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Event Horizon

  • 1997
  • R
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
206K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,088
390
Event Horizon (1997)
Home Video Trailer from Paramount Home Entertainment
Play trailer0:31
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Psychological HorrorSpace Sci-FiSupernatural HorrorHorrorSci-FiThriller

A rescue crew is tasked with investigating the mysterious reappearance of a spaceship that had been lost for seven years.A rescue crew is tasked with investigating the mysterious reappearance of a spaceship that had been lost for seven years.A rescue crew is tasked with investigating the mysterious reappearance of a spaceship that had been lost for seven years.

  • Director
    • Paul W.S. Anderson
  • Writer
    • Philip Eisner
  • Stars
    • Laurence Fishburne
    • Sam Neill
    • Kathleen Quinlan
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    206K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,088
    390
    • Director
      • Paul W.S. Anderson
    • Writer
      • Philip Eisner
    • Stars
      • Laurence Fishburne
      • Sam Neill
      • Kathleen Quinlan
    • 1.1KUser reviews
    • 160Critic reviews
    • 35Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Videos2

    Event Horizon
    Trailer 0:31
    Event Horizon
    Event Horizon
    Clip 1:14
    Event Horizon
    Event Horizon
    Clip 1:14
    Event Horizon

    Photos525

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    + 519
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    Top cast16

    Edit
    Laurence Fishburne
    Laurence Fishburne
    • Miller
    Sam Neill
    Sam Neill
    • Weir
    Kathleen Quinlan
    Kathleen Quinlan
    • Peters
    Joely Richardson
    Joely Richardson
    • Starck
    Richard T. Jones
    Richard T. Jones
    • Cooper
    Jack Noseworthy
    Jack Noseworthy
    • Justin
    Jason Isaacs
    Jason Isaacs
    • D.J.
    Sean Pertwee
    Sean Pertwee
    • Smith
    Peter Marinker
    Peter Marinker
    • Kilpack
    Holley Chant
    Holley Chant
    • Claire
    Barclay Wright
    • Denny
    Noah Huntley
    Noah Huntley
    • Burning Man
    Robert Jezek
    • Rescue Technician
    Emily Booth
    Emily Booth
    • Girl on Monitor
    • (uncredited)
    Bharat Nalluri
    Bharat Nalluri
    • Event Horizon Crew Member
    • (uncredited)
    Gary Sinyor
    Gary Sinyor
    • Event Horizon Crew Member
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Paul W.S. Anderson
    • Writer
      • Philip Eisner
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1.1K

    6.6206.2K
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    Featured reviews

    8Aaron1375

    I would love to see the director/s cut of this.

    Ah test audiences, if not for you, we would of had a way more disturbing and horrific movie. They pick random people, probably a broad variety, but bland as all get out to help the studio execs gut a director's vision. Probably not even horror fans. What we get is good, but the potential is there for it to be way more disturbing, a horror film that is totally fabricated, but still resonates. Though, this one is good as I so enjoy the supernatural and then to combine it with science fiction...awesome!

    The story, a ship, 'Event Horizon' has disappeared and seven years later as reappeared. A crew is set with the task of going to this vessel and discovering if there is anyone left alive and to salvage the ship if possible. On board this crew, a Dr. Weir, who is the man who invented the special engine used to propel the ship forward. Of course, it does this by opening a black hole and we will learn over time that where it leads, no man should go. As they explore the ship, stranger and stranger things keep happening and hampering any chance of the rescue team making it out alive!

    I thought all the actors and actresses did good. I knew Sam Neil would be good and so is Lawrence Fishborne. The.visuals are really good too and the film has a very good atmosphere essentially being a spaceship that is haunted. I just think it would have been better with more extended peeks into hell, because who wasn't curious to see what the makers of the film came up with? Unfortunately, they got a squeamish test audience who thought it was too much and us horror fans are left to wonder. Of course, my biggest question is how the heck did a copy of the film with the extra scenes end up in a Transylvania salt mine?

