The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)
Last Watch Date - August 8, 2026
Total Times Watched - Once
Comments
I'm not entirely sure why this is called the chronicles when it's really only ONE chronicle. I know they retroactively went back and named Pitch Black "The Chronicles of Riddick: Pitch Black" but AT THE TIME, this was the only "chronicle." SO WHY IS IT PLURAL?
Tonally, this movie is incredibly different than Pitch Black. While that was a horror-adjacent sci-fi thriller, this is straight up sci-fi action. An invading people with a weird religious cult. "Races" of warriors who are called Furyans (because of the fury, do you get it?) – this is Riddick, obviously. A prophecy and threat! Elementals who have NO FAITH! Keith David, the Imam, still living! .. For now. A prison planet that turns into an inferno when the sun shines on it. (Side note, the dude who willingly walks into that inferno is badass)
What I wish they did with this movie is just MORE. Sure, it's cheesy and kind of goofy, but it's fun as hell and they built some cool characters/cultures/costumes/lore. They could've done some more fun stuff with this series. I haven't seen the third movie yet, so maybe it goes more in-depth and I'll be like "OH YEAH!" but considering they were 9 years apart and it's now been 13 years since THAT movie, I think it's safe to say we're not getting enough of this world.
It's probably important to highlight the cast in this. Judi Dench. Thandie Newton. Karl Urban. Alexa Davalos 😍. This movie is STACKED with people who do not belong in this movie at all. I'm kind of surprised they all agreed to it because this type of sci-fi was not super popular in 2003/2004. They're all good. Karl Urban rules in everything.
The costumes and set design in this are so interesting to me. It's kind of like an elven theme to some extent, but with the armor of Dracula from the 92 version. I love it. Also the necros have these weird skull caps that I really liked. ALSO ALSO, the many face thing is so flipping cool.
Some weirdness in this, of course. Why do they use .. dead? dying? guys to communicate. Why are they still invading with ships when we see even in our current year that warfare works well with drones instead. Why do they have hand-to-hand combat when they have such powerful guns? What's with the little UV light dudes that squeal and why do you need a weird UV person instead of some sort of tool? Why does Riddick have such fondness for what he only remembers as a 12 year old girl? Obviously if I had seen a grown up Alexa Davalos only I'd be like OH OK, but he didn't see her like that. So uhh, a little weird.
Don't get me wrong, all of these things make me love it even more. It's just so interestingly weird. I'm kind of annoyed I didn't watch this earlier. This could've been a classic for me and I think it NOW IS.
My only complaint could be that it's a tad long and they could've tightened it up a bit. So if you ask me what I think of it, I suppose I'd say it's a half gram heavy on the back end.
Recommended?
Yeah, watch it and LOVE IT.