Event Horizon (1997) - A Movie Review

Event Horizon is a science fiction horror film that was released in 1997. The film takes place in the year 2047 and follows a rescue mission to the vicinity of Neptune, where the deep space research vessel named Event Horizon disappeared seven years prior.

The rescue ship Lewis and Clark is dispatched to investigate and discover a cold and seemingly abandoned ship, but with signs of life detected all over the ship.

The film opens with stunning visuals of space vessels moving majestically against the background of stars, accompanied by the deep rumble of the powerful drives. The sets are designed with persuasive technology and add to the overall eeriness of the film.

The eerie voice-like noises reminiscent of "2001: A Space Odyssey" give the audience a creepy feeling that little aliens are talking about them. The attention to detail in the film is noteworthy, with the characters smoking on board the rescue ship and the captain (Laurence Fishburne) wearing a leather bomber jacket, which indicates that J. Peterman is still in business half a century into the future.

Dr. Weir (Sam Neill) is the designer of the Event Horizon's gravity drive, which looks uncannily like a smaller version of the Machine in "Contact." The drive creates a black hole and slips the ship through it, allowing it to travel vast distances in a second.

Dr. Weir performs a freshman-level explanation of the procedure, which is well received by the highly trained space crew. However, the crew members seem to know less about quantum theory than the average person, which adds to the overall suspense of the film.

The film raises questions about what happened to the Event Horizon and its crew and why the original crew is all dead. Unfortunately, the film does not provide concrete answers to these questions, instead opting to focus on style, climax, and special effects.

The rules change with every scene, with early in the film taking place in the stormy atmosphere of Neptune and the rest of the film taking place in the calm of space. The crew members never react to the wondrous sights around them, which adds to the overall suspense of the film.

The obvious inspiration for "Event Horizon" is the classic film "Solaris" (1972), where a space station orbits a vast planet. The planet in that film creates hallucinations in the minds of the orbiters, making them think they're back on Earth with their families. The same thing happens in "Event Horizon," where the crew members hallucinate about family members they miss, love or feel guilty about.

However, while "Solaris" combined the subconscious with the Gaia hypothesis, "Event Horizon" uses the flashbacks mostly for shocks and false alarms, which add to the overall suspense of the film.

The film builds up to a climax with the crew discovering that the Event Horizon has been inhabited by a life form from wherever the ship traveled. One of the crew members approaches the gravity drive, which turns into something resembling liquid mercury, and slips through it, returning later babbling about "horrible things" and the "dark inside me from the other place."

The film raises questions about what lies on the other side of the gravity drive, but unfortunately, the answers are not provided.

In conclusion, Event Horizon is a thrilling and suspenseful science fiction horror film that is sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. With stunning visuals and attention to detail, the film is a visual feast that is sure to please fans of the genre.

While the film may not provide concrete answers to the questions it raises, it creates a sense of foreboding and afterboding that will keep audiences guessing. If you're looking for a thrilling and suspenseful film that will keep you entertained from beginning to end, then Event Horizon is.

Movie Details

Release Date: 01 Jan 1997

Running Time: 96 minutes

Certificate: 18

Original Title: Event Horizon

Cast: Sam Neill, Laurence Fishburne, Joely Richardson

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Genre: Science Fiction