Die Farbe

HP Lovecraft stories are notoriously difficult to transcribe onto film. Most film versions of his stories have been disappointing. However, in this case, the filmmakers have managed very well. It is true that the locale of the story has been transposed to Germany and that a few plot points have been altered. Nevertheless, this film is very faithful to the original and, more importantly, maintains the eerie and paranoiac atmosphere for which Lovecraft was famous.

Although widely acknowledged as one of Lovecraft's best stories, "The Color Out of Space" was not really typical of his work. It contained more elements of science-fiction than most of the author's stories did. Some have speculated that he was attempting to describe the effects of radiation. However, that seems unlikely in light of the fact that the story was written in 1927, when such phenomena were not yet understood.

Some may criticize the fact that the film was shot in black-and-white. however, given the fact that the subject described as nothing more than merely a color, a color that no one has ever seen before, and which no one can describe, there really is not any other way in which the film could have been made.

Those expecting a normal sci-fi horror film may be disappointed with the slow pace and relative lack of "action" and spectacular special effects. However, it should be understood that this is entirely faithful to the manner in which Lovecraft wrote the story. Don't look for any vampires, werewolves or other monsters here. This is an eerily atmospheric story in which the horror creeps up gradually and silently, and is never really fully understood. However, it is well worthwhile staying with this movie because the story will grab you.

I like this more than any other Lovecraft story brought to film yet. Matter of fact I like it just fine. Crazy good tension, crazy good grasp on my attention - like an iron grip. I couldn't look away. The lovely dark b&w look served nicely to darken the mood mightily and also to set off the color out of space dramatically. I do have feelings about the color, though. I would have liked to see something a little more exotic. Are we to believe that Bavarian yokels never heard of purple before? Could be. To quote my dearly departed daddy, could be. My only other beef is with the epilogue. Those Lovecraftian stories always have a logue, whether pro or epi, that seems to me to serve no purpose but to date the story - what?

There is no question that this is one of this best, if not the best, example of bringing Lovercraftian horror into the visual spectrum. HP's stories are hard enough on their own to decipher what the characters are seeing and experiencing throughout their descent into madness or as a horrified listener of a tale spun by a veteran of Eldritch terrors. However, Huan Vu has done an amazing job at interpreting and presenting The Colour Out of Space. A story that is arguably one that is the most nebulous! The CG, while hokey at times, does what it needs to - but it doesn't detract much from the presentation itself given that this is not a Hollywood budgeted film. The choice of shooting in black and white for 2010 was a really good choice, especially in trying to convey the madness and atmosphere without specifically mentioning how horrible the situation is becoming for the Garteners. Stop motion also plays a nice role in showing decay and adding a subtle grotesqueness to scenes in which it is utilized. I really enjoyed all of the characters and especially the representation Mrs. Gartener's descent into madness as portrayed by Marah Schneider..very creepy and very affecting.

Honestly, if you have an reverence for this story I would give this movie a chance. I would highly recommend reading the story first before seeing the movie as to have a good anchor point. Overall, it stands high above other adaptations such as Dagon, Call of Cthulhu, Castle Freak and Re-Animator in it's cohesion and narrative justice.

This one should be on the list of anyone who loves Lovecraft. While this one doesn't have any of the more well known Mythos in it...it's a measured telling of what is actually a Tale of the Unknown more than it is a Horror Story.

The use of Black & White may look cheap, but it fits with the tone and tenor of the era that it was set in. Color TV did not exist then. The CGI may look simple...but the focus of the story is the people and the 'Colour'. Sometimes when the FX is stunning...you only see the FX and not the story. And Good Horror is more than simply good CGI.

The Telling of the story as a mix of English and German with Subtitles was a different experience, but it didn't subtract from the tale, because the story moves slowly enough that the subtitles are there long enough to be read and become pseudo-invisible. Besides, a hallmark of Lovecraft is that most of the stories are a RE-TELLING of past events thru the witness's eyes and memory Again-- this one is a slower, langourous story. Told through the eyes of the German farmboy who grew up when the meteor came down. And I dare say, the film makers polished and filled in some of the blanks of the original short story. There is no scientific explication by any of the characters here, but you will see that what happened was the intersection of the Earthly with the UN-Earthly...and unfortunately and tragically for the people in the valley...the presence of the Unearthly is just simply inimical to earthbound Life.

This one is good for a Late, after midnight viewing on Saturday night.

Although the script is not entirely original but taken from a Lovecraft script, the work of directing and photography make this product excellent. The film on which hovers a veil of mystery along its entire length attracts the viewer hypnotically through the inclined and caledoscopic eye of the camera. Interesting the chemical and geological elements present as well as the psychological cues analyzed by the director, depression, madness and catalepsy are optimally interpreted by the protagonists. Perhaps the only slightly out of tune is the slow pace and the absence of twists that subdue slightly. Beautiful use of black and white and excellent stereophony as well as good music. A strongly recommended film.