Dark, chilling and well worth a look

Rating: Null/10 (5 February 2003)

I am a big sci-fi and action film fan. Give me an adrelin pumping action film over chick flicks anyday. I watched 'Pitch Black' on the recommendation of a movie magazine which claimed it 'started the career of Vin Diesel'. Intrigued, I checked it out and wasn't disappointed.
The plot is pure sci-fi, taking u into the future with a crash landing (literally). A little distanced at first, I found myself on the edge of my seat as the rag-tag crew headed by Carolyn Fry have to learn to trust a murderer to help them escape the planet and it's rabid carnevourous alien inhabitants.
The cinematography is breathtaking with visually stunning colour washed scenes on the planet ranging from hot blazing orange to cool blue. Director David Twohy directs really well, creating fantastic atmosphere of tension without getting too cheesy and predictable
Of course it is naturally Vin Diesel who leaves the biggest impression. His most interesting and provocative role to date, Diesel is understated and sarcastic, very believeable as a convict killer who can see in the dark. You find yourself drawn to him, despite the fact he is a cold blooded murderer and root for him as he clashes with bounty hunter posing as cop Johns who wants to bring him down for money. The sexual tension between Riddick and Fry is electric, clear in their shared scenes. You find yourself cheering at the end when Riddick escapes alive.
All in all this is a great film, all about who to trust when things get rough and how unlikely friendships can form in the direst situations. The aliens are scary enough yet you find yourself smiling when Riddick faces off against one. Twohy should be congratulated on a fantastic piece of cinema. And yes, I cannot wait for the trio of sequels, packaged as 'The Chronicles of Riddick' following Diesel's character after he escapes the planet. They should be extremely interesting if Diesel can repeat this stunning performance