Richard Stanley is back.
This is the guy who wrote and directed DUST DEVIL. He was also supposed to be the director for THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU. Whether he quit or was fired from that project depends on whom you choose to believe, but if you’ve seen that one, you know it’s for the best that Stanley’s name was taken off it (for his sake). He became so disgusted with Hollywood, in particular the studio and stars Val Kilmer (who has a reputation for being difficult to work with) and Marlon Brando (whose reputation was even worse.) Twenty-plus years later, and Stanley is making movies again. And that is a good thing.
COLOR OUT OF SPACE brings the H.P. Lovecraft story to celluloid, and Stanley, as cowriter as well as director, both updates the material and puts some potent flesh on the bones of Lovecraft’s story. (Interestingly enough, Lovecraft was inspired to write the story by the works of paranormal investigator Charles Fort.) Stanley’s story is more personal, and as a result more affecting for the audience. It’s visually distinct enough for an arthouse film, but with the body horror element of something worthy of David Lynch. It should satisfy both those who are fans of Lovecraft’s work and those who’ve never read the story upon which it is based. A nice achievement.
