
Designs
Scenario ideas - Role-playing game scenario ideas
Alien quarantine: There’s an area that is being taken over by an alien creature. There are people trapped inside. The characters must get inside, and get those people out. Some of them don’t want to leave, they might even get aggressive. Some of them might have been already taken over by the alien, and try to lure the characters into a trap.
Scenario ideas - Wargame scenario ideas
Rescue mission (solo play): There’s an area taken over by an alien creature. A rescue team is sent to evacuate the people inside. The player sets up the playing area, with some enclosed spaces, where the people are hiding. Put a Reconnaissance marker in each enclosed space. Then deploy some mutant creatures randomly outside of the enclosed spaces, that were animals or humans, taken over by the creature. Deploy the rescue team on any of the edges of the playing area.
At the end of the turn, the creatures use Random aggressive movement - they attack the closest non-creature model, or move towards them.
When the rescue team opens an enclosed space, remove the Reconnaissance marker, and roll a d6. On a 1, there are d6 unarmed civilians inside. On a 6, there are d3 creatures.
At the beginning of every turn, roll a d6. On a 6, choose an area (circa 10x10 cm) randomly, and that area start to be transformed. At the end of the turn, put a Transformed marker on the area. Any models still in the area at the end of a turn, are transformed into creatures. The transformed area counts as dangerous ground, and any model moving through it gets attacked. When you choose the area to be transformed randomly, if you choose an area that’s already been transformed, all of the adjacent areas will be transformed (growing 10 cms in every direction).
When the rescue team opens the last enclosed space (leaving no Reconnaissance markers), they can leave the playing area.
The player wins if they rescue more than half of the civilians, while more than half of their own team is still alive. It's a minor victory, if they rescue less than half of the civilians, or more than half of their own team becomes a casualty. The player loses if less than half of the civilians are rescued, while more than half of the rescue team is lost.
Miniatures - 1/50-1/60 (28-32mm scale)
Civilians: Human-sized (S3) modern (advanced) human female / male civilian. Find a model!
Mutated animals: Animals, with additional body parts. Animals, fused together. Find a model!
Mutated animals with fused bodies: Two or more animal bodies, fused together. Find a model!
Mutated humans: Human-sized (S3) human female / male with strange features. Humans fused together. Find a model!
Mutated humans with fused bodies: Two or more Human-sized (S3) human female / male bodies, fused together. Find a model!
Mutated trees: Large (S4)+ Animate plant. Find a model!
The Colour: Large cloud of gas. Maybe cotton wool painted in magenta? Find a model!
* * *
Similar stories - Colour Out of Space, movie (2019)
Short stories
Howard Philips Lovecraft: The Colour Out of Space (1927): In the late 19th Century USA, an alien creature (The Colour Out of Space) crash lands on Earth, and starts to change its environment.
Novels
Jeff VanderMeer: Annihilation (2014): In a contemporary setting, an alien creature crash lands on Earth, and starts to change its environment.
Movies
Die, Monster, Die! (1965): Set in a then contemporary setting, in England. An alien creature crash lands on Earth, and starts to change its environment, including animals and humans. Based on the The Colour Out of Space short story.
The Curse (1987): Set in a then contemporary setting, in the USA. An alien creature crash lands on Earth, and starts to change its environment, including animals and humans. Based on the The Colour Out of Space short story.
Colour from the Dark (2008): Set in a then contemporary setting, in Italy. An alien creature crash lands on Earth, and starts to change its environment, including animals and humans. Based on the The Colour Out of Space short story.
Die Farbe / The Color (2010): Set in a then contemporary setting, in Germany. An alien creature crash lands on Earth, and starts to change its environment, including animals and humans. Based on the The Colour Out of Space short story.
Annihilation (2018): Set in a contemporary / near future setting, in the USA. An alien creature crash lands on Earth, and starts to change its environment, including animals and humans. Based on the Annihilation novel.