    So, I liked this film as I have been trying to watch all the supernatural horror in space I can. Got The Dark Side of the Moon too. Wanted Nightflyers, but that is not even on DVD. The only other one I can think of is Lifeforce which does have some cool visuals, but mainly takes place on earth. This one is probably the best of the ones I know, but could have been even better had they left the deleted scenes in.
    7gavin6942

    Not Your Typical Space Horror Movie

    A doctor who designed the ship and a crew of rescuers are sent to pick up the crew from the space vessel Event Horizon, off the orbit of Neptune. What the rescuers don't know, however, is that the ship is powered by a black hole and is capable of opening portals to other planets or maybe even dimensions. What might have come through?

    It seems appropriate I chose to watch this after "Snow White", the OTHER 1997 Sam Neill horror film (but he's more like the Neill from "In the Mouth of Madness" here than the Neill from "Snow White"). Never a bad time to catch two connected movies back to back.

    I can't help but compare this film to other Paul Anderson films such as "Resident Evil" or "Mortal Kombat". There is a distinct look he is good at with technology and particularly the costumes. While I doubt Anderson designed the costumes, you get a sense he likes characters with jumpsuits. If I had to guess who directed this film without knowing, Anderson would be my first guess based on his scenery alone.

    Paul Anderson also loves the techno-industrial music in his films (Orbital, The Prodigy, KMFDM) -- he's like a more lighthearted David Fincher in this way. I grew up on industrial music, so this really works for me. But also, I see metal or more specifically industrial crucial to good horror -- to really make the point, see Charlie Clouser's contributions to "Saw II". The whole violence and alienation vibe that is given off by industrial is very appropriate to horror.

    The film in general is very likable. Sam Neill is an amazing actor, Laurence Fishbourne (after being Cowboy Curtis but before being Morpheus) is wonderful. And there's a sense of gore that is more hinted at than shown (most of the gore scenes are very quick, leaving an impression on your mind for you to create your own imagery). Many horror space movies are just really stupid (do I need to mention "Leprechaun in Space"?) or follow the same paths, but this one really stands out as unique. It needed both the horror and space aspects to work.

    I could compare this to "Doom" (the game or the movie) with the portal to Hell in space... but I won't. Or how about comparing it to "Solaris" (George Clooney's only bad film) with the images of dead friends coming back to life? This is vastly superior, by far. Really, I can't stress enough how awful "Solaris" is.

    The inclusion of the tesseract is really great. I don't think they used the word "tesseract", but they used the idea. I grew up with "A Wrinkle in Time" and another book about tesseracts (or, more precisely, wormholes since "tesseract" just illustrates extra dimensions and not so much how to travel through them) and this always gets me pumped. If such things are really possible, the future will be awesome.

    Well, anyway, if you're looking for a horror film that's unlike all others you've seen -- but good -- this is a wise choice. Sam Neill cannot steer you wrong, and the elements needed for a good movie are in place here. It's not like the "Citizen Kane" of horror, but maybe the "Jurassic Park" of horror. Check it out.
    7Agent10

    A good mix of horror and sci-fi

    This film was a lot better than what most people gave it credit for. The cinematography was excellent, and the lighting gave the film a very eerie feel to it. Certainly better than the average sci-fi film. Not only did the film mix two mediums almost perfectly (sci-fi and horror), it completed the union almost flawlessly. Not a perfect movie, but then again, Sam Neill was amazing in this film. Virtually all of the technical aspects in the film were top-notch. While it didn't advance the film industry overall, it did make an impact in the sci-fi genre.
    Chrysanthepop

    Hell's Horizon

    'Event Horizon' is very much an atmospheric sci-fi horror. It does not rely on gore (although there is enough of that) but rather it is the creepy atmosphere that engages the viewer. Andersen successfully creates a tense, depressing, and claustrophobic atmosphere. The suspense and pace are well maintained. It pays tribute to several movies of the same genre (like 'The Shining', 'Aliens' etc). Character development is slightly weak but the actors do a good job and the viewer cares for them. Sam Neill, Laurence Fishburne, Kathleen Quinlan, Joely Richardson, Richard Jones and Jason Isaacs do a fine job with what they're given. The sets look very unwelcoming and creepy. The special effects and sound effects are good. The cinematography is superb. The plot is a little complex and difficult to follow in the beginning leaving the viewer wondering with what exactly is going on but this becomes easier with repeated viewings. In my view, 'Event Horizon' is an underrated film and perhaps did not get enough recognition because it did not have any stars or enough 'monsters' and 'blood' or perhaps the subject was a little too complex for some to grasp.
    8conatyjt

    Criminally Underrated

    This movie doesn't get nearly enough credit. If not for the studio trying to water this movie down, we might be talking about it with the likes of Hellraiser and Alien.

