A gripping Sci-Fi "B" Movie with some "A" special effects

Rating: Null/10 (14 May 2001)

With a cast of relative unknowns, this movie comes off pretty well. A fairly standard plot with some predictable early happenstances, coincidences, mistakes, and a disaster or two set up the real drama. Getting through the eclipse without becoming the main course for lunch occupies the remainder of the film, and is the reason for the rest. Vin Diesel does a good job of providing presence without saying two words until late in the show.
Unfortunately, (at least for my viewing pleasure!), the entire movie hinges on the almost non-existent chance that a world with three suns could experience an almost totally black eclipse of all three suns, go from light to totally dark in just a few minutes, and maintain that darkness for more than a couple hours. If you can swallow that lump of disbelief for a while, the special effects and the well done alien critters more than make up for it. Worth watching!