Underrated sci-fi-horror that lacks consistency

Rating: 8/10 (25 November 2009)

Event Horizon is an often disregarded, underrated sci-fi-horror flick that has its sweet and effective moments, yet lacks the depth to be a true masterpiece of the genre.
A rescue mission is sent out into deep space towards Neptune to investigate a distress signal that seems to come from a supposedly lost derelict space craft - the Event Horizon. The experimental ship, which was able to create black holes in order to circumvent time and space, had not returned from its first journey through time and space. Upon entering the ship, however, the crew of the rescue mission quickly learn that the Event Horizon had better not returned...
The first half of the movie is brilliant: we are enjoying very good effects (especially in space, and Neptune), nice acting (by Sam Neill and Laurence Fishburne especially), an engaging setting, and an interesting plot. Added with the few effective scares, all signs are pointing to an instant classic. What I personally found quite compelling was the design of the Event Horizon - the gravity core and all the other obscure dwellings that score with their enigmatic nature.
Yet as soon as things slip out of control on the Event Horizon, the movie turns into a B-movie style horror slasher with a lot of action and few scares. Many critics were especially concerned with this ambivalent second half of Event Horizon; personally, I found it hard to dislike it, because it was entertaining, given that the movie didn't itself too serious. However, I reckon they could've gone deeper into the whole hell-dimension issue, since I found that idea quite engaging.
All things considered, I had a great time watching Event Horizon, and am happy to own the DVD of this rare sci-fi classic. It is, I reckon, the overall mood and tone of the film that will get you.