Double Feature Friday:
PITCH BLACK and DEEP BLUE SEA
Now Streaming on Netflix
5/5 Stars and 4/5 Stars
The popularity of horror movies has been at high tide lately, as it usually is during times of war and economic strife. As such there are myriad horror films to choose from in the streaming market, broken down into almost as many genres. But it’s all too rare to find one that truly defies expectation. Here I present two.
WARNING: Pitch Black and Deep Blue Sea are best watched with no foreknowledge of events therein. If a friend has told you about some cool left turns the films take, you have already seen behind the curtain and lost the magic. You can respect them, but you probably won’t enjoy them nearly as much. I would recommend watching them without reading another word.
You see, both films follow the golden rule of horror: anyone can die at any moment. In Deep Blue Sea, the deaths are sudden and unexpected; they jump right out at you. The creatures are ridiculous and over-the-top. The movie is just plain fun, and is probably the missing link between giant animal movies of the 70s and modern SyFy originals like MegaShark. The creatures in Pitch Black are interesting and original, and there are some very cool, iconic visuals on display here. However, the movie would still be a fair target for the jab of “just another Aliens knockoff” if not for the enduring coolness of Riddick, a supporting character so badass, he inspired a sequel, a prequel, and two video games.
So put these on in the dark with a friend, and remember what it was like to watch horror films as a kid, before the familiar tropes and plot devices took out all the shock factor. Go be surprised. And have fun.
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