Pitch Black
February 2001 Reviewed by: Jeff Fritz Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

Pitch Black is an eerie movie. It successfully marries science fiction and horror to create an atmosphere that transports the viewer into its nightmarish world. Adding to the evil backdrop is the main character’s murderous past, which leaves us to wonder exactly who the good guys are.

The film starts with a spaceship crash landing on an unknown planet. The small crew is a motley bunch that includes the requisite variety of characters; some of which we can only guess will be victimized. The most intriguing of the group is Riddick, played by Vin Diesel, a convict that possesses night vision as the result of a prison operation designed to make him invincible in the dark. He is the consummate warrior, although seemingly without any redeeming moral character. The planet itself is a barren desert island with three suns. The crew quickly discovers evidence that humans were once there, but have vanished without clue or explanation. The outlook becomes even gloomier when they learn that a total eclipse coincided with the previous inhabitants’ demise, and that this event, which happens every 22 years, is about to happen again.

It doesn’t take the crew long to realize that they are not alone, and that the previously mentioned humans did not vanish on good terms. The planets ruling party, we find out, is a race of pterodactyl-like creatures that live underground in total darkness. The imminent eclipse provides an opportunity for them to hunt on the planet’s surface, which plunges the crew into a fight for survival. The center of attention quickly turns to Riddick, the only character that stands a chance to defend the group at night against the horrific adversary. The majority of the movie tracks this battle.

The movie works well for several reasons. The director creates the grim environment with a skillful hand using manipulation of colors, light, and darkness. If there were ever a reason to be afraid of the dark, this movie delivers it. We are given only enough information about the creatures to know that they are fierce, huge in numbers, and very hungry. The use of Riddick’s night vision doesn’t comfort the viewer, but acts to underscore what the others know, but can’t see: don’t go into the Pitch Black.

The soundtrack is most surprising in its clever implementation. The surrounds are used to let us hear what we can’t see, which makes the viewer feel surrounded by the nightmare in much the same way as the cast is. There is just enough of this to make the overall dark cinematography bustle with life, or death as it may be. The picture quality is good, but it is the use of light and darkness that create the foreboding atmosphere.

Packaged extras are average for a film of this budget. We get director and cast commentaries and biographies, theatrical trailers, and behind-the-scenes footage. While not the most ambitious science fiction movie of the year, it is one of the most entertaining. It relies on a decent story and a well-portrayed main character, not special effects, to define the movie. If you like dark sci-fi with more than a hint of horror, you will like Pitch Black.

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