An exceptional science-fiction movie.

Rating: 9/10 (21 March 2006)

This movie came as a nice surprise. I thought I had just about sampled everything: Strange worlds, beastly aliens, and the almost obligatory morphing. What else was left? Well, with 'Pitch Black' its more of the same. But the flavour and the texture are refreshingly original.
The opening moments are formulaic enough, but they're neat and accomplished. A spaceship in space - yes. Even the director didn't care for that, which is a good sign. But it's all okay, and the camera doesn't linger. There is a very well chosen music-score that has a satisfying metallic quality about it suggestive of catwalks and airlocks that bodes well for the rest of the movie. It immediately feels like a complete package - you're there, right with them, out in space. Excellent.
Vin Deisel has a rare and remarkable voice, it compares with that of James Mason or Richard Burton, and his silky, cynical narration at the outset carries a chill.
Things begin to happen very quickly. There are interesting angles on old effects. Tension and conflicts arise and develop well.
And that's how the movie proceeds. It's the old formula again: a group of people go somewhere remote and find something nasty they don't know how to deal with. But every take has a sly, new angle that keeps you guessing.
Some very clever work is done with light - there being a world in a planetary system with three suns. And the special effects, although by now almost certainly CGI, offer plenty to admire. A developing eclipse is extremely well-observed and fascinating to watch. Check-out the contra-rotating rings around the planet, and the aurorae in its high atmosphere. Someone put an awful lot of thought into this. It's one of the most visually beautiful events I have seen in a sci-fi movie. And I do assure you, I have watched it a lot of times.
The sudden appearance of the aliens is another surprise and spectacle. They go on to be suitably hideous and badly-behaved.
One of the other real treats is the disparity of characters and the quality of their acting. I am only slightly familiar with two of them, but they all give a sterling performance. They are the best case yet for using cheap, hungry unknowns rather than squandering megabucks on big-name stars who can ultimately do no better. The slick, terse script brings conviction to each player. You are moved to care for all of them, despite their obvious vices. And you come away wondering what you would do in their shoes.
On the surface of the planet, the incidental music changes to a kind of aboriginal percussion riff. It's simple, even minimalist, yet once again it suits the circumstances perfectly well.
The whole thing hangs together as a piece so well that movie-making looks easy. It's only when you see some of the other pigs that you realise it's not. This one isn't perfect, but I don't intend to nit-pick; I like it too much.
Excellent directing, good story, well-chosen music, solid script, believable acting, beautiful special-effects, sound and lighting. Just add popcorn.