VHS : Event Horizon [1997]

Rating: - Event Horizon - Beyond time


I watched this movie first time in telly about 6-7 years ago and have to add that it was after midnight. There was something in this movie that I could not stop watching it. It is a science fiction horror movie and there was absolutely dark in my room. All I want to say by that, there are a number of moments when I jumped scared. Now I will briefly introduce to this story.

Plot

Event Horizon is a secret project star ship. It Has BEEN equipped with experimental prototype of gravitons engine. Thanks that was able to create an artificial wormhole which bend time and space so travel from point to point lasted nothing (kind of inter-dimensional bridge). In 2040 sent to Neptune to get ready for its first jump to our nearest star system - Proxima Centauri. Everything is working great till Earth loose contact with Event Horizon.
After 7 years - in 2047 Earth receives fainted signal from Event Horizon. They try to contact crew and investigate what happened, but unfortunately there is no answer. Rescue star ship has been sent to check what is going on and if crew is still alive. When they get to Event horizon a number of strange things start to happen. Rescue team experiences a number of extremely really hallucinations. When they find out what is happening they start theirs survival fighting with...... watch it yourself

I saw a number of negative or average reviews on other websites, even on this but I have different opinion. Like for me it is a great movie full of terrific turns in action and quite good effects like for 1997. Story have done the biggest impression on my because of its possibility to happen in a real life.
Interesting issue is that idea gravitons drive mentioned by me above is absolutely real. It is not impossible science fiction like in other movies of this kind. Here we have some invention which has been approved by biggest scientist and physics in the world (including Steven Hawking). The only problem - idea works but currently our level of technology is to poor to create such a materials or star ship strong enough to carry it.

There is quite a lot of violence in this movie. Even thought it's not senseless violence - it is an interpretation of an evil end expression of hell.
I did like the whole movie starting from soundtracks, quality, actors used in this movie, mysterious beginning and surprising end.
I think there is nothing in Event Horizon I would change or complain about. It is simply great.

I can recommend it to people with nerves from steel and all fans of science fiction. It is quite old movie but in my opinion is one of the greatest.

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Rating: - An original and entertaining sci-fi horror
'Event Horizon' begins when a group of astronauts are sent into deep space to escort a legendary spacehip that has been missing for 7 years back to Earth. Once they get onto the ship they learn that the ship can travel from one point of the universe to another in an instant, breaking many rules of science and also unleashing a hellish evil onto the ship. One by one the group begin to go crazy with demons from the past taunting them to harm themselves and the others.

There are some great performances from Sam Neill and Lawrence Fishburn in this film with Neill portraying the insane scientist at the end, that is unlike anything I have seen him in before proving what a good actor he is. The special effects are top-notch for the time it was made (1997) and the space settings and ships are very detailed and believable. The story begins quite well but does go off the rails a little near to the end, but is still an exiting and entertaining sci-fi horror all the same. Although not the best of it's genre, with other great films like Sunshine and Alien about, this is still a worthwhile watch and is woth picking up if you can get it for a fiver.

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Rating: - Great idea, shame about the execution
A space ship that opens a portal to hell. Wow. What a fantastic idea for a film. You have so much you could be playing with there - the crew are all rational scientists, trapped billions of miles from home, and all this happens. I'd watch that. So I did.

But the film is pretty lousy. It's not scary (creepy at first, but that's it) and then it descends into pretty cheap schlock. Some of the design is a bit hooey - Laurence Fishburne looks like he has mobility difficulties while he's in that stupid hangy down chair - the dialogue clunks along and it's just all been seen before. Not in space, perhaps, but in the haunted house.

The idea remains fabulous, though, so I hope someone can work it up properly

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Rating: - A Sci-Fi Slasher
This movie offers such potential with a name as cool as "Event Horizon". It conjours thoughts of Black Holes, heavy-weight sci-fi and plausible impossibilities. The movie though focussed on the psyche and the strangeness of the mind. A previous reviewer has said a little of the Shining, but I'd say more of the Hellraiser. I feel that this movie is somewhat off message in Sci-Fi leaning far more to the slasher horror genre. Had the true nature of the movie been known prior to release I'm sure that the audiences would have comprised a different fan base, one more receptive to the offering.

If you like psychological slasher movies, you'll get a buzz from this, if you're looking for sci-fi you'll be disappointed. I'll give this movie three stars for Sci-Fi content and a resounding five chainsaws for gore.

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Rating: - One of the most genuinely evil films ever made
The Shining meets Alien is probably the best way of describing Event Horizon. Methinks it's also infulenced a couple of recent episodes of Dr. Who (which were particularly good I hasten to add). Take one somewhat disturbed scientist with bright spark of an idea for a new space ship. Said ship vanishes, with suitably dodgy final message. Years later, it emerges again, albeit minus its crew. Salvage mission sets out to investigate. Cue all sorts of psycological horror moments as they realise just where its been for the last few years.

Direction is excellent. The pacing is taken relatively slowly, which helps build tension. Camera work is uniformly high quality; somewhat stylised, with abrupt cuts and cascading staged zooms, while sections set in zero gravity tend to have a more floating approach. Lighting is a masterclass in how it should be done. Best since Alien and / or Aliens for a major science fiction release. Filters, shadow, colour' all are used to help add atmosphere, but they never draw attention to themselves unless there is a specific purpose. Very slickly executed indeed, and with genuine flare. The sound is good; a little bit dark if you take my meaning, it supports the visuals well, with moody effects. I can only commend the set designers too -the Event Horizon in particular is a masterpiece, and I like some of the touches such as the coffin-shaped doors. Not spectacularly novel, but it didn't have to be, and it works. Ditto the effects. They don't take over as is so often the case, but support the story.

The script is crisp, positive, nicely paced, and concept-centred, and makes no attempt to drag things out, or to rush them. No complaints at all. This is a well-written film. A few of what John Carpenter calls 'cheap shocks', but they add, rather than detract from the overall effect.

It's also a well performed one. Fishburne and Neill in the lead roles obviously have to bear the brunt of the requirements, and achieve superbly. Both are believeable, and Neill in particular appears to be enjoying himself, particularly toward the end where he can really let rip. The support is excellent, and I have nothing but praise for the small cast who hold the viewer's attention so well. Reminds me of The Thing in that respect.

Do I like it then? Emphatically not. Event Horizon is not a film you can like in the least. It is one of the most evil films ever made. Do I admire it? Absolutely yes. If you have even a passing interest in horror or science fiction, then it's worth seeing. I would suggest ensuring that children can't get access to it though -this is the sort of film that can cause more than a few nightmares, or worse. It's really very good indeed.