Random Production Of Event Horizon Was Its Own Level Of Hell (12 items)

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  (#10) The Film Has Received A Recent Resurgence In Popularity, Thanks To A New Appreciation For World-Building, Story, And Set Design

  Despite its status as a box office flop, Event Horizon sold well on the home video market and eventually found its audience. Joseph Bennett's set design is well-remembered in particular. His mixture of futuristic technology with gloomy gothic aesthetics is unlike anything else seen in science fiction then or since. The film's combination of science-fiction horror with spiritual elements is also unique. 

  Kurt Russell, of all people, predicted that Event Horizon would eventually become a cult classic. After the film was screened on the set of his 1998 film Soldier, Russell told Anderson, “Forget about what this movie’s doing now. In fifteen years time, this is going to be the movie you’re glad you made.”
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  (#9) Once It Was Released, Critics Despised The Movie

  Movie critics weren't impressed with Event Horizon. Roger Ebert gave it two out of four stars, and it currently has a Rotten Tomatoes rating of just 27%. 

  Critics did acknowledge the film's impressive visual effects and set design. They were much less forgiving about the film's characters, who were deemed unoriginal and dumb.

  Critics also considered Event Horizon to be too derivative. One review from The Baltimore Sun compared Event Horizon unfavorably with movies like Alien, Hellraiser, and 2001: A Space Odyssey. 

  But the difference between "derivative knockoff" and "deliberate homage" often depends on whom you ask. For his part, Anderson admitted that Event Horizon is directly inspired by classics like Solaris and The Shining.

  The critical perception didn't help, and Event Horizon slumped to $26 million at the box office. 
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  (#3) The Tight Production Schedule Meant Filmmakers Had To Hire An Inexperienced Production Designer

  The role of production designer is particularly important on a science fiction film, because they are responsible for bringing its futuristic world to life. Sci-fi movie production designers often wind up becoming legendary within the film community, like Star Wars' John Barry or Bladerunner's Lawrence Paull. 

  Since Event Horizon was greenlit just 10 weeks before the start of production, most established production designers turned down the job. Instead, Anderson and his producers took a risk and hired newcomer Joseph Bennett. "The reason we hired Joseph is that he was incredibly young and enthusiastic, and what he lacked in experience, I thought he would make up in sheer flair," Anderson said. "He hasn't disappointed."

  Hiring Bennett would end up being one of the few production decisions that went right. His blend of near-future technology and oppressive gothic architecture gave the film a unique look that even contemporary critics appreciated. Bennett's designs remain one of the highest-praised aspects of the film today. 
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  (#1) The Problems With 'Event Horizon' Began Because Of Delays In The Production Of 'Titanic'

  Event Horizon faced an uphill battle from the outset, and it was all because of another film entirely. Titanic was originally supposed to be released on July 4, 1997, one of the most lucrative release dates of the year. But in the spring of 1997, it was clear that Titanic director James Cameron would be unable to complete his film in time for the Fourth of July. It was also one of the most expensive productions in movie history at that point, with its budget ballooning past $200 million. 

  Paramount delayed Titanic's release until November of that year, which left a gap in its summer production schedule that needed to be filled. 
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  (#7) The First Test Audiences Freaked Out Because Of The Gore, Causing The Director To Cut A Significant Chunk Out Of The Film

  Test audiences didn't like Anderson's first cut of the film. After hastily assembling it in just four weeks, it was overly long at 130 minutes and many of the special effects hadn't been completed. 

  But the test audiences' main problem was the extreme gore - especially the so-called "blood orgy" scene. At one point, the crew of the Lewis and Clark discovers a video of the Event Horizon's crew violently dismembering themselves. The scene reportedly caused test audience members to faint. 

  Paramount wanted Event Horizon to be more of a fun summer movie, so the studio ordered Anderson to remove most of the gore. The blood orgy scene remained in the theatrical version, but heavily edited down. 
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  (#8) Anderson Also Had To Cut Many Key Storylines

  In addition to removing the gore, Paramount ordered Anderson to severely trim down the film. After returning to the editing room, Anderson reduced the film's running time from 130 minutes to around 90. 

  To do this, Anderson had to remove several moments that either built tension or provided more insight into the motivations of the characters. In one cut scene, it's revealed that rescue technician Cooper (Richard T. Jones) is terrified of losing a loved one, which explains why he freaks out when crew member Justin (Jack Noseworthy) later tries to take his own life. In another cut scene, it's revealed that medical doctor D.J. (Jason Isaacs) experienced a botched childhood surgery, and now is most afraid of being dissected alive - which is ultimately his fate. 

  Anderson felt that these cuts removed too much important information from his story. And considering that critics later described the film's characters as too one-dimensional, he's probably right. 

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