Following the impressive Pitch Black (2000) and the awkward The Chronicles of Riddick (2004), the mythology of Vin Diesel's antihero is given a defibrillator through a gnarly, back to basics tough guy movie.
I'll get the obvious out the way - from the trailer, this looks like a copy of Pitch Black, so much so that many people have suggested that it is a 'remake' (did they even watch it??). Though it has a similar feel, in that there are some bloodthirsty aliens and a barren desert setting, that's as far as the similarities get.
While in Pitch Black the film was largely focused on surviving flying shark bats, Riddick focuses on a rival bounty hunter gangs hunting the title character to claim a prize.
Much of it is a character study, the first, intriguing act showing a sole Riddick surviving in a world of horrors, and the second act displaying his skills of intimidation, stealth and combat. In the third act, when the remaining hunters are forced to cooperate with him in order to leave the planet, it starts to feel somewhat disappointing and cliche.
This three part structure makes the overall story feel confused, unsure of its own identity - it is a character piece, an action movie or sci fi horror? The disappointment of the third act however is made up for by the two prior. But what happened to the writing?
This is the main gripe with Riddick, as it is hard to find fault elsewhere - performances are all decent, the overall tension is engaging and the look and feel of the alien world is well done.
But while the trailer suggests survival horror, it is deceptive, as the scenes with the aliens are about as frightening as an episode of Tintin - you never lose the sense that Riddick is in complete control, even when he is saved from a few desperate situations by deus ex machina luck. Riddick himself is the epitome of 'badass', but he is also incredibly blessed with fortune. The ending itself will make you feel like you've only paid for half a movie.
Riddick is a fun and interesting flick with Diesel at his best. Shame about the twists in tone and the awful end.
6.5/10
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