Matho
The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.
Lela
The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.
Scarlet
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
Leofwine_draca
COLOR OF NIGHT is a dated, cheesy, film, a '90s misfire that attempted to ride the wave of psycho-sexual thrillers in the wake of FATAL ATTRACTION and BASIC INSTINCT and failed from the outset. The most annoying thing about the production is that the plot hinges on a crucial twist that will be obvious to even the most shortsighted viewer, right from the outset, but we're asked to suspend our disbelief until the very end before said twist is revealed. Nobody in their right mind can do that.Still, despite the paucity of imagination and the silliness of the script, watching this movie turns out to be quite a lot of fun. It's one of those films you can put into the so-bad-it's-good category of entertainment, in that it's filled with unintentional laughs and funny scenes that showcase some OTT acting from most of the cast. Whether it's Bruce Willis's hairpiece or the overblown pool sex scene (although Paul Verhoeven topped that a year later in SHOWGIRLS), COLOR OF NIGHT is frequently amusing.Besides, you have to give the film some credit for its cast alone, a seasoned who's who of '90s-era talent. I particularly like the way the casting director fixed up a bunch of well-known genre actors in supporting roles; well done that man! We're treated to non-bad-guy turns from Lance Henriksen and Brad Dourif (how often can you say that?), PREDATOR 2's Ruben Blades as the comic relief/detective, Lesley Ann Warren as a sex addict, a typically kooky Kevin J. O'Connor, and even Mr. QUANTUM LEAP himself, Scott Bakula.As for the central twosome, well...the best you can say is that this is when Willis was still acting in his roles, rather than riding along on monotonous autopilot as he does these days (in A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD, for instance). Jane March is pretty and alluring, but is she out of her depth in a psychologically complex part? I think so! Director Richard Rush started out making trash movies '60s and his mindset is evident in the cheesy stalk-n-slash sequences and overblown stylistics on offer here. COLOR OF NIGHT might be a trashy attempt at a thriller, but it's a fun one with it.
sunznc
Color of Night is a very vibrant, colorful film with odd characters from the very beginning. The opening scenes are jarring leaving one trying to figure out just what exactly is going on. What is going to happen next? The acting by everyone is excellent. I think this is Bruce Willis' best acting yet. His character is very endearing and likable. In fact, all of the characters, as kooky as they may be, are likable here leaving an impression after seeing this.There are very clever split screen shots using mirrors so that we can see both characters during conversations. The film is overdone though. It becomes a bit too heavy-handed near the end and then we are left with an overdub from one of the characters that seems silly. Also, when we find out who the killer is the actor seems a little uncomfortable with his dialog.Not perfect by any means but very unique and very well shot. Almost feels like a Brian Depalma film. A mysterious thriller that pulls you in and keeps you interested.
adanchacon08
if u like campy movies like showgirls you will probably like this movie! now i admit there are a few plot holes and seeing Jane March in disguise is pretty obvious. but aside from that the acting of the cast is pretty good Jane March, and Lesley Ann Warren are particularly good and Ruben Blades is pretty funny as a wound way to tight inspector. Bruce Willis is about as good as he usually is. about the plot holes that red car pushing the car from the top of the parking garage trying to crush Willis didn't make much sense i don't know how the killer would know he was in that spot from way up there and Mrs. Niedelmeyer knowing about Ritchie's death doesn't make sense if dale covered it up. the film does however keep you guessing as to who the killer is. at first with march's obvious disguise you instantly suspect her however the film throws enough curve balls to evenly spread out the suspicion among the viewers. the film as a whole it is a great erotic thriller the sex scenes are so hot and the ending is probably one of the best twist endings I've seen in a while. sadly the poor march's poor disguise spoil the surprise however it is quite a cleaver idea i must give credit to the writers. so give it a chance if you don't think its a good movie you might at least see it as a so-bad-its-good movie you can enjoy.
tedg
Folks don't like this movie. I didn't either, but there is at least one interesting thing about it, its provenance.Its an old fashioned locked house mystery, patterned after the Agatha Christie model. You have some sort of artificial constraint that sets the rules: there is a murderer and you know it is one among a small group. As the story goes, you discover that each person has some hidden side that may lead to the explanation that they are the murderer. The detective, in this case a psychologist, is hampered in that he has a condition similar to the broken souls he is counseling. It makes it difficult for him to "see" on our behalf. In true Agatha tradition, the real murderer is revealed to be someone, and to rely on some causes, that are so unexpected we smile when they are revealed. The red in the red herring here is sex. The diversions that pull us away all have to do with sexual fantasy. This is, needless to say, not a device that Agatha would have used, but it is most welcome here because it isn't just sex that is used to distract us: its that special kind that comes from cinematically- generated romantic target stories.In fact, if you know films, you may know one of the most successful and lovely of the projects that simply and directly takes you one of these romantic, bodily encounters that actually ends but remains sweet. Its "The Lover," and stars as the target of attention a young Jane March. Its a different twist than here, where she takes on several characters in one body, but the overall shape is the same, emotionally as well as the skinform.There's incompetence in how it is delivered to us, but the way it is structured is very, very sweet, and continues the narrative tradition of the detective story into more modern terms. It probably is important in that respect and though it doesn't directly reward us, I'll bet that its a big step in the evolution of the form that has given us stuff we really do like.Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.