    I first saw this in the theater in 97 and it has only gotten better with time. Great sci-fi movie with traditional horror elements. The thunderstorms and fog add to the ambience.

    Sam Neil and Laurence Fishburne give fantastic performances that are not reflected in the box office earnings.

    I wish we could see the original version that had test audiences fainting but apparently the film has been destroyed due to improper storage.

    Highly recommend.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Paul W.S. Anderson's initial cut of the film ran 130 minutes, and was so violent that both test audiences and the studio baulked at the finished product. Paramount ordered him to cut the film by 30 minutes and tone down some of the violence. Anderson has said he didn't have enough time for a proper re-edit, and believes he cut out 10 minutes too much. Although it was announced in 2012 that producer Lloyd Levin had found a VHS tape that might contain a full version of the film, Anderson revealed in 2017 that neither he nor Levin had seen it yet, as they have both been too busy to be in the same country with a VHS player. Although he believes that the condition of the copy will be too poor to use, Anderson has stated that he is still excited to see what's on it.
    • Goofs
      (at around 53 mins) When Justin is ejected into outer space, his veins immediately start to burst and bleed heavily. This isn't very likely to happen in the short time that he is exposed to the vacuum of space. Parts of the body will probably start to bulge due to the lack of atmospheric pressure, and there will probably be some subcutaneous bleeding from ruptured blood vessels, but the human skin is thought to be resilient enough to stay intact. Also, the blood that leaves his body remains liquid; in reality, it would boil and evaporate instantly due to the lack of pressure. Not everything about the scene is unrealistic: the fact that he remained conscious is probably correct (most adults would remain conscious for 10-20 seconds), as well as the fact that he does not freeze (although deep space is extremely cold, the lack of gas molecules makes it difficult for body heat to leave the body).
    • Quotes

      D.J.: I wasn't going to tell you this. I've been listening to the distress signal, and I, um, think I made a mistake in the translation.

      [Plays the distress signal]

      Miller: Go on.

      D.J.: I thought it said "liberate me" - "save me." But it's not "me." It's "liberate tutemet" - "save yourself." And it gets worse.

      [Plays the distress signal again]

      D.J.: There - I think that says "ex inferis." "Save yourself... from Hell." Look, if what Doctor Weir tells us is true, this ship has been beyond the boundaries of our universe, of known scientific reality. Who knows where it's been, what it's seen... or what it's brought back with it?

      Miller: From Hell? You don't believe in that kind of stuff, do you?

      D.J.: Whoever sent that message, he sure believed in Hell.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits are sucked into a black hole. The screen viewpoint pans upward, above, and over the regular Paramount mountain before the opening credits, which usually remains stationary and then fades out.
    • Alternate versions
      Two versions were produced, the theatrical release and a "rough cut." Runtimes were, respectively, "1h 36m (96 min)" and "2h 10m (130 min) (rough cut)".
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: G.I. Jane/Event Horizon/Cop Land/Pooh's Grand Adventure (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      Funky Shit
      (main theme)

      Written by Liam Howlett, Adam Horovitz (as Adam Horowitz), Adam Yauch, Mike D (as Michael Diamond), and Jimmy Smith (as James Smith)

      Performed by The Prodigy

      Excerpts from "Root Down" by Beastie Boys

      Sample from "2-3 Break" by The B-Boys

      Sample from "Theme from 'S.W.A.T.'" by Barry De Vorzon (as Barry Devorzan)

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    FAQ23

    • How long is Event Horizon?Powered by Alexa
    • What is Event Horizon about?
    • Is there or will there be a director's cut of the movie?
    • Could anyone really survive an airlock ejection in outer space?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 15, 1997 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • La nave del terror
    • Filming locations
      • Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK(Studio, interiors: engine room)
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Golar Productions
      • Impact Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $60,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $26,673,242
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $9,511,915
      • Aug 17, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $26,677,289
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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