WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? One of the coolest genre flicks since The Matrix.

THE CAST

VIN DIESEL: Pitch Black's main attraction and one helluva fine actor. Most recently seen -- or heard -- voicing the title character of The Iron Giant, Vin also had a small role in Saving Private Ryan and starred in Strays, an independent film which he directed.

COLE HAUSER: 24-year-old actor who has had small roles in twelve films, including School Ties, Dazed and Confused, and Good Will Hunting.

RADHA MITCHELL: Little-known Australian actress from independent films like High Art, Love and Other Catastrophes and Cleopatra's Second Husband.

CLAUDIA BLACK: Best known as Aeryn Sun from the SciFi Channel series Farscape, Claudia has also made guest appearances on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys as Cassandra.

THE CREW

DAVID TWOHY: Director of the underrated The Arrival, Twohy only seems to get better and better. Pre-Arrival writing credits include The Fugitive, Waterworld, and G.I. Jane.

JIM AND KEN WHEAT: They wrote Ewoks: The Battle for Endor, but don't hold it against them. Jim's other genre credits include The Fly II (co-written with Green Mile's Frank Darabont) and Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master. Yes, this is the man who gave us the fire-pissing dog! Bow down in humble worship.

OTHER

Pitch Black is an Intrepid Pictures production distributed by USA Films, and produced by Ted Field and Scott Kroopf.

THE PREMISE: Survivors of a space crash find themselves on a planet with three suns. Luck being as it is, they happen to arrive on the day of a total eclipse, which prompts the release of deadly creatures that thrive in total darkness.

GOSSIP and USELESS FACTS:

• This movie kicked ass. Read the review from issue six.

LINKS
Official Site