BLU-RAY REVIEW

Color Out Of Space 4K Ultra HD

Featured In Issue 249, April/May 2020

Picture4.5
Sound5
WSR Score4
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
RLJ Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
ACE12687UND
(MPAA Rating):
Not Rated
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$35.97
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-66)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
111
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
2/25/2020
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Richard Stanley
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

"Color Out Of Space" is based on the classic H.P. Lovecraft short story. After a meteorite lands in the front yard of their farm, Nathan Gardner (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 living nightmare. (Gary Reber)

Special features include a making-of featurette (HD 20:12), deleted scenes, a photo gallery and upfront previews.

The 2.39:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD HDR10 picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, was photographed digitally using the Sony CineAlta Venice camera system and sourced from a 2K (not 4K) master Digital Intermediate format. As the 2K Digital Intermediate has been upconverted to 2160p, there is no real gain in native resolution. While absent HDR treatment, this is a visually captivating picture that is stylized with visual effects that grow with the unfolding events, starting with an incredible light display, which affects the farm and its inhabitants, both man and animal. The color palette is rich with nicely saturated hues and intensities. Scenes that appear natural increasingly are color distorted and display striking hues. Fleshtones, for the most part retain naturalness. Production design and lighting effects are visually arresting. Contrast is excellent with natural black levels, revealing shadow delineation and lighting effects that are intense. Resolution is excellent with fine detail exhibited throughout in character features, clothing, and object textures. This is a very engaging visual experience ripe with special effects and visual effects and horrific imaging development. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is dynamic sounding with a very aggressive surround presence and fully directonalized soundfield. Sound effects are powerful and are discretely positioned throughout the soundfield. Atmospherics also occupy the soundfield effectively. Deep bass extends to sub-25 Hz frequencies, often with intense and punchy energy, such as the asteroid's impact on Earth. Discrete sound effects, bolstered with powerful bass, effectively enhance the dynamic experience. The music score is performed on a synthesizer and creates a brooding and haunting emotional experience that builds as the story unfolds. Dialogue is intelligible throughout, though, at times ADR is wanting in spatial delineation. This is a terrific holosonic® experience with unusual and dynamic sound effects that makes for a very engaging soundtrack and intense buildup. (Gary Reber)