The Black Hole (2006) (TV)

User Rating:

3.3/10   

Director:

Tibor Takács

Writer:

David Goodin (writer)

Release Date:

10 June 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

No force from this world can stop it!

Plot:

An atomic research experiment goes awry in St. Louis, Missouri unleashing not only a big black hole, but also a creature from beyond that feeds on electricity through the streets of this Midwest city.

Plot Keywords:

News Anchor | Black Hole | St. Louis Missouri | Evacuation | Electricity

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 22

3:00 PM

SYFY

Cast

Kristy Swanson	...	Shannon Muir
Judd Nelson	...	Eric Bryce
David Selby	...	General Ryker
Heather Dawn	...	Sgt. Alicia Bennett
Jennifer Lyn Quackenbush	...	Elizabeth Williams
Christa Campbell	...	Advisor Coldwell
Peter Mayer	...	General Tate
Julia Sinks	...	Kayley Bryce
James Anthony	...	Spencer Tolland (as Jim Anthony)
Kevin Beyer	...	Dr. Hauser
Daniel Buran	...	Kent (as Dan Buran)
Tim Snay	...	Hayes
Adrian Rice	...	Lt. Samson
Greg Carr	...	Guardsman
Chris Nolte	...	Lt. Hendricks

MPAA:

Rated PG for sci-fi violence, peril and thematic elements.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:TV-14

Filming Locations:

Bissells Point Water Treatment Plant - Bissell and Blair Streets, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Company:

Active Entertainment

Trivia:

Elizabeth and Kayley's house and Eric's apartment were both filmed in the same house.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Eric is moving the Hummer closer to the electric alien, the whole set is reflected on the truck when it passes the camera.

Movie Connections:

References The Void (2001) (V)

Soundtrack:

Need To Know

Yes, it really is as bad as they say

In this SciFi Channel original, an accident in a nuclear lab in St. Louis causes not only the creation of a black hole, but unleashes an alien creature that feeds on energy. A scientist and his female partner team up with a maverick general to solve the growing menace while the military embarks on a typical blow-it-up solution that could wreak disaster for the world.

I found the idea of a small black hole created on Earth intriguing, and it was interesting watching it eat up everything around it. (So it "can't" happen, but hey, it is science fiction!) Unfortunately, screenwriter David Goodin, who is responsible for "Larva," another TV movie that flopped, again shows himself adept at giving us a general plot and characters who are tired and clichéd. You know, the implausible story of the world-threatening event that is handled by the lone scientist (instead of every intelligent professional in the world) and simplistic government officials who make FEMA look good! Even if we accept this script as a mediocre formula tale, we would hope for at least semi-intelligent dialogue and a director who had some slight ability for pacing. (Tibor Tacaks has, according to IMDb, directed some 28 films, and I don't think any of them rated over 5). Perhaps with such a weak structure, we can forgive the wooden, lackluster acting from a cast who must have figured at least it was a way to make a quick buck.

I'm pretty tolerant of formula sci fi, even when the premise is implausible, but this one is bad even for a TV movie.