Pitch Black (DVD)

Pitch Black is one of those films that – thanks to a gimmick partially forced on it by budget constraints – actually provides something a little different in the sci-fi world. Its central conceit – a group of survivors being hunted by monsters which come out in the dark – plays on basic human fears and instantly helps set up the tense atmosphere the film needs. The fact that neither we, nor they, know how long the darkness is going to last adds to the unsettling feeling. It also unearthed an unlikely star in the guise of Vin Diesel as anti-hero and murderer Richard B Riddick. Gruff, terse and violent, Diesel somehow makes Riddick likeable – giving him his own ...  Read the complete review

One of the marvels of a sci-fi film is how believable it is. Successful sci-fi films tend to be the ones where the characters and events are believable, and the fear and helplessness of the unknown comes across to the viewer. The 2000 film Pitch Black is one such film. The fear of darkness and of creatures unseen combines brilliantly with the fear that the only guy capable of helping you is also the one most likely to kill you. Read on..... The Plot The plotline of a spaceship crash landing on another planet is a much followed one. It is prevalent in many films. This comes with a twist, as it has a passenger who is the most dangerous criminal known, ...  Read the complete review

With the popularity of films like Aliens, Starship Troopers and Lost in Space, it is hardly surprising that we have a chance to see yet another group of strangely mis-matched companions thrown together by misfortune, fighting for their lives against an unbeatable enemy. Strange then, and a touch surprising, that this film was not only superbly watchable and very entertaining, but actually felt original, despite the obvious parallels with other space-based horror films. Pitch Black is a Sci-Fi B-movie, a low-budget special effects extravanganza, and from the outset, you will be sure that you already know the plot: boy meets girl, girl falls for boy, incidental ...  Read the complete review

I'd never heard of David Twohny before I watched the unrated directors cut DVD of Pitch Black but off the talent filmes on the disk found he had written a few films including the Fugitive, Waterworld and Critters 2. He moved into directing with 1996's The Arrival but its here in Pitch Black where he really shines and makes a great film that is both creative and visually stunning. It is available on DVD in both the cinema release version and an unrated version which I bought for more blood and gore. Pitch Black is set in the future, we dont know when as is never stated, but it opens with a spaceship travelling through space with all the passengers in ...  Read the complete review

note: also appears in part on Flixster and The Student Room I must admit that I have a soft spot for little science fiction films, and Pitch Black fits the exact bill I'm talking about. Now revered as a cult classic, Pitch Black may not be a meditation on the human soul or particularly clever, but it is an efficient sci-fi action film, that makes stars of a few of its cast members and boasts some stunning visuals. The film begins as a spaceship rides into the tail of a comet while on auto-pilot, causing the ship to crash land with most of the crew dead. However, the captain, Carolyn Fry (Radha Mitchell), manages to survive, and realises that their ...  Read the complete review