An Event not to be missed

It has been so long since I have been truly disturbed and scared by a film, that I had almost forgotten what it feels like, but there is one “Event Horizon” released today in 1997 that does both, it is surprisingly good, atmospheric, sadistic and haunting.

One way to describe it is to mix Alien and The Shining together and add a dash of Hellraiser, but the film works by not just being a horror set in space, the horror comes because it is space and the setting itself adds peril to the mission.

However to fans of sci-fi horror it does seem to have a “Marmite” effect, with some utterly hating it while personally I love it.

The story follows a group of astronauts, including Laurence Fishbourne (pre Matrix) and Sean Pertwee aboard the rescue ship “Lewis & Clark” who are on route to investigate a strange distress call, sent from the top secret research vessel “Event Horizon” which vanished without a trace 7 years ago and has reappeared like magic..

Dr Weir (Sam Neill) the ships designer, tells us and the crew of the rescue mission of his gravity drive that can fold space and time and opens gateways to other places…

From the minute they arrive to find the ship floating without its crew the film really starts, its cold, dark, empty cathedral like atmosphere makes this a very bleak experience.

Through blood splattered walls and the crew’s last video tape they discover what could have happened, but as each of them start to have strange hallucinations the question is where has the ship been and more pressing what has it brought back…the more they learn the worse it becomes.

Though not groundbreaking the films design, especially “Event Horizon” makes it feel very menacing, and unwelcoming, but it is the suspense that will keep you hooked, keep you absorbed and unable to look away… it will get under your skin like the warped sound of the “Gravity Drive” purring away in the background.

And after the 95 minutes in the company of “Event Horizon” you will never look at Sam Neill’s kind-natured face from Jurassic Park quite the same way again!

He is brilliant as the dark and sinister Dr Weir, who appears obsessed with the ship from the start, and eventually is consumed completely, he is possibly the best in the world at conveying slow-burning insanity!

 

So all in all the film was certainly not what I expected, thinking it was going to be some boring “Alien” rip off and I was in for a shock to the system… It takes a LOT to scare me and this film definitely did.

I admit though that it isn’t for everyone, but I, for one, loved every second and I’m just sorry it wasn’t longer.

So you are all coming with me ……