Concept, Story, Execution

Rating: 9/10 (26 September 2001)

All of these elements make "Pitch Black" an extremely praiseworthy title. David Twohy takes a fairly formulaic but highly engaging script, and infuses it with a brilliance and energy that the cast does a fine job upholding. And speaking of our players, the headliner, Vin Diesel, is on the verge of superstardom -- there's too much charisma smoldering behind that rippling frame for him not to go on to bigger things.
Notice I didn't say "better" in that last sentence. That's because it's going to take an awful lot to outstrip "Pitch Black" for style and substance. It's one hell of a way to spend a couple of hours.