Pandorum

2009

Pandorum

Critics Consensus

While it might prove somewhat satisfying for devout sci-fi fans, Pandorum's bloated, derivative plot ultimately leaves it drifting in space.

28%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 85

49%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 104,806
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Pandorum Photos

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Movie Info

Two astronauts awaken in a hyper-sleep chamber aboard a seemingly abandoned spacecraft. It's pitch black, they are disoriented, and the only sound is a low rumble and creak from the belly of the ship. They can't remember anything. Who are they? What is their mission? With Lt. Payton staying behind to guide him via radio transmitter, Cpl. Bower ventures deep into the ship and begins to uncover a terrifying reality. Slowly the spacecraft's shocking, deadly secrets are revealed, and the astronauts find their own survival is more important than they could ever have imagined.

Cast

Dennis Quaid
as Lt. Payton
Ben Foster
as Corporal Bower
Cam Gigandet
as Gallo
Antje Traue
as Nadia
Cung Le
as Manh
Eddie Rouse
as Leland
Norman Reedus
as Shepard
Friederike Kempter
as Evalon
Niels Bruno Schmidt
as Insane Officer "Eden"
Luna Mohmand
as Childhunter
André Hennicke
as Hunter Leader
Delphine Chuillot
as Young Bower's Mother
Wotan Wilke Möhring
as Young Bower's Father
Julian Rappe
as Young Bower
Domenico D'Ambrosio
as Wounded Officer "Eden"
Jon Foster
as Big Russian Passenger
Jeff Burrell
as Trapped Officer "Eden"
Neelesha BaVora
as Female Crew Officer
Yangzom Brauen
as 2nd Lieutenant (Team 4)
Marco Albrecht
as Hunter Weasel
Dawid Szatarski
as Hunter Sharpe
Nico Marquardt
as Hunter Brute
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Critic Reviews for Pandorum

All Critics (85) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (24) | Rotten (61)

  • Alvart achieves a strong sense of scale, but characters and ideas are lost amid a mess of fight scenes that, oddly, look like outtakes from 'The Descent'.

    Oct 4, 2009 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Nigel Floyd

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • Pandorum is less a story than a prolonged bout of paranoid hysterics, exuberantly played out on metal gangplanks and inside Stygian tunnels. As such, it works just fine.

    Oct 4, 2009 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Xan Brooks

    Guardian
    Top Critic

  • Riffing on Alien, Sunshine and Resident Evil, the German director Alvart finds an effective balance between action-excitement and psychological chills.

    Oct 4, 2009 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Tom Charity

    Times (UK)
    Top Critic

  • There are some well-executed sequences, but the story makes nothing but a mess of its borrowed ideas.

    Oct 4, 2009 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Edward Porter

    Times (UK)
    Top Critic

  • Pandorum is dumb, noisy fun. Its flaws are inoffensive inasmuch as Alvart doesn't give off Anderson's noxious vibe of insincerity.

    Oct 4, 2009

    Matt Bochenski

    Little White Lies
    Top Critic

  • According to the press notes, pandorum means "Orbital Dysfunctional Syndrome"; whatever that is, by the end of the movie I was convinced I had caught it.

    Sep 27, 2009 | Rating: 1.5/5

    Jeannette Catsoulis

    New York Times
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (85)

Audience Reviews for Pandorum

  • Oct 27, 2017
    Not a bad film but it never really tried anything new and it felt like a mixture of Resident Evil, Alien and The Descent all in one, It's very dark and gloomy, Everyone is always whispering which was annoying and it wasn't the best acting you will see, I did like the twist at the end but it wasn't enough to make this a good film, More like an average forgettable sci-fi flick.
    Jamie C Super Reviewer
  • Mar 14, 2015
    This was the first movie in a while that have me the chills. Though the story is a little lose and strung out, it gives you numerous twists. The scope and effects are believable, and the cast is good.
    Jarrin R Super Reviewer
  • Dec 12, 2014
    They tried. When Malthusianism meets the Nobel Savage is what happened in this science fiction horror film. Ben Foster starred as Coporal Bower who must try to save the spaceship from destroying itself when it is all there is left for the humanity, unfortunately something more sinister is lurking within the ship and he must fight for the survival or human race. I really liked the premise, it's a Lovecraftian tale of the unknown in the outerspace, but with a twist on the capacity of the human race to survive and the debate on population control. I think the message wasn't well recieved as I was viewing this film but after thinking about the message I realised how clever the writing is. The problem with the film were the unrealistic setting and slow pacing, otherwise this German-American production had a lot of potential.
    Sylvester K Super Reviewer
  • Mar 06, 2013
    This seems to be critically panned by both "the educated and non educated". Let me buck the trend and reveal how much I liked this film. As the puzzle starts to have pieces placed within it, we get more and more truth revealed to great dramatic effect.
    John B Super Reviewer
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