“Pitch Black” (2000) directed by David Twohy, starring Vin Diesel, Radha Mitchell, Keith David & Cole Hauser / Z-View
Pitch Black (2000)
Director: David Twohy
Screenplay: Ken Wheat, Jim Wheat, David Twohy; story by Ken Wheat, Jim Wheat
Stars: Vin Diesel, Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser, Lewis Fitz-Gerald, Claudia Black and Keith David.
Tagline: Don’t be afraid of the dark. Be afraid of what’s in the dark.
The Plot…
A transport spaceship crashlands on a remote planet. Only a handful survive:
- Carolyn Fry – ship’s pilot
- Imam Abu al-Walid – an Islamic holy man, escorting three students to a New Mecca
- Ali, Hassan and Suleiman – students traveling with Imam Abu al-Walid
- Jack – a young person traveling alone
- Shazza and Zeke – a couple
- Paris – a wealthy man
- William J. Johns – a bounty hunter/cop traveling with his prisoner
- Riddick – a dangerous killer in the custody of Johns
The survivors come together in an attempt to assess their situation and chances of survival. Their ship is beyond help. When they discover a deserted outpost, their hopes rise…
But they soon discover that the planet is about to enter a prolonged eclipse. The planet will be in complete darkness the entire time. On this planet when the sunlight fades, dangerous creatures return to the surface.
Don’t be afraid of the dark. Be afraid of what’s in the dark. It’s about to get very dark.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The ship’s crash landing is amazing — especially seen on a theater screen.
Pitch Black is the film that made Vin Diesel a star.
In the original Pitch Black screenplay Riddick dies at the end. Diesel and Twohy liked the character and thought they could make more films about him. So far we’ve gotten The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury (an animated video) which bridges Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick film. Another feature film, Riddick, was released in 2013.
Pitch Black (2000) rates 5 of 5 stars.
