Terrific, and Frightening. Pitch Black succeeds where other sci-fi horror films have failed.

Rating: 9/10 (16 December 2000)

Brouhaha, an absolute blast! Pitch Black is what every sci-fi and horror fan has been expecting ever sense that horribly disappointing Alien Resurrection. Yes I know it's the same old opening sequences. A deep space vessel crashing on an alien planet which happens to be a desert. Don't let the stereotypical opening to this film frighten you away, wait for the real frightening, when you get involved with the main story. Specifically it is the great dialog that drives the story so well. You have interesting characters, and the tension they all exert plays well against the situations they all become entangled in. There is even some religious debate that added the the characters depth that I found quite entertaining. SPOILER ALERT Vin Diesel plays an extremely enthralling character named Riddick, who's an killer/escapee being brought back by bounty hunter Johns, played by Cole Hauser. After the shipwreck Riddick escapes. The tension of such a savage killer running around scott free creates turmoil between the other survivors of the crash, and before they can get comfortable with Riddicks presence it turns night. In a desperate attempt to leave the planet our heroes keep on hurdling obsticals one right after another. Yet the dark proves not to be without the boogie man. As blood thirsty aliens come out to have a mid-night snack our heroes turn to an unlikely hero, Riddick. Riddick happens to be genetically enhanced to see in the Pitch Black, making him a very important asset in the others survival.
What I absolutely loved about this film was Vin Diesel's physical presence, on top of having a great performance as a dark anti-hero. Having a character scarier than the aliens killing everyone off was a neat twist that I enjoyed most of all. Where other sci-fi horror films have failed, Pitch Black pulls off an A in my book.