I originally picked The Black Hole up because I thought it was the original seventies one. So I was already a little disappointed when I discovered this was some TV movie from two years ago but I watched it anyways and I'm glad I did. Certainly it's not going into the sci-fi hall of fame but considering it's a TV film on a TV budget it's a decent little flick with some campy acting but somehow a relatively decent story and even some very decent special effects. It would appear as though director Tibor Takács is one of the masters of TV horror camp. He has done no less than 20 of these types of films so he should have some sort of talent involved in it and he does. He uses the story and budget and effects the best that he can to make a decently watchable flick. The plot of the film is actually very good for sci fi fans. A man made black hole releases a monster of energy that begins to destroy everything in it's path. Focusing rather heavily on the city of St. Louis they certainly create a destructive path in the city.
Judd Nelson plays outcast scientist Eric Bryce who becomes the unwilling hero of the story. Nelson can act...we've seen it before but he seems to be getting caught in these roles of the washed up drunk but even still he does a pretty decent job of carrying this film. He's watchable and actually makes a very down to earth hero in the end. Kristy Swanson is fellow scientist and love interest Shannon Muir. Swanson looks like a deer in the head lights for most of the film but she supports Nelson decently enough although their romance and tension is a little strange to me. She is okay in the role but not the stand out performer by any means. David Selby is really terrific in a very subtle kind of way as General Ryker. He is also a hero in his own way and although he doesn't get a lot of dialog he does a really great job in the role and is probably one of the stronger characters in the entire film. I think he could have carried the film himself.
The Black Hole won't put you on the edge of your seat by any means but to kill an hour and a half it's not the worst thing you could watch. The decent story and decent acting makes it worth seeing if you're a sci-fi nut and looking for something different. As mentioned earlier the special effects really aren't that bad, in fact they are well done. Watching the St Louis arch fall apart was very cool and although it's probably stock footage...the actual city being destroyed was also very cool. All in all I suppose you'd have to be a fan to really bother watching it but there is far worse out there in Television and on DVD for that matter. 7/10
Judd Nelson plays outcast scientist Eric Bryce who becomes the unwilling hero of the story. Nelson can act...we've seen it before but he seems to be getting caught in these roles of the washed up drunk but even still he does a pretty decent job of carrying this film. He's watchable and actually makes a very down to earth hero in the end. Kristy Swanson is fellow scientist and love interest Shannon Muir. Swanson looks like a deer in the head lights for most of the film but she supports Nelson decently enough although their romance and tension is a little strange to me. She is okay in the role but not the stand out performer by any means. David Selby is really terrific in a very subtle kind of way as General Ryker. He is also a hero in his own way and although he doesn't get a lot of dialog he does a really great job in the role and is probably one of the stronger characters in the entire film. I think he could have carried the film himself.
The Black Hole won't put you on the edge of your seat by any means but to kill an hour and a half it's not the worst thing you could watch. The decent story and decent acting makes it worth seeing if you're a sci-fi nut and looking for something different. As mentioned earlier the special effects really aren't that bad, in fact they are well done. Watching the St Louis arch fall apart was very cool and although it's probably stock footage...the actual city being destroyed was also very cool. All in all I suppose you'd have to be a fan to really bother watching it but there is far worse out there in Television and on DVD for that matter. 7/10