Review of Pitch Black (2000) by Edward B — 04 Sep 2013

Pitch Black is an average - maybe above average but definitely B grade - sci-fi effort. It drops you into a new universe where all we're told is that a transport ship is gliding through a comet's field with its crew and passengers in cryo-sleep. Debris ruptures through the hull, and the ship crash lands on a remote planet with two suns. Soon enough, the rest of the crew realize others have been here before and that every 22 days, an eclipse blankets the planet in total darkness, unleashing winged creatures who love killing and eating.

This is standard stuff, but the characters are interesting and abstract enough that you get absorbed into the story. Chief among these characters is Riddick, a convicted killer who's shined eyes can see in the dark. He's played by Vin Diesel who pulls off bad ass like no other. The dialogue is weak and the script is rather cliche, but with a cool soundtrack, nifty creature design, and a solid cast that includes Radha Mitchell, Keith David, and Cole Hauser as a shady bounty hunter, Pitch Black is intriguing and entertaining.