Summary
A horror movie is making a return after being dormant for nearly three decades. However, its return may not be how fans expect it to be because the new material is not a movie but a prequel comic book.
In the late ’90s, the trends forhorrorand supernatural and occult themes kicked off. For instance, Wes Craven released the firstScreammovie in 1996. Columbia Pictures also released the star-studded thrillerI Know What You Did Last Summerin 1997. Paramount made several horror releases too, in 1997, includingThe Relic, Kiss the Girls, andEvent Horizon. One is making a comeback, but fans should not get their hopes up because they’re not getting another film.
ParamountPictures’Event Horizonis a science fiction horror movie directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. It was set in 2047 and follows a rescue crew investigating the emergence of theEvent Horizonspaceship. The film was not a commercial success because it only made $42 million against a $60 million budget. However, despite its initial failure, it has developed a cult following over the years, with critics and audiences praising it for its atmospheric visuals and unique blend ofsci-fiand horror elements. Now, it is getting a comics prequel, “Event Horizon: Dark Descent,” from IDW Publishing. The five-part series will “embrace the hard-R rating” of the film and combine it with the “terrifying cinematic universe.” Several comic book creators will be behindDark Descent, including Christian Ward, who wrote “Batman: City of Madness”; artist Tristan Jones of “Aliens: Defiance”; and rising colorist Pip Martin, who worked with “That Texas Blood,” Variety reported. Ward said about the comic prequel:
It’s a huge privilege to be handed the keys of such a beloved film, one I take very seriously and I have some extremely exciting things up my sleeve. Big gory swings will be happening. You’ll never see the film in the same light again.
Jones, the sci-fi artist, teased that Ward’s work would shock fans. In fact, the material reportedly gave him “gnarly, visceral stuff to chew on visually.” AlthoughEvent Horizondid not perform well at the box office, it was still considered a success. In fact, the movie makes it toVariety’s 100 Best Horror Movies of All Timeat the 94th spot. “Event Horizon: Dark Descent” is only one ofIDWDark’s projects in expanding Paramount’s library into comic book form. The horror imprint also plans to work on a comic book forA Quiet Place,Smile,The Twilight Zone,andSleepy Hollow.
A prequel comic series will be a great treat toEvent Horizonfans because it could delve into its origins and share new details about the initial voyage into the unknown. An early narrative could detail the ship’s design, the intention it was created, and the circumstances that led to its disappearance. Exploring these elements could enrich the existing storyline and offer a more comprehensive storytelling of the film’s universe.
Many fans probably prefer another movie, but comics are also a great storytelling medium. It offers visual exploration and brings to life abstract terrors that can only be hinted at in the film. Additionally, it offers narrative flexibility without the constraints of film runtime or budget. Comics may attract new audiences with great artwork and a compelling storyline. Comics also appeal to those who seekdeeper lore in the chilling universe ofEvent Horizon.
