By all accounts, the 1997 sci-fi horror movie Occasion Horizon was an authorized flop each critically and commercially. Regardless of its preliminary lower than stellar reception, over time the movie has garnered a cult following in addition to a higher new appreciation as a result of a number of scenes that had been finally reduce from the ultimate model that severely toned down the filmmakers’ authentic imaginative and prescient. Sadly, a lot of the excised footage has been misplaced thus depriving followers from ever seeing a completely restored model. Fortunately, IDW Publishing has come to satiate fan demand with Horizon: Darkish Descent, the primary official prequel to the movie from the artistic crew of Christian Ward, artist Tristan Jones, and colorist Pip Martin.
Going down earlier than the occasions of the movie, this five-part collection explores the ultimate destiny of the unique Occasion Horizon crew revealing what actually occurred to Captain Kilpack and the primary crew as their ship journeyed throughout a nightmarish realm of demon forces led by the eyeless King of Hell often known as Paimon.
Forward of the pre-order deadline subsequent week and the discharge of the primary situation subsequent month, The Beat had the pleasure of interviewing through electronic mail author Christian Ward to debate exploring new ranges of cosmic horror and why the unique movie nonetheless resonates for audiences.
Taimur Dar: The primary apparent query needs to be, do you bear in mind the primary time you watched Occasion Horizon?
Christian Ward: I noticed it on opening weekend! I wasn’t only a fan of sci-fi however of the Digital duo Orbital who collaborated with Michael Kamen. It was truly their involvement as a lot as something that put my ass on the seat. I nonetheless bear in mind listening to their pulse pounding beats because the movie opened with a swirling black gap vortex because the credit leaped out of the display earlier than being dragged again down into the void of the outlet. “That is going to be a rollercoaster,” I assumed to myself and I used to be proper.
Christian Ward: I truly love writing for different artists. You’re appropriate in saying Machine Gun Wizards was my first ebook as author. In that case I handed the artist reins to Sami Kivela who I knew might promote the 1930’s Chicago setting {that a} ebook about prohibition however with magic wanted. On this collection we wanted somebody who might nail not simply the cosmic horror of all of it however the tangible metal and iron corridors of the titular ship. Once we had been discussing artists I couldn’t consider anybody who might deal with that higher than Tristan Jones. So far as colors go, I didn’t need this to appear like some other ebook on the stands. I knew Tristan’s real looking inkwork might deal with a extra leading edge up to date colouring model and after we invited Pip to do a take a look at run on a few of Tristan’s previous Alien pages, all of us knew we’d discovered one thing very particular certainly. Pip is new to the business however I imagine destined to be a really in demand colourist.
Taimur Dar: When Occasion Horizon was first launched it was a essential and industrial flop. Regardless of borrowing fairly a bit from the Alien movies, the affect of the movie could be seen within the Useless Area video video games and even Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar. Why do you assume Occasion Horizon nonetheless resonates with folks a long time later versus being forgotten in ’90s obscurity?
Christian Ward: I feel, no pun supposed, it’s about singularity. It managed to remain resonant as a result of it’s NOT like Alien. There’s no monster stalking the hallways. There isn’t a bodily menace. It’s pure cosmic horror and truly there aren’t many movies that scratch that very specific itch. It’s psychological and resists clear explanations that means that it’s horror feels prefer it’s coming from one thing past our comprehension. Add to that completely unbelievable manufacturing design. Occasion Horizon, each the movie and certainly the ship itself, look not like anything. Equal components gothic cathedral and ’90s industrialism.
Taimur Dar: The perfect horror for me faucets into present fears and anxieties. Given the present state of the world that’s in no quick provide. Whereas engaged on this undertaking, did you channel any of these fears whether or not from your individual private life or the world at giant?
Taimur Dar: As I’m certain you might be effectively conscious, Occasion Horizon has gained a cult following over time largely as a result of authentic imaginative and prescient and reduce that by no means got here to be. Do you see this undertaking as a option to rectify that or create one thing that may very well be considered because the closest factor to an Occasion Horizon Director’s Reduce because the authentic footage has sadly been misplaced and unable to be restored?
Christian Ward: Watching Andor was what solidified what I needed to do with the property. I needed to jot down one thing that may change how one would view the movie. It’s a fragile steadiness as you don’t need to betray the unique intent or introduce one thing that doesn’t match inside the present lore. It’s all about giving further and hopefully enriching context. Regarding the director’s reduce and its notorious ‘blood orgy’ scene I can promise followers they received’t be dissatisfied.
Taimur Dar: Lastly, what upcoming initiatives are you able to tease for followers?
Christian Ward: Along with Occasion Horizon: Darkish Descent, I’m writing and drawing a Dr. Unusual story for the landmark #450 situation, past that i’ve a couple of creator owned books with different artists in pipeline that’ll hit in 2026 or 2027 and simply perhaps extra Occasion Horizon, in spite of everything proper now we’re telling you the story of what occurred earlier than the occasions of the movie however there’s at all times the query of what occurred afterwards. We have now huge plans and so they all start in Occasion Horizon: Darkish Descent #1.
Occasion Horizon: Darkish Descent #1 arrives in comedian outlets on Wednesday August twentieth, 2025.
