Event Horizon (1997)

Written by CinemaSerf on July 2, 2022

Although this plot has been through the wringer a few times already, over the years, I still quite enjoyed it. A group of exploring astronauts set off to find out what happened to the eponymous spaceship that disappeared long since but has now returned! "Miller" (Laurence Fishburne) leads a team that also includes "Weir" (Sam Neill) who originally designed the enigmatic craft. Onboard, all seems fine until things start to go terrifyingly awry for this crew as they discover, quite literally, the remnants of the previous occupants floating around. Pretty quickly, they find themselves facing a shapeless foe of untold power that may well emanate from another time, certainly it does from another place. We are now presented with a creatively entertaining mix of sci-fi and light horror, with some good visual effects (especially the lighting) that complement, rather than overwhelm, the story. The acting - even from the usually stiff as a board Neill (and his creepy eyes) - makes for a well presented and exciting adventure that offers us menace, some decent dialogue and a genuine sense of peril as we edge nearer the quite uncertain denouement. Much better than I was expecting.