Event Horizon is a movie I’ve seen a few times and my ratings ranged from 3.25-3.75 with this go-around on the lower end. There is some entertainment value but the film doesn’t exactly reach its full potential.
Event Horizon
(1997)
Genre(s): Science Fiction, Horror
Shout Factory| R – 95 min. – $30.99 | August 9th, 2022
Date Published: 08/15/2021 | Author: The Movieman
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Paramount provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post.
The opinions I share are my own.
Note: This review was copied from my Collector’s Edition review with changes in the video and audio.
This also will focus on the 4K disc and not the included Bu-ray disc. The screen caps are from the SF Blu-ray.
THE MOVIE — 3¼/5 |
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Plot Synopsis: Its name: Event Horizon. The high-tech, pioneering research spacecraft mysteriously vanished without a trace on its maiden voyage seven years ago. But a weak, persistent signal from the long-missing craft prompts a rescue team, headed by the intrepid Captain Miller (LAURENCE FISHBURNE), to wing its way through the galaxy on a bold rescue mission. Accompanying Miller is his elite crew — Medical Technician Peters (KATHLEEN QUINLAN), Communications and Executive Officer Lt. Stark (JOELY RICHARDSON), Rescue Technician Cooper (RICHARD T. JONES), Chief Engineer Ensign Justin (JACK NOSEWORTHY), Medical Doctor D.J. (JASON ISAACS) and Pilot Smith (SEAN PERTWEE) — and the lost ship’s designer, Dr. Weir (SAM NEILL). What they uncover is unimaginable interstellar horror.
Quick Hit Review: Event Horizon is a movie I’ve watched a few times over the years, pretty much every time there’s been a new home video release. In some respects, it’s an interesting concept not entirely executed all that well by director Paul W.S. Anderson and, at least in terms of set design, outside of the core, has designs seen numerous times in other, better made, sci-fi horror films (Alien for one). However, one has to appreciate some of the model designs so on that level, I give Anderson and crew praise. The CGI though does look terribly dated but forgivable. There are some silly moments, or at least characters making dumb decisions like one character following what surely she knew were a hallucination at this point in the film, only to take a plunge down an obvious hole; was almost cartoonish and actually made me shake my head and chuckle. I suppose one could chalk it up to hysteria and clearly not thinking straight, but the way it played out just didn’t work.
That being said, I still found this somewhat entertaining thanks to a respectable ensemble cast led way by bad ass Laurence Fishburne two years before he would really breakout with The Matrix, along with Sam Neill who plays devious rather nicely, and a set of a nice supporting cast that includes Kathleen Quinlan (Apollo 13), Richard T. Jones (Kiss the Girls), Sean Pertwee (TV’s Gotham) and Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter franchise). Event Horizon was directed by Paul W.S. Anderson who took on this project following the success of Mortal Kombat, turning down the opportunity to helm X-Men, mainly because he wanted to direct R-rated material. Probably not the wisest decision, but admittedly somewhere in here probably was a solid sci-fi horror flick and sadly a 2+ hour director’s cut has been lost to the annals of time, the footage unpreserved and long gone. |
SPECIAL FEATURES – 4½/5 |
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This release comes housed in a Steelbook case which has a clear slip cover as well as a J-card with the info on the back. Audio Commentary by Director Paul W.S. Anderson and Producer Jeremy Bolt. This is an older track but still worth a listen as the pair discuss the project and breaks down certain scenes. The Making of Event Horizon (1:43:00) is a feature-length 5-part documentary from 2006 chronicling nearly every aspect of the production and includes archive interviews with members of the cast and crew plus behind-the-scenes footage. The Point of No Return: The Filming of Event Horizon (8:12) is some behind-the-scenes footage with commentary by Anderson. Secrets (2:49) is a set of three deleted/extended scenes with optional commentary with Anderson. The Unseen Event Horizon (2:57/3:52) is a storyboard of an un-filmed rescue scene and some conceptual art. Last up is the Theatrical Trailer (2:29) and Video Trailer (1:48). |
VIDEO – 4¾/5 |
| Event Horizon was released by Shout Factory only a year ago with a new 4K transfer (downscaled to 1080p on Blu-ray) and I would think this is the same transfer now in full 2160p. As the SF Blu-ray was already good looking, I thought this one looked excellent in its own right. Detail of course was sharp and very well defined throughout and colors nicely balanced with black levels appearing dark without being crushed, still being able to discern any objects or people in the frame. |
AUDIO – 4½/5 |
| The movie has been given a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track that, to my ears, isn’t terribly different from Shout’s DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Still, this is a lively lossless track showcasing the many horrors that abound the Event Horizon with plenty of blood-curdling screams along with some depth including ambient noises that permeate the halls of the ship. Meanwhile, dialogue comes across with good clarity and there were no signs of pops or hisses. |
OVERALL – 3½/5 |
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Event Horizon is a movie I’ve seen a few times and my ratings ranged from 3.25-3.75 with this go-around on the lower end. There is some entertainment value but the film doesn’t exactly reach its full potential and can only wonder what that lost Director’s Cut included. |
Check out some more 1080p screen caps by going to page 2. Please note, these do contain spoilers.