RIDDICK

US, 2013, 119 minutes, Colour.
Vin Diesel, Jordi Molla, Matt Nable, Bokeem Woodbine, Karl Urban.
Directed by David Twohey.

You have to be a strong Vin Diesel fan to sit through Riddick. And, of course, Diesel does have his fans who will relish this film. Box-office returns for this film and for the Fast and Furious franchise, seem to indicate that his fan base is growing. He has a particular screen presence, physically tough which belies the shrewdness of intelligence that the screenplay spells out for his character.

It is thirteen years since Riddick first appeared on screen, in a science fiction film set on an alien planet, Pitch Black. It made quite an impact on his fans at the time and a sequel went into production, the Chronicles of Riddick where Diesel had as a co-star, Judi Dench. Now, with Diesel having proven himself as fast and furious, he is back as Riddick.

You know whether you are going to enjoy the film or not during the first fifteen minutes and whether you pay attention or find that your mind is wandering. It is totally Riddick. Well, that is not perhaps entirely true, because on this alien planet where he has been banished, there are a number of deadly prehistoric-looking creatures, sinister dingo-like dogs and even more sinister large eel-like reptiles in the pools. Riddivk has to spend a long, long time fighting them, suffering grievous wounds and enduring an enormous amount of pain. There is a flashback interlude going back to his previous career and the accusations of murder as well as his being exiled. However, that first half hour or more indicates that this is definitely a film about Riddick.

But this is well calculated by the screenplay because Riddick virtually goes off screen for act two, when space ships arrive on the planet to bring him back, dead or alive. One team is a group of bounty hunters led by Jordi Molla, a really unpleasant type, with equally unpleasant henchmen, and a relentless determination to get Riddick and put his head in a box cage. The other group a more organized, led Boss Johns (Australian Matt Nable) who believes that Riddick has murdered his young son and is out to find the truth and some justice or vengeance.

The group spent a lot of time bickering amongst each other, many flashpoints with the only female in the team, presented as butch as the men. Riddick is able to pin the grou down, tantalising them by infiltrating their centre and then disappearing. Which makes them all the more determined.

But, by the third act, Riddick is back with the two teams, even trapped by them. But also returning are some of the creatures. They loudly attack the headquarters, terrifying everyone and killing of some of the unwary. It all builds up to a desperate cycle ride through the desert, pursued by the creatures, Riddick disempowered and almost destroyed… But…

The alien planet is a desert and mountain place, little vegetation, and with a yellow streaked sky. There is a thumping score. There are lots of action bouts and confrontations - lots and lots. There are the computer-generated creatures to contribute to the eerie atmosphere. And there is always Riddick, Vin Diesel older, bigger, more muscles, more capacity for endurance, laconic, but with a redeeming characteristic that he has tamed one of the ferocious dogs who has become fiercely loyal to him.

David Twohey as written the screenplay. He has written some interesting screenplays like Perfect Getaway and Secret Window. But with this one, he has some less than literary dialogue, peppered with four-letter ‘what the…’, ‘shut the…’, which seem like those word-bubbles in panels of comic strips.

And, at the end, Riddick is in a spacecraft flying off into a possible sequel.

1. The character and personality of Riddick? From the previous films? Audience interest in him and his adventures, accepting him?

2. Vin Diesel and his screen presence, as Riddick, tough, the loner, his adventures?

3. Science fiction, inter-planetary life? The visuals of space, the planets, the landscapes, the mountains, the desert, sky and weather? Science fiction terrain?

4. The creatures, the dogs, the water creatures? Special effects?

5. The space and travel, the space vehicles, the technology, in action, the stunts?

6. Riddick and his life, the flashbacks, his position on the planet, the accusations, the leaders ousting him, the flight, his enemies abandoning him, the fall, survival?

7. The first 30 minutes, Riddick and the dangers, the fights, hiding, the creatures, the wounds, his pain? Surviving? Shelter? Taming the animal, as a companion? Seeking food? Hiding?

8. The bounty hunters, on screen for the second act and Riddick withdrawing? The leader, his Spanish language, his henchmen, brutal? Tough, the box for Riddick’s head, getting the bounty? The pursuit of Riddick? His eluding them?

9. The second spacecraft, the commander, the woman soldier, the rest of the crew, the mission, motivations?

10. The two groups, their aims, the clashes, the bounty hunter and his attack on the woman? Lesbian? His taunts? The black member of the crew? The boss? Riddick infiltrating, tricking them, appearing and disappearing, sabotage? Tying them up?

11. Riddick, his appearance, confrontations, clashes, fights? His being taken, interrogation, the box for his head? The confrontation with the bounty hunter, slicing his head off? The boss, the discussions about his son, member of the crew, cowardice? Riddick and his sexual clashes with the woman?

12. The creatures, the destruction, on the roof of the building, the deaths and disappearances? The characters, their fears, dealing with the creatures?

13. The commander, on the bike, seeking the batteries, the plan, confronting the creatures, the fights, the woman and her killing the creatures?

14. Riddick, rescued, the truth about the commander’s son?

15. The final decision, the completion of the mission, Riddick and his going into space - and a sequel?