Big Budget Sci Fi with a Touch of Class

Rating: Null/10 (5 June 2001)

I really expected Pitch Black to be nothing more than a 2nd rate Aliens clone. I'm glad to say however, that it actually turned out to be surprisingly brilliant. A classy sci fi chiller which perfectly illustrates how CGI should be employed - ie. with grace and subtlety. The movie, like the majority of films in this genre, relies heavily on visual effects, but Pitch Black succeeds because it never allows technology to hinder the story. Its overall impact is greater because of what we don't see and the tension between the main human characters is just as interesting as their plight with the alien creatures. Compare it to a higher profile, bigger budgeted movie such as The Mummy Returns, where there is a constant bombardment of special effects but very little in way of a script or decent characterisation, and you see just what a good film Pitch Black is. The fact that there is no really big 'star' means that there is no need for a typical action movie hero, which serves the plot very well too. The performances however are consistently strong with Vin Diesel being particularly memorable as the menacing Riddick. Overall, this is a highly effective sci-fi thriller with a strong script and excellent visuals. (The DVD comes with two top class commentaries as well)