Event Horizon
| release date | August 15 1997 |
| studio | Paramount Pictures |
| director | Paul W.S. Anderson |
| writer | Philip Eisner |
| starring | Sam Neill, Laurence Fishburne |
| rating | R |
| tagline | Infinite Space - Infinite Terror |
| site | uip.com/event2 |
| trailer 1 | Trailer #1 |
13 Comments
I have a handful of friends who refuse to watch horror movies because they think they’re all pure cheese. Event Horizon is definitely gives their argument some backbone. Here is one of the most acclaimed and said to be the scariest movies among horror fans, but when I watched it all I could do is chuckle. Event Horizon is cheese horror, and here is why:
- The casting is horrible. The characters are not only all clichés, but they’re clichés who can’t act. They say some of the stupidest lines in the history of cinema–like, “Look, a corpse-sickle!”–and then act as if they’ve said the most intelligent thing ever. It’s ridicules.
- The entire movie is filled with melodramatic scenes. Something bad will happen, then it’s accompanied by a laughing man imitating Dr. Evil–and everyone still takes him seriously. One of the absolute cheesiest lines is, “Once you’re evil, you don’t need eyes . . .” as Dr. Evil-wannabe cackles in his chair. Sorry, I didn’t know I was watching a comedy.
- There is no atmosphere, tension, suspense, or terror. The movie jumps strait from the opening to the scenes that are supposed to be scary, but never gives you any suspense or atmosphere. The ship is so abstract it looks like one of those play places at McDonalds or something, not a bearer of doom that the movie expects you to think of it as.
- Why does EVERY sci-fi movie have to rip-off Medline L’Engle’s book A Wrinkle In Time, then think it’s the first movie to come up with the idea? I could list at least 10 movies that have done that, and this makes number 11. Great, we get it: if you fold space you can go from one place to the other faster. We get it already. Think of something new, please. We understood it in the 60′s, we understand it now. What I don’t understand is why EVERY sci-fi movie can’t think of something even slightly new instead of using the same old tired cliché and acting as if it’s the first time we ever heard it.
- There were at least 5 wake-up-and-it’s-just-a-dream sequences in this movie, and every time they just get cheesier and cheesier.
I’m not even sure there is more for me to complain about because all that is fresh in my mind is how cheesy Event Horizon was. I cannot remember a single minute of the runtime that I actually found something serious or scary. Sure, I can understand why some people would find this movie scary, because as Stephen King proved hundreds of times, cheese scares people. But for someone like me who is spoiled by truly good sci-fi/horror movies, like Alien, I simply can’t take this seriously. The premise is great, but that’s all I can give it. I think this movie proves that everything Paul W.S. Anderson turns to cheese. If he directed it, even if it’s somehow acclaimed, don’t believe it.
Not to many good science fiction space thrillers being made these days, this is one of the few good ones, very mysterious, very suspensful and unpredictable, kept me interested from beginning to the end, recommended for at least 1 watch!
Not to many good science fiction space thrillers being made these days, this is one of the few good ones, very mysterious, very suspensful and unpredictable, kept me interested from beginning to the end, recommended for at least 1 watch!
Pretty terrible movie in my honest opinion. The casting is fairly mediocre, and the lines and dialogue are terrible. Are we supposed to believe these guys are military? They act like a bunch of teenagers in a dorm. immersion broken from the get-go.
As for the movie itself;
I can honestly say I was not scared or even worried at any time during the movie. It fails to create any sense of atmosphere. It has a few jump out / shock scenes, the fall-back of the bad writer, but no real fear.
Honestly, I would give this one a skip unless you see it in a bargain bin.
God I love this movie!
Although I saw this film when it first arrived in theaters, well before I was at the age to start seeking out vintage horror, this was, and in my opinion, still is, one of the most effective and unnerving horror films I have ever seen.
While the story may at first seem like basic sci-fi salvage, it escalates after the first hour into a psychological struggle for survival against a truly unseen and implacable entity that proceeds to force visions of the casts worst fears deep into their psyche’s, often driving them to their death or worse.
I’m not sure if it’s the reverse claustrophobia of being millions of miles from anyone who can help you, the great performances of Fishburne, Neill, and Jason Isaacs, or the erratic gore-flashes that pop up from time to time, but Event Horizon gets way under your skin and then burrows around inside your body for a couple days after watching.
Perfect for any fan of extreme sci-fi, or anyone looking for a great modern horror film, Event Horizon has a great cast, original and well executed story, and overall great production. Look into it if you ever get the chance.
great movie…ignore jacques he’s an idiot.
event horizon! i’ve seen this a couple of times and it still dosent get old. i have the VHS copy of it and must say its one of the best sci-fi/horror flicks from the 90′s. good cast, good gore, and great story! They should’ve skipped on making the terrible doom movie and just renamed this one as DOOM. Because it follows the game better than the actual doom movie did.
overall amazing movie!!!
don’t listen David Harley because it surely seems he dosn’t get the point of this movie. Of course it not suppose to be oringal, it’s like what doomsday was, it’s a movie that’s suppose to entertain, and scare, and it surly does scare. Sam Neil is fuckin nuts in this movie, the gore is awesome, and this derserves the cult following it’s been gettin I loved it back then I love it now.
don’t listen David Harley because it surely seems he dosn’t get the point of this movie. Of course it not suppose to be oringal, it’s like what doomsday was, it’s a movie that’s suppose to entertain, and scare, and it surly does scare. Sam Neil is fuckin nuts in this movie, the gore is awesome, and this derserves the cult following it’s been gettin I loved it back then I love it now.
