Event Horizon (1997)

The title refers to the name of a derelict spaceship that is dis-
covered in 2047, some years after it disappeared on its maiden voy-
age.  Laurence Fishburne, Kathleen Quinlan, Richard T. Jones, Joely 
Richardson, Jack Noseworthy, Jason Isaacs, Sean Pertwee, and Sam 
Neill play the search and rescue team that investigates the vessel, 
and to whom bad things begin to happen.  Without revealing too many 
plot particulars, think of EVENT HORIZON as a big boo-house with 
some splatter movie tendencies.  (ALIEN meets HELLRAISER, if you 
will.)  Jolts a-plenty (strobes, sound effects, dream sequences, 
etc.) plus buckets of blood, ranging from clawed-out eyes to the 
gleefully grisly sight of a fully disemboweled human body.  (You'll 
laugh, you'll heave.)  The art direction and special effects are 
breathtaking and certainly a world more impressive than anything 
having to do with plot, dialogue, or character.  (You *do* get to 
see the ship's navigator, the lovely Ms. Richardson, emerge from a 
"gravity immersion tank" wearing nothing but shorts and a jogging 
bra.  Does that count as character development?)  Directed by Paul 
Anderson (MORTAL KOMBAT), who pulls one or two memorable sequences 
out of his butt:  a hull breach, the restoration of gravity in 
zero-G, and a very cool example of how to rescue someone who isn't 
wearing a space suit when the airlock opens.  Magnetic boots on.  
(Rated "R"/97 min.)

Grade: C-

Copyright 1997 Michael J. Legeros
Movie Hell is a trademark of Michael J. Legeros