Science Expert Roasts Sam Neil’s 28-Year-Old Sci-Fi Classic Event Horizon

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A popular, beloved sci-fi horror film starring Sam Neill is examined by an astrophysicist, who points out the flaws in its scientific premise.

On the How Real Is It? podcast, astrophysicist Paul M. Sutter talked about the science behind the gravity drive in the movie Event Horizon. Sutter, who admits to watching the film many times, explained that in our universe, things happen in a specific order – causes must come before effects – and information can’t travel faster than the speed of light.

Sutter explained that traveling faster than light would create situations where the effect happens before the cause. This would completely disrupt how the universe works, and that’s why scientists believe it’s impossible.

According to Sutter, the show Event Horizon‘s depiction of wormholes bending space and time is somewhat unclear, as the actual mechanics of wormholes remain unknown. However, mathematically, wormholes behave like tunnels, potentially allowing for incredibly short distances between any two locations.

I’ve been following the science behind things like wormholes, and honestly, a lot of the visual depictions you see in movies aren’t quite right. Paul Sutter explained that when people talk about spacetime folding, it’s more of a helpful way to imagine what’s happening, not necessarily what’s actually happening – it’s so complex, it’s almost impossible to put into words! That’s why scientists rely on math to explain these concepts. And speaking of movies, Sutter gave Event Horizon a 4 out of 10, because, well, it just doesn’t get the science of wormholes right.

Released in 1997 and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, with a script by Philip Eisner, Event Horizon offered a fresh take on science fiction horror. The film, set in 2047, centers on the crew of the Event Horizon spacecraft. They’re joined by Dr. William Weir, played by Sam Neill and the ship’s creator, on a mission to investigate the ship’s disappearance and uncover what happened to its original crew.

What Happens in Event Horizon?

The cast includes Captain S.J. Miller played by Kathleen Quinlan, medical technician Peters played by Richard T. Jones, medical doctor D.J. played by Jason Isaacs, pilot W.F. “Smitty” Smith played by Sean Pertwee, Lieutenant M.L. Starck played by Joely Richardson, and rescue technician T.F. Cooper. As they travel, the crew is plagued by increasingly frightening supernatural events, ultimately leading to a threat far greater than they anticipated.

Despite not being a box office success – earning just $42 million with a $60 million budget – the film Event Horizon quickly gained a dedicated following and is now considered a cult classic. Although critics haven’t been kind – giving it a 36% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 96 reviews – audiences clearly enjoy it, with a 62% approval rating based on over 50,000 user reviews.

The comic series Event Horizon remains incredibly popular, and its latest installment, Event Horizon: Dark Descent from IDW Publishing, is selling exceptionally well – a rare achievement for independent comics. Created by writer Christian Ward and artist Tristan Jones, the comic has become a hit with fans of the original film, offering them something they didn’t even realize they wanted.

I wanted to create a comic that offered a fresh perspective on the film. The story is entirely my own creation, though definitely influenced by watching it. I intentionally avoided looking at earlier versions of the script so I could tell the story in my own way.

Ward also mentioned that the series includes a famously cut scene from the movie – the ‘blood orgy’ sequence. He teased that Issue #4 will reveal how they’ve incorporated it, and warned readers it will be a powerfully emotional and disturbing experience.

Event Horizon is streaming on MGM+.

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2025-12-09 17:41