Movie Can't Survive Its Ending

Rating: 5/10 (2 November 2010)

Many films have explored the paradox of being trapped in the infinite vastness of space, and "Event Horizon" joins the club.
This blend of sci-fi and visceral horror is never much better than a cut-rate version of "Alien," but at its best it does manage an effectively claustrophobic atmosphere and a sense of creeping dread. But the film's best moments are a distant memory by the time the last 20 minutes or so have played out, and we watch a scary premise collapse under the weight of its attempt to make sense. Many of the final scenes are just silly, and the very end is a clunker.
Movies like this don't need terrific actors, but it could have used one better than Laurence Fishburne, who has the largest role and never acts like anything more is at stake in this life and death scenario than whether or not he's going to get the salad dressing he asked for.
Grade: C+