Pandorum refers to the paranoid psychosis that a few people experience after being in hypersleep too long.  PANDORUM begins with a timeline about the world’s population growing and discovering a livable planet in the form of Tanis.  A big ark ship is built called Elysium.   Short into the ship’s flight, Earth is destroyed and the ship’s crew is left with a message that they are what remain of humanity.   Flash forward to a undetermined number of years later.  Bower, part of one of the ship’s flight crews wakes up in his hypersleep chamber.  He has no memory (a side effect of being in hypersleep for long times) and he starts to piece together what is happening aboard the Elysium with the help of Lt. Payton.   The ship’s reactor is failing and that isn’t the only problem waiting Bower.  Alien creatures are using the ship as a hunting ground.  These aliens are faster and stronger than humans.

Alvart directs a moody sci-fi piece.   The lighting helps amps the tension.  The production design is top notch.   PANDORUM is the best cult sci-fi film since PITCH BLACK.   The one actor that stands out is Antje Traue as Nadia.  PANDORUM has cult movie written all over it, but it should have an audience like ALIEN and PITCH BLACK.   See this movie now and see SURROGATES later.

This movie review is (c)9-25-2009 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  All Rights Reserved.  Send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com