From the mind of writer/director David Twohy comes this sci-fi thriller, which has a dramatic start as a transport ship carrying an assortment of passengers encounters a violent meteor storm.

The ship crash-lands on an eerie, arid, and barren planet, where there are three suns and no nightfall.

With not many survivors, Pilot Fry (Mitchell), along with Lawman Johns (Hauser), leads the others in search of water and evidence of other human existence.

When one of them is killed, they soon discover that they are not alone.

Riddick (Diesel) is another survivour - but a dangerous one for the others to be left with.

A vicious murderer and escaped convict, they keep him chained up - but quickly realise they will need his help if they are to get out alive.

Fry deduces that she and her fellow travellers have landed on the planet on the day of its first total eclipse in 22 years, giving them mere hours before they are bathed in total darkness.

As the sun sets and the planet plunges into darkness, its other inhabitants emerge.

A major advantage of the film is that, because the cast is largely unknown, when we are first introduced to them we have no idea who will survive and who will die.

There are definitely some strong similarities with Alien, but there is also plenty to set it apart in this energetic and high-speed journey in space.

For any female viewers, this film is worth a watch just to see the gorgeous Vin Diesel.

Dalia Levy