A crippled transport space craft loses control and is sent hurtling toward an unknown, seemingly lifeless, planet. Everything appears to be fine for the crash survivors on the planet - sun-scorched by three suns, with no natural night-time; they only have to put up with each other.

The planets inhabitants are soon revealed to be a bloodthirsty alien species that live in the dark inner core never appearing on the surface, until a titanic eclipse throws the planet into darkness. One of the crash survivors - Riddick, a convicted killer, has enhanced vision for the dark - but can he be trusted? