Logic is definitely not the strong suit of "Pitch Black." But then, neither is consistent characterization, smart dialogue, originality, subtlety or any of the other benchmarks of quality filmmaking.
Not that you normally expect such things in a dumb science-fiction/horror hybrid that rips off the "Alien" movies.
But given that it features a fresh, talented cast and a filmmaker — David Twohy, who made the inconsistent but somewhat original sci-fi thriller "The Arrival" — who is willing to take some chances, there was at least some hope.
Instead, this dopey, poorly paced and surprisingly derivative work is an extreme disappointment. We've seen this plot a million times before, and much better in most cases.
Indie star-in-the-making Radha Mitchell has the lead role as Fry, the docking pilot for a star freighter on its way back to our solar system. Unfortunately for her and the ship's passengers, they run smack into the middle of a meteor storm.
In the chaos, the ship is damaged and the captain (who's in cry-sleep, natch) is killed. And Fry is lucky to crash-land the ship with even a handful of the passengers intact. Among the notable survivors are bounty hunter Johns (Cole Hauser) and his prisoner, Riddick (Vin Diesel, from "Saving Private Ryan"), a murderer with enhanced senses and strength.
Everyone's pretty much on edge as it is — being stranded light-years away will do that. And when Riddick decides to run off, panic starts to set in.
Then, they discover there's an even bigger danger, namely alien carnivores who have already gained a taste for one of survivors. Worse, the planet is due for an eclipse, which will plunge it into darkness and bring the nocturnal killers out en masse.
So, despite their differences, the survivors must band together to survive, especially when they discover there's a tiny escape craft left over from an earlier ship's crash-landing.
Again, this is nothing new, and Twohy's odd pacing ensures that it's not particularly thrilling. And the characters are either so weak, dumb or unlikable that it's hard to find a reason to care about what happens to them.
Of the bunch, Mitchell's doubt-filled character is perhaps the most interesting, though Diesel (who sounds like he's imitating Tony Todd as "Candyman") will likely wind up the audience favorite (a troubling notion, considering he's supposed to be a murderer).
Even the creature designs — a cobbling together of hammerhead sharks and H.R. Giger's "Alien" creations — are unoriginal, though for a film with a limited budget, the effects don't look chintzy.
"Pitch Black" is rated R for graphic alien attacks, gunfire and violent hand-to-hand combat, profanity, gore (both alien and human), a scene of graphic drug use (narcotics) and use of crude slang terms.