Pitch Black – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Pitch Black

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2000

42%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Vin Diesel's breakout as a night-vision convict fighting alien monsters in the dark—gory, tense, and surprisingly smart for a B-movie.

7/10

58%

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Pitch Black

movie

R, 2000

42%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Vin Diesel's breakout as a night-vision convict fighting alien monsters in the dark—gory, tense, and surprisingly smart for a B-movie.

58%

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7/10

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Screenwise Verdict

Pitch Black is a smart, nasty little sci-fi horror film that punches above its weight. The premise is genuinely clever, Riddick is a memorable anti-hero, and the tension is real. It's also violent, gory, and scary as hell.

For parents: this is not Star Wars. It's R-rated horror with people getting eaten in the dark. If your 17-year-old wants to watch it, fine—it's actually a decent film with some brain behind the blood. But younger teens? Hard pass, even if they swear they can handle it.

The 2000 effects haven't aged gracefully, and some sequences drag, but the core concept and Riddick's character work still hold up. It's cult classic material for a reason. Just make sure your kid is actually old enough for the gore.

Age Fit

This is strictly for older teens (17+) and adults who can handle R-rated horror violence. The sci-fi premise might attract younger viewers, but the graphic content and sustained terror make it inappropriate for anyone under high school age.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Dark survival horror with morally ambiguous characters. The protagonist is a convicted murderer with night-vision eyes who starts as a threat and becomes reluctant hero. Themes center on survival at any cost, with characters making brutal choices. Limited cooperation until crisis forces it. Tone is grim, cynical, and violent throughout.

Imaginative

Genuinely creative sci-fi premise: a planet with three suns that experiences total darkness once every 22 years, releasing subterranean photophobic predators. The bioluminescent creatures and Riddick's surgically-modified eyes are memorable visual concepts. World-building is sparse but effective. Invites thinking about adaptation, alien ecosystems, and survival strategy.

Safe

Intense horror violence throughout: creatures rip people apart (mostly off-screen but with clear implications), blood and gore present, jump scares, sustained terror sequences in darkness. Characters die suddenly and brutally. Common Sense Media rates it 17+. The R-rating territory violence and disturbing imagery make this completely inappropriate for younger viewers.

Enriching

Raises interesting ethical questions about redemption, self-sacrifice, and who deserves to survive. Riddick's character arc from pure self-interest to protecting others has weight. The survival scenario prompts thinking about resource management and group dynamics under pressure. However, the philosophical depth is secondary to genre thrills. Decent character work for a B-movie.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Legitimately creative sci-fi concept with the triple-sun planet and photophobic creatures
Riddick is an iconic anti-hero—morally complex, dangerous, but weirdly compelling
Tense survival horror that earns its scares through atmosphere and darkness rather than cheap tricks
Spawned a cult franchise (Chronicles of Riddick, Riddick) for a reason—the world-building has legs
For older teens interested in sci-fi horror, this is a solid entry point to the genre

⚠

What to Watch For

Graphic violence and gore—people get torn apart by creatures, blood everywhere
Sustained terror sequences in near-total darkness that are genuinely frightening
Riddick is a convicted murderer; the film doesn't sanitize his violence or past
Some dated CGI effects (it's 2000) that might look cheesy to modern eyes
This is firmly 17+ territory—not for younger teens despite the sci-fi appeal

Conversation Starters

"Do you think Riddick was always capable of heroism, or did the situation change him?"
"If you were stranded like that, what would be your survival priority—light sources, weapons, or shelter?"
"The film asks who 'deserves' to survive. How would you make those choices?"
"What makes Riddick different from typical action heroes? Is he actually a good person?"

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