Review of Pitch Black (2000) by Lewis E — 29 Nov 2015

A sci-fi horror which came after the glorious practical effects era of 'Aliens' and 'The Thing' but before CGI was perfected. Let's just say it certainly shows as shoddy camera work and amateur alien designs affect action quality, harming the instillation of fear in the process.

Now it may be impossible to enjoy movies such as 'Pitch Black' to the same extent as in the past when gaping flaws in CGI are so evident. What you should enjoy here is the tense human interaction between the diverse group of survivors, the source of which is provided by cool mumbling-expert, Vin Diesel, who represents both the group's best form of protection and an additional threat as the dangerous convicted murderer whose real agenda remains to be seen.

Despite its cheap visual designs, the intriguing dark premise mixed with strong dialogue and personalities create an unnerving atmosphere. If anything, 'Pitch Black' is good in showing why Diesel moved onto bigger things.

I wouldn't blame people who think better of this movie, particularly those who saw it when it was first released. A respectable sci-fi horror but one with limitations arising from failure to meet the visual standards set by horror movies which came before and after it, thus proving once you go 'Pitch Black' you can go back.