2000, 1 hr 48 min., Rated R for sci-fi violence and gore, and for language. Dir: David N. Twohy. Cast: Vin Diesel (Riddick), Radha Mitchell (Fry) and a bunch of others you have never heard of before.

David N. Twohy's previous directorial effort include The Arrival with Charlie Sheen in 1996, producer of Terminal Velocity starring Sheen and writer of such masterpieces as G.I. Jane, Waterworld, Warlock and Critters 2: The Main Course.

Despite this pedigree, Pitch Black is a rollicking and jumpingly good time had by all, and despite the cookie-cutter characters and situations, the direction and writing is better than you think. It's visually impressive for one thing, and I especially liked how Riddick (Diesel) could see in the dark (it also helped the character's look that he got to wear "cool"-ifying dark sunglasses for most of the picture).

Pitch Black is a kaleidoscope of color, from the orange and blue sunlight to the extremely bright planet surface as the survivors of the crash adjust with us to the new planet, and the creepy darkness where our heroes are pursued by an unseen aggressor.

Halfway through the film is when everything goes dark in the film, as lights are constantly flickering and threatening to go out. Which meant that for an entire hour my mind replayed the scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark where Karen Allen cries "Indy, the light's going out," amid the snakes in the desert tomb.

Vin Diesel (Saving Private Ryan) is a Barry White-voiced, buff actor with an onscreen presence in Pitch Black that is pure entertaining badass. He may not be the most attractive man (according to my friend Sydney) but his confidence and persona makes up for that.

You've most likely never heard the name Radha Mitchell, but you may need to remember her in the future. I liked her a lot as Fry, the captain of the mission who tries to keep the masses in line. Don't think of her, however, as a strong-willed Ripley from Alien who can battle ten-foot monsters. But she is a capable leader, just more grounded.

I think Pitch Black is a good sci-fi horror film. I say "think" because for more than a few parts I was shrinking in my seat with my eyes closed, almost hiding behind Syd and coming as close to the fetal position as one can in a theater. I hate to be scared. No, I mean, I really, really, despise being scared. There's no adrenaline rush, I'm just terrified of fear. Is there a phobia for that?

Yet I can still say that Pitch Black is a worthwhile movie to watch. Why? Because I'm sure most of you can take horror better than I, which isn't much at all. I think it started as a kid, watching Night of the Living Dead with a bunch of other kids at a pool party and vomiting in front of everyone. I always want to be in control of a situation, and with horror I have none. Strangely enough, the same effect is had by television sitcoms where the characters are making fools of themselves. I can't watch such stupidity and believe that people would do such things.

Wow, am I off the subject or what? To sum up, I'm a wus who's too big to curl up in a theater seat, Vin Diesel is a manly man, and Pitch Black is an above-average movie.