Pitch Black **** (2000, Vin Diesel, Cole Hauser, Radha Mitchell, Keith David) – Classic Movie Review 1623

A commercial transport spacecraft crashes, stranding the surviving passengers on a sun-scorched barren planet populated only by a dangerously troublesome alien race of predators. The bloodthirsty creatures come out to feast only by night, but unfortunately for the humans, a month-long eclipse is imminent.

Commendably, co-writer/director David N Twohy’s first-rate 2000 sci-fi horror thriller outing is extremely dark and scary. There’s an excellent, dialogue-light screenplay by Ken and Jim Wheat and Twohy, a classy production, imaginative set designs by Graham Walker, excellent visual effects, impressive noirish cinematography by David Eggby and a clutch of fine performances, especially from Vin Diesel as the enigmatic bad guy, Riddick.

Hauser, Radha Mitchell, Keith David, Lewis Fitz-Gerald, Claudia Black, Rhiana Griffith, John Moore and Simon Burke co-star.

It’s very good, tense, solid stuff, credible and nailbiting, with good, well-etched characters, thrilling suspense scenes and great scary monsters. It runs 112 minutes but there’s also a cut version at 108 minutes.

Sequel: The Chronicles of Riddick in 2004. Vin Diesel and director Twohy rebooted their franchise as Riddick in 2013.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1623

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