The Black Hole, a 2006 scifi flick (video: in full).
This film, it has to be said, is nothing to do with the earlier Disney scifi film of the same name.
No, back in 2006, the Sci-Fi channel debuted their latest film, The Black Hole. Directed by Tibor Takács and starring Judd Nelson and Kristy Swanson, it advertised itself as ride into the world of particle physics and energy absorption. Sure, it may not have been the most high-budget or critically acclaimed film out there, but it was pure fun cheese from start to finish.
The plot was simple yet effective: something goes awry at a particle accelerator facility in St. Louis, and a black hole begins to form. But instead of disappearing, a creature emerges from the black hole and starts absorbing energy. As it does, the black hole grows in size and destroys a large part of St. Louis. It’s a classic monster movie setup, and The Black Hole delivers it with gusto.
The cast may not have been A-list, but they were certainly enthusiastic. Judd Nelson played Dr. Eric Bryce, a nuclear physicist who may not have been the most competent scientist out there, but he sure had heart. Kristy Swanson was Dr. Shannon Muir, the brains behind the operation who always seemed to be one step ahead of the game. And then there’s David Selby as Ryker, the gruff military man who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty.
The special effects may not have been top-notch, but they were definitely entertaining. The creature that emerges from the black hole is delightfully cheesy, and the destruction of St. Louis is over-the-top and ridiculous in all the best ways.
It may not be high art, but it’s certainly entertaining. So grab some popcorn, kick back, and enjoy the ride. And who knows? Maybe you’ll learn a thing or two about black holes along the way. But probably not.
