Sci-fi chillers at it's very best!

Rating: Null/10 (20 May 2000)

Newcastle-born director Paul Anderson has made his name doing sci-fi actioners, such as 'Mortal Kombat' and 'Soldier'. Between those two, he fitted in this sci-fi chiller, which proves the talent of both cast & crew. Captain Miller (Laurence Fisburne) heads the ship 'Lewis & Clark', who is deployed to Neptune to salvage research vessel 'Event Horizon', which vanished some 7 years back. However, as they arrive with the vessel's designer, Dr. William Weir (Sam Neill), they discover corpses, disturbing home-videos and a great big gate in engineering. When Justin (Jack Noseworthy) enters the gate and then exits in a comatose-state, things take a turn for the twisted and the extremely nasty. Joining the cast is Joely Richardson as no-nonsense Lt. Stark, Sean Pertwee as Smith, Jason Isaacs as Dr. DJ, Kathleen Quinlen as Peters (a homesick mother) and Richard T. Jones.
Here, there is a enough of sci-fi to keep Alien fans happy, enough suspense to keep Psycho fans quiet and enough gore to keep Hellraiser fans content. However, if you don't like scenes of bizarre mass-killings, then you shouldn't watch this! But, I actually liked it. It had tension, some cool action, loads of chilling-images of the next world and eerie atmosphere by the gallons. This is masterfully directed, excellently acted by 1st rate cast and sharply written by debut-hack Phillip Eisner, although the script was doctored by Andrew Kevin Walker (he of Seven & 8mm). If you're looking for a good Friday scare then you've got your dream picture! It's the best sci-fi for yonks!