Interesting, But Not Scary
Seeing the Light in Pitch Black

The genres of science fiction and horror are often lumped side-by-side in video stores and the appendices of motion picture textbooks. When Alien screamed onto the screen back in 1979, the SF/Horror movie became a sub-genre of its own. On the downside, movies like Pitch Black are inevitably compared to it and often pale in comparison.

Yet, Pitch Black stands out. The background for the story is compelling. The camerawork is genuinely interesting. Best of all, it's a science fiction movie that dares to take place somewhere besides outer space. That alone should merit praise.

When the deep space ship Hunter-Gratzner crashes on an unknown planet, the surviving passengers and crew are left with the task of surviving on a desert-like world that appears uninhabitable. The ragtag remains include an antiquities curator, a holy man and his sons, a cop and the killer he is escorting to prison. The only surviving crew member is the copilot, who nearly killed everyone on board in order to land the ship and save herself.

Naturally, the survivors begin a search for water, hoping to survive long enough to afford a rescue. Luck provides them with both when they find the remnants of a geology camp that has been deserted for years. There is water and a small junked ship they may be able to repair. Just when things begin to look up, however, the carnage begins.

Pitch Black can certainly be predictable at times, but very few movies (especially science fiction) come across as wholly unique. And yes, the characters are underdeveloped and poorly written. Despite all these problems, however, it can be quite entertaining.

Between the barren world and the skittery creatures that inhabit its darker regions, special care has been given to creating a world where the story takes place. It is not just visually striking, but also photographed in a unique manner (with overexposed shots and filtered lenses) that provides the audience with a true sense of setting.

The only interesting performance comes from Vin Diesel. His ruthless killer remains in character for most of the movie, and his cold, manipulating manner is often more scary than anything else in the film. Science fiction fans expecting to see Claudia Black will be disappointed. Her appearance is notable only in its brevity.

Even though reviews of Pitch Black have called the movie derivative of Alien, it still manages to be interesting and entertaining. As a science fiction movie, it's average. But fans of the genre should still see it.

MY RATING: 5 out of 10.

RATED: R
RUN TIME: 108 min.