Paramount

Event Horizon, the new sci-fi/horror film from director Paul Anderson (Mortal Kombat), might best be described as The Shining meets Star Trek. The story, which takes place 50 years into the future, concerns the Event Horizon, an experimental spacecraft which vanished seven years earlier on its maiden voyage. A rescue team, led by Captain Miller (Laurence Fishburne) and including the Event Horizon's creator Dr. Weir (Sam Neill), is sent to investigate when the ship reappears mysteriously. They soon discover the horrible truth about what happened to the ship's crew as they begin to have horrible visions, which later become horrible realities.

The film has an intriguing look to it. The cathedral-like title vessel looks like nothing ever seen in films before, and it works to heighten the sense of dread. The performances are good and the FX gory, adding more to the dreary atmosphere. My only complaint concerns the ending, which seems rushed after the elaborate setup. Despite that, Event Horizon is the best sci-fi/horror combo since Alien. The film's unique blend of terror combines the fear of isolation in space with supenatural haunting-type shocks to achieve a very disturbing and effective film.

A-