11th April, 2020.
It’s had to be said, I have a movie collection.
And have access to a lot of streamed movies, as well.
From various sources.
Occasionally?
I like to actually watch a film: which is what I’ve done, today.
Tonight, I should say.
Granted? When fiddling about, I couldn’t — initially — make my mind up, about what to watch.
Having something of a range of options.
Eventually, though?
~≈†≈~
Based on the novel by H. P. Lovecraft, Color Out Of Space introduces us to the Nathan and Theresa Gardner (Nicolas Cage and Joely Richardson), along side their children, Lavinia*, Benny and Jack (Madeleine Arthur, Brendan Meyer and Julian Hilliard) settling into their new home — a rural farm in New England — after Theresa has had a mastectomy.
Nathan? Is hoping to raise alpacas, and assorted vegetables, whilst Theresa carries on her job as an investment adviser: cursing the speed of the area’s internet connection all the while.
All seems to go well.
Until, on the same night the family gets a visit from hydrologist, Ward Phillips (Elliot Knight) — there to survey the area ahead of a planned reservoir — a meteor hits the family’s front garden.
Hits … and slowly dissolves: leaving traces of something, leeching into to the soil, plants, animals …
And, slowly, into the well that has fascinated young Jack.
It’s only when Theresa slices her own fingers off, whilst making dinner?
That things take a turn for the worse …
~≈†≈~
Now …
What did I make of this version of Color Out Of Space? Especially when compared to the last version I saw, the German The Color Out Of Space: Die Farbe, as it’s also known?
Die Farbe is a formidably well crafted film: possibly deserving more than the original two stars that I give it.
I may or may not revise that, after tonight: don’t quote me on that.
My major problem with that version?
Was mostly the pacing of the first half: it dragged, quite abit.
Granted, it picked up, about fifty minutes in: but that first half dragged.
By contrast?
By contrast, Color Out Of Space (2019) was far more evenly paced …
Evenly paced, better written …
And, I think, giving each of the characters far more to do.
I think we’re shown more of each family member’s reaction to events: Nathan increasingly angry, Benny finding the farm’s animals harder to deal with, Lavinia trying, ever more frantically, to use magic to deal with things …
Until ultimately?
Theresa and Jack come to a sad end.
I can’t fault either movie’s use of the source text. I think Die Farbe stuck was more of a straight translation of The Color Out Of Space, whilst Color Out Of Space made minor — very minor — changes in it’s use … that none the less stayed closed to Lovecraft’s text.
Possibly truer: I don’t think Die Farbe emphasised the planned reservoir as much as Color Out Of Space, or the original short, to give you one example.
There’s possibly more I could tell you.
Differences, comparisons, changes …
But … ?
Can I offer my opinion, at this point?
Given the choice between the two films?
I’m going to tell you Die Farbe is great.
But that the Nicolas Cage, 2019 version of Color Out of Space is both the better version of the story …
And, frankly, the better film.
Color Out of Space.
★★★★
* Lavinia isn’t that common a name: at least, not in my part of the world. I believe the writers of The Color Out of Space — Scarlett Amaris and Richard Stanley — chose it as a nod to Lavinia Whately, a character in Lovecraft story, The Dunwich Horror.
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