PITCH BLACK

RELEASED 17 AUGUST 2000 | 15 | Blu-ray (4K/standard)

Director David Twohy

Cast Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser,

Vin Diesel, Keith David

Staying out of the dark to stay alive is the killer hook of this classy sci-fi horror. With unfortunate timing, the mismatched survivors of a crashed spaceship arrive on a perpetually sun-drenched desert planet just in time to witness a rare solar eclipse – a once-every-22-years event that allows nocturnal local food chain-toppers to run amok.

Director/co-writer David Twohy makes the most of his visceral high concept, crafting a rare extraterrestrial monster movie that doesn’t feel like an Alien rip-off. Just as importantly, he gives most of the flawed characters a chance to shine before they become creature fodder – none more so than Richard B Riddick, the lethal-but-charismatic convict who made Vin Diesel a star.

Extras With a mix of new and vintage material complementing the 4K restoration, this release plays like a Pitch Black greatest hits package. The new content consists of 54 minutes’ worth of interviews with Twohy, stars Claudia Black and Rhiana Griffith, effects supervisor Peter Chiang, composer Graeme Revell and cinematographer David Eggby. From previous releases, there’s a barely different Director’s Cut, a couple of commentaries, featurettes, and 2004 animated movie Dark Fury. Plus: some genuine oddities, including “Raveworld”, with footage of dance parties used to promote the movie. Richard Edwards