TV series & episodes
Télévision de chambre: La couleur de l'abîme / The Colour Out of Space (1983): Set in a then contemporary setting, in France. An alien creature crash lands on Earth, and starts to change its environment, including animals and humans. Based on the The Colour Out of Space short story.
* * *
Frequently asked questions - Colour Out of Space, movie (2019)
Is the Colour Out of Space film based on a book or comics?
Yes, Colour Out of Space is based on the story (The Colour Out of Space) by Howard Philips Lovecraft.
Is the Colour Out of Space film a remake or reboot?
No, the Colour Out of Space film is neither a remake nor a reboot, but it’s an adaptation of a story that has been previously adapted multiple times.
Is there a post credit scene in Colour Out of Space? Does Colour Out of Space have end credit scenes?
No, there's no post credit scene in Colour Out of Space.
Where can I see Colour Out of Space? Where can I watch Colour Out of Space online? Is Colour Out of Space available on Netflix? Is Colour Out of Space on Amazon?
As of 2022.01.16, Colour Out of Space is available on Amazon Prime Video, AMC+, Apple TV, Google Play, Microsoft Movies, Shudder, Vudu, YouTube.
* * *
Resources - Colour Out of Space, movie (2019)
Official
ACE Pictures Entertainment: Color Out of Space: Official article.
https://www.instagram.com/acepicturesentertainment/
https://www.facebook.com/ACEPicturesEntertainment/
Information
IMDB: Color Out of Space (2019): Database article.
WikiPedia: Color Out of Space (film): Database article.
Letterboxd: Color Out of Space 2019: Database article.
Rotten Tomatoes: Color Out of Space 2019: Database article.
TVTropes: Film » Color Out of Space (2020): Database article.
Creation
: Concept art article.¤
https://screenrant.com/things-didnt-know-about-making-color-out-of-space/
Reviews with no spoilers - Colour Out of Space film (2019)
: Review video about the Colour Out of Space film with no spoilers.¤
Reviews with spoilers - Colour Out of Space film (2019)
: Review article of the Colour Out of Space movie, with spoilers. Includes a very detailed plot summary.¤
Analysis - Colour Out of Space movie (2019)
: Analysis video, explaining the finale of Colour Out of Space.¤
https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/color-out-of-space-london-review/5143391.article
https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/color-out-of-space-review-1203328170/
http://www.cinegore.net/en/2020/03/06/color-out-of-space/
https://consequence.net/2020/01/film-review-color-out-of-space/
https://nerdnationmagazine.com/2020/03/23/film-review-the-color-out-of-space-2019/
Oliver Harper: Color out of Space (2019) 4K Bluray Review: Review video, with spoilers.
https://www.facebook.com/OCinemaD/posts/1813984338732947
Obsessive Cinema Disorder 電影強迫症: Color Out Of Space Review: Review article with no spoilers.
https://wevegotbackissues.com/2020/03/02/colour-out-of-space/
https://reeltimeflicks.com/2020/04/08/color-out-of-space-2020/
https://twitter.com/ReelTimeFlicks/status/1248040526449868805
* * *
Buying the product - Colour Out of Space, movie (2019)
| Buy the Colour Out of Space, movie (2019) from Amazon |
| Amazon US - Amazon UK - Amazon CA - Amazon DE - Amazon FR - Amazon IT - Amazon ES |
| Buy the Colour Out of Space, movie (2019) on eBay |
eBay US  - eBay UK  - eBay CA  - eBay DE  - eBay FR  - eBay IT  - eBay ES  - eBay AU  - eBay IE  - eBay AT  - eBay CH 
- eBay BE  - eBay NL  |
Buy horror ebooks and audiobooks from Kobo (USA)  Buy horror books from AbeBooks (USA)  Buy horror books from Book Depository  Buy horror products from Aliexpress (China)  |
* * *
Have you seen the Colour Out of Space film? How do you like the movie? Would you recommend it to others? Do you know reviews or resources you'd like to add? What further thoughts do you have about it? Tell your opinion in the comments!
Comments powered by CComment