A small creature feature with a pair of great lead performances from Mitchell and Diesel. The visual effects are dodgy at times, but the concept and Twohy's execution, as well as plus unexpected narrative subversions, make this an underrated classic.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 25, 2025

With its first half sporting a brilliant desert surrealism and the second loaded with stylised gore, director David Twohy's futuristic frightener is a vivid, pulse-pounding achievement.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 16, 2024

Yet another insecure hissy fit of a movie — a thriller without enough confidence in itself or its characters to calm down for two seconds and let the actors speak to each other like human beings.

| Original Score: C- | Sep 2, 2022

No matter how many better movies Pitch Black borrows from, this entertaining little sci-fi/horror exercise is just good enough to keep its audience diverted for its runtime.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 25, 2022

It isn't smart sci-fi; instead, it's boilerplate survival horror, preoccupied with death, destruction, and monsters.

| Original Score: 6/10 | Nov 9, 2020

As knockoffs of its kind go, it's one of the more distinct.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 6, 2020

Pitch Black falters a bit in its last half-hour-the film's darkest moment reduces Diesel to delivering a pithy one-liner-but for the most part, it's terrific.

| Oct 17, 2018

THIS IS THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION FILM OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM!!!!!!!

| Oct 17, 2018

David Twohy's film undoubtedly has something interesting about it, and that something can be summarised in two words: Vin Diesel.

| Oct 17, 2018

But, much like cult pulper Assault On Precinct 13, this supersedes its derivative B-movie roots to emerge as a craftily crafted and stylishly shot outer-spacer.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 17, 2018

One of the best films of the year.

| Nov 28, 2017

Pitch Black is such a stinker that it makes Twohy's previous sci-fi thriller, The Arrival, look halfway decent.

| Original Score: 1.5/5 | Feb 5, 2014

A solid creature feature, but not at all a revelatory one.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Sep 11, 2013

Original Riddick pic is violent, with teamwork rewarded.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 13, 2013

contains unpredictable nuances that make for thrilling amusement

| Original Score: B | May 11, 2011

...your typical run-for-your-life-the-monsters-are-coming science fiction adventure that requires one to park his brain at the front door of the theater before entering.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 2, 2009

One of the better sci-fi movies to come around in a very long time.

| Apr 29, 2009

A fairly efficient science fiction monster film, somewhat in the mold of an old 1950s B-movie.

| Mar 31, 2009

If only there had been as much time spent on creating believable aliens as there obviously was on the landscape.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 14, 2007

Under the circumstances it's not really fair to blame the actors, whose amateurishness seems appropriate to the material (although Diesel's stolid machismo is so over-the-top as to be pretty laughable).

| Original Score: F | Jul 24, 2006