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Pitch Black [2000]
from Universal Pictures UK
starring Vin Diesel, Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser, Keith David, Lewis Fitzgerald
directed by David N. Twohy

Features:

• Anamorphic
• PAL
• Special Edition
• Widescreen

Editorial Review:

Pitch Black is a guilty pleasure that surpasses expectations, even though it owes a major debt to Alien and its cinematic spawn. As he did with The Arrival, director David Twohy revitalises a derivative story, allowing you to forgive its flaws and submit to its visceral thrills. Under casual scrutiny, the plot's logic crumbles like a stale cookie, but it's definitely fun while it lasts. A spaceship crashes on a desert planet scorched under three suns. The mostly doomed survivors include a resourceful captain (Radha Mitchell), a drug-addled cop (Cole Hauser) and a deadly prisoner (Vin Diesel) who quickly escapes. These clashing personalities discover that the planet is plunging into the darkness of an extended eclipse, and it's populated by hordes of ravenous, razor-fanged beasties that only come out at night. The body count rises, and Pitch Black settles into familiar sci-fi territory.

What sets the movie apart is Twohy's developing visual style, suggesting that this veteran of straight-to-video schlock may advance to the big leagues. Like the makers of The Blair Witch Project, Twohy understands the frightening power of suggestion; his hungry monsters are better heard than seen (although once seen, they're chillingly effective), and Pitch Black gets full value from moments of genuine panic. Best of all, Twohy's got a well-matched cast, with Mitchell (so memorable with Ally Sheedy in High Art) and Diesel (Pvt. Caparzo from Saving Private Ryan) being the standouts. The latter makes the most of his muscle-man role, and his character's development is one more reason this film works better than it should. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

• Good movie which takes a new approach to the sci-fi genre
  Even though this movie starts off with the usual: something goes wrong, spacecraft crashes, people are stranded etc. it still pulls off and introduces the viewer to some new ideas. Riddick is somewhat of a badass convict and has modified his eyes so he is able to see in the dark which is a sought after ability in the situation the shipcrew and he is in. The cutting in the movie is very good and emphasizes the mystique that shrouds around the anti-hero and male protagonist: "Riddick." The story in Pitch... more info

• passable
  disposable alien rip off its assembly line fluff but it has a couple of good points 1)its visually impressive 2)its decently acted

• Engrossing, Stylish, Brutal Sci-Fi
  There's one thing science fiction films have always had on their side - ideas. The genre allows filmmakers an enormous amount of creative freedom, meaning that all you really need are some good ideas, followed through well, and you've got the makings of a sci-fi great. Pitch Black is the perfect example of this, it takes a small number of very good concepts and turns them into one of the most gripping and entertaining films you'll ever see.
  The movie is set at some nonspecific point in the future and... more info

• Owes a major debt to ALIEN
  Have you seen this film: a merchant cryo-ship makes an emergency landing on an inhospitable planet. The reluctant female leader and her shipmates encounter mysterious signs of former human habitation and devastating carnage. They soon discover that the planet swarms with ravenous razor-fanged nocturnal carnivores. As the bodycount rises, the survivors demonstrate individual acts of courage, compassion, cowardice, betrayal, and resourcefulness. No, it's not "Aliens", but this low-budget Aussie film... more info

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