doombot » Short Movie Review: Pitch Black

This science-fiction horror movie features Vin “The Dungeon Master” Diesel as an escaped convict who’s being transported back to prison—in space. When the spaceship crashes on a world full of whooping monsters that come out at night, it’s up to Diesel’s quick wit, violent tendencies, and shiny eyes to rescue a rag-tag group of misfits who rightfully quip that they should not have flown coach. The dialog is bad, the cuts often feel amateurish, and stupid video tricks (like suddenly inverted colors for dramatic effect) appear to be used without irony. The funny thing is that they kind of had me at the beginning. I was with them for the spaceship crash, the desert world with three suns, and even the unbelievably ridiculous cast (including Wealthy British Comic Relief Guy, children who end up as fodder way earlier than expected, and a girl who I didn’t realize was posing as a boy until everyone was really surprised she was a girl). I was willing to put up with all the ridiculousness for a rollicking sci-fi adventure—but not for a mediocre horror movie. If only they had crashed a little while later and missed the eclipse that happens only once every 22 years.

5 Comments so far

Good analysis of faults.

I enjoyed the movie despite them. Not even sure I can point to why. Is there a term for that? There ought’a be.

And if we’re going to talk about Rickrolling ala Vin Diesel, it goes no furthur than http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzFAHv5iHmc.

I actually kind of like this movie. I think the premise was novel and I appreciate a science fiction movie that isn’t constant shots of CGI. That said Jason you probably won’t enjoy Chronicle of Riddick, though it is certainly more of a science fiction movie. This may also discount you from enjoying the Chronicles of Riddick XBOX game whihc I was actually very impressed by.

Actually, watching the movie, I constantly found myself thinking two things: One, that it would have made a better sci-fi world than a one-off horror movie, and two, that it would’ve made a better video game (with special shiny-eye powers).

[...] was warned that if I disliked Pitch Black (and I did) that I might not enjoy Chronicles of Riddick, the next [...]

[...] The melee combat is decent, but most scenes require shooting. If I’m playing as Vin Diesel in space, I think I should be able to wander into any room along the ceiling and kill everyone inside, one [...]

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Short Movie Review: Pitch Black

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