Event Horizon is a cool movie. It looks and sounds like a cult classic, but doesn’t really do anything new. Even so, it is worth a watch, if only for the cool plot (if you liked Dead Space, you might also like this).
A really fun time. Solidly entertaining, great visuals, well paced – just an all around hoot.
I have not seen this movie in a long time but it had a really good cast and the concept was great I will probably watch it again it’s a really good movie if you are into sci-fi you can say its probably the worst journey you can take
Very easy and quick review for me. . .Great movie, perfect mix between sci-fi and horror, one of my favorite movies, and has been for some time now. . .high recommendations.
Pretty tense, and some of those hell scenes really creeped me out. Plus, i really like the sci-fi spaceship horror kind of feel to it sort of like Alien.
next to the exorcist this is the scariest movie i have ever seen ….fucking awsome!
Pretty good flick, nothing special, kinda reminds me of Ghost Ship but in space/
This movie has to go down as one of my most favorite horror movies of all time and i rememeber when i saw it i was scared as hell by the whole eye part of the movie still get a little freaked by it lol.
I will agree that there is some cheesy melodrama in this movie, but you do have to admit, their are some pretty creepy parts, aside ffrom the fact that instead of a house (amityvill) or a hotel (the shining) its a spaceship with a little originality. Some parts were definately scary, including the imagery, this movie could have been one one of the best, but it didnt work that way. Still a good horror movie worth renting
Pretty good horror/science fiction movie for back in the day. It does have some very creepy parts which made it really good but it went on a little too long. All in all pretty good.
This was directed by Paul W S Anderson? Whaaaaaaaa? Well, apparently he had a shining moment in his career.
Even Horizon isn’t likely to blow anyone away but it’s a cool, sadistic, cthulu-esque movie… in space! Which, I’ll be honest, is part of what makes it unique.
A few little creepy moments, some great gore and Sam Neil’s awesome performance make this movie what could’ve otherwise been an incredibly mediocre film.
Jurassic Park has never been the same.
Sam Neil delivers in Event Horizon, the 90′s sci-fi/horror gem about a spacecraft capable of bending the laws of relativity and traveling faster than the speed of light by bending the space time continuum itself.
I appreciate the premise of the ship tearing a hole in the universe and crossing into Hell, bringing back with it an evil that consumes the crew sent to rescue the original voyagers of the Event Horizon.
The atmosphere is creepy, the gore is on par and the plot is sufficient to hold interest. EH is an all around great sci-fi/horror and I really can’t see how any genre fan could not enjoy it.
Recommendations all around
This movie is amazingly terrible. Anybody that likes this movie — FUCK YOU! Also, it’s amazing that there is thunder and lightning inside of a spaceship in space. I don’t know what I find more surprising: 1. That so many people think this trash is good. 2. That I hated this movie so much. 3. That I’m actually surprised that I hated this movie so much being that it was directed by one of the worst directors of all time (Paul WS Anderson). Either way this movie sucked it so hard.
Essentially a haunted house in space flick. There’s some truely disturbing visuals, fx & sound design on display here and a really great cast too. Easily Anderson’s best film.
An overlooked sci-fi thriller with top notch actors and great intense scenes. I remember renting this when it first came out on tape and didn’t expect much, but was very surprised by the time the credits rolled.
One of the top five scifi horror films ever made.
PS Grime if you happen to read this I would love a chance to meet you man to man because I have a few things I would like to get off of my chest that I would want to tell you in person.
Great horror movie. Just like vorhees said, ignore that frech retard cause hes a moron. I don’t remember a line in the movie where sam neil’s character said “Once your evil you don’t need eyes. Im pretty sure he says “Where we are going you wont need eyes” Big difference there. Anyways if you like space sci fi give it a view.
I have never understood people who provide there opinion of a movie in such a way that they forget it is there view of the film and not fact. Or why do they feel a need to insult people who actually liked the said film.
Great story, great action, awesome scares, tons of gore, and a lot of dark comedy. The end took a weird turn from the rest of the movie but it doesn’t ruin it.
People just think that the film’s about a ship that can travel faster than the speed of light, they obviously couldn’t understand the story (retards)& that’s why they don’t like the film because it’s too complicated for them to realize what’s even going on. The film’s awesome, the cast’s awesome, what more do you want. For the non liker’s of this film fuck off back to the “Twilight Saga” faggots.
Ver solid sci-fi horror. I remember I was genuinely scared a few times in this movie which is something that really happens so kudos for that.
I’d say it belongs in any horror fanatics collection
One of my all time top 5 favorite sci-fi/horror movies ever! I don’t know what it is about this movie, but it royally creeped me out. I love it.
it scared the shit out of me-for people bashing paul anderson this has amazing direction shots, fantastic and that atmosphere man,i couldn’t sleep later on! i watched it again in glorious blu ray and it is even more terrifying! top sci-fi horror for me!
Awesome. In my top twenty horror movies of all time. Scary.
One of the best scifi/horrors out there.
always liked the idea of this movie, but it’s just not executed very well. thought the whole movie was boring and predictable.
Extremely underrated sci-fi horror that burrows under your skin and stays there for days. The concept alone is terrifying, add to that the solid execution and you have one hell of a disturbing,scary film. The “found footage” scene is one of my favorite horror movie moments of all time.
An amazing supernatural sci-fi horror, should be on everyone’s must see list!
What Prettyscary said.
AWESOME! TOTALLY freaky as hell! The use of imagery in this film is spine-tingling, I love it! Good acting, impressive special effects, one hell of a ride!
I know some of you will hate me for this, but it’s a little too demonic for my tastes. Aside from that, epic movie.
a bigger shock than i thought it would be,very entertainig and scary some moments were very frightening and a great ending
Pretty good movie.