Moronics From Outer Space

Rating: 4/10 (10 September 2008)

What good is a horror/sci-fi hybrid which isn't scary and doesn't seem to have even the most basic understanding of science and the rules and limitations of the physical world? Event Horizon suggests it isn't any good at all. In fairness, I have friends who consider this to be the scariest film they have ever seen, but then they did see it in their early teens.
The film borrows liberally from 2001 and 2010, The Haunting, The Shining, The Amityville Horror, The Lawnmower Man and probably about a hundred other films that begin with "the", but most notably it seems to be in debt at all times to the Alien series. The unoriginality wouldn't matter were this an effective or entertaining film, but the script is banal and muddled and the direction is uninspired; Anderson draws on horror clichÃ©s like constant lightning flashes... in space! Anderson's films generally have a glossy yet dull look and feel, and this one is no exception; a considerable amount of work obviously went into the production design of this film, yet in the film the sets rarely look as impressive as they could and should do.
In short the film is a dull, borderline incomprehensible mess. It does showcase a good lead performance from Sam Neill, and an amusing supporting one from Richard T. Jones, but neither really makes the film worth seeing. Check out Levithan instead if you want an enjoyable B-movie variation on the Alien theme.