Retro Film Review: The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)

9 months ago (Edited)

(source: tmdb.org)

In 2000, David Twohy experienced a level of success with Pitch Black, his science fiction horror film that drew comparisons to Ridley Scott’s Alien and propelled Vin Diesel into the spotlight as a charismatic action star. This success led to a sequel focusing on Diesel’s character. Directed by Twohy in 2004, the sequel, titled The Chronicles of Riddick, picks up five years after the events of Pitch Black.

Riddick (played by Vin Diesel), a fugitive with a dark past, is pursued by bounty hunters until he reunites with his old acquaintance Imam (played by Keith David). The narrative unfolds on Imam’s home planet, Helion Prime, under threat from the Necromongers, a militant and powerful religious sect that enforces conversion under destruction. Riddick must confront not only the Necromongers and their leader Lord Marshall (played by Colm Feore) but also the mystery of his own background.

The Chronicles of Riddick can be cited as an argument for all those claiming that substantial budgets contribute to the decline in quality of Hollywood productions. Unlike its predecessor, this sequel aimed for a market-friendly PG-13 rating, sacrificing the raw authenticity of Pitch Black. Filled with extravagant action sequences typical of summer blockbusters in the genre, the film often prioritizes visual effects over substance. The script, akin to many similar films, receives minimal attention. The only exception can be found portrayal of the Necromongers and their leader, which resemble futuristic interpretation of George W. Bush during the invasion of Iraq, in producers’ apparent attempt to pander to rising anti-American sentiments in global markets at the time of production.

Needless to say, all this commercial calculation didn’t exactly pay off at the box office. There are few entertaining moments in the film and Nicholas Chinlund is very effective in the role of a bounty hunter. But most other actors, Diesel included, are wasted in tragically underwritten and stereotypical roles. One example is Kyra, character that appeared first as Jack in Pitch Black, which serves no other purpose as being some sort of fan service for admirers of first film. That intention is compromised with original actress Rhianna Griffith being replaced by Alexa Davalos.The primary flaw lies in the convoluted and overly ambitious plot. Twohy apparently mistook the larger budget of this film for the opportunity to replace simplicity of Pitch Black with the epic scope worthy of Star Wars saga. As a result, there are many scenes and subplots that don’t make much of a sense and the plot of The Chronicles of Riddick could be properly understood only after watching DVD extras. Failure to tell a coherent story branded The Chronicles of Riddick as unsuccessful. Twohy apparently learned from his mistake and in 2013 directed Riddick, a slightly less ambitious but more effective sequel.

RATING: 3/10 (+)

(Note: Original version of the review is available here.)