"Aliens", but with an indy flavor

Rating: 8/10 (20 February 2000)

Very cleverly created, "Pitch Black" combines the general premise of "Aliens" (shipwrecked on a hostile planet at the mercy of hordes of ravenous monsters) but with the willingness to break the rules and stereotypes found in mainstream movies.
The film is artfully done, though sometimes the camera work can get muddled. (I suspect that this is partly deliberate to obscure flaws in the special effects or fight choreography.) The coloration is brilliant (often literally), and the score adequate. The sound effects leave something to be desired. (Every time I heard the creatures, I felt that the heroes were due to have a school of whales decent upon them ...)
Still, this had the raw, quirky edge to it found in some of the lesser-known works of Australia and New Zealand, like "The Quiet Earth" and "The Last Wave". It's quite scary for most of the film, and while it's not flawless, it deserves quite a lot of credit for what it's accomplished.
Highly recommended!