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Dom Robinson reviews

Pitch Black

Distributed by

Columbia TriStar


Cover Australian 'Aliens' is how I'd summarise this film, with a threadbare plot that could also take in From Dusk Till Dawn and any movie where the bad guy comes good.

A spaceship has crash-landed on an apparently barren land and once they find another ship that's long since been used, they then have to search elsewhere for some power cells and escape - but it must be completed by nightfall otherwise the bizarre vampiric creatures will emerge, for they come out only at night or in any other dark crevices since light destroys them.

With their own ship's captain dead, Carolyn Fry (Radha Mitchell, above right) reluctantly is forced to take the lead, forever maintaining she is not the captain's replacement. If her name seems familiar, then that's because she twice appeared in Neighbours - in 1994 as a parachute instructor and in 1996 as student Caitlin. Amongst the survivors of the crash is the convicted murderer Richard Riddick (Boiler Room's Vin Diesel). His plus, thus stopping the sane members of the team from trying to kill him, is that his special eyes allow him to see through the dark and since sorting the new ship out has taken too long, it's up to him to guide the hapless bunch through the darkness to safety - but you know that along the way some will slip up and be gored to death in a gruesome fashion.

While Radha Mitchell looks sultry, sexy and stunning in just about every scene in which she appears with sweat dripping off her glistening body, does Pitch Black have any bad points? Yes - it's far from original and is never scary, even when it's trying to be. Still, at least it avoids the crappy usual that most films fall into of making their lead characters become romantically involved.


The film is presented in the original 2.35:1 widescreen ratio and is anamorphic. Director Twohy frequently uses the full width in the special effects shots which are frequently spectacular. Print defects are very few and far between, making overall for a very impressive watch. The average bitrate is a high and almost constant 7.32Mb/s.

Dolby Digital 5.1 has been provided in English and German dialogue, which really comes into its own when the baddies strike - that's the flying creatures, not Mr Convict. Gunshots and an upbeat thumping score also play their part. If you buy the Region 1 DVD instead, you're blessed with an English DTS 5.1 soundtrack too.


Cover First up in the extras dept. is a 'making of' featurette, which lasts but five minutes and contains the usual clips of the film mixed in with chat from the main cast members. The Raveworld Pitch Black Event is what was used to promote the film when world class DJs held raves to immerse the punters in the "Pitch Black" experience. If you haven't had enough rave in the clubs, then it might be an extra that's up your street.

Two Theatrical Trailers in non-anamorphic 16:9, a few pages of Production Notes, Cast and Filmmakers' details for the principal cast and crew members, plus 2 Audio Commentaries make up the rest of the extras. The DVD Newsletter just tells you to visit their website for extra such news.

The disc contains 18 chapters, subtitles in English, German and Dutch and the menus are static, but the main one contains some music.

FILM CONTENT
PICTURE QUALITY
SOUND QUALITY
EXTRAS



OVERALL

Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 2001.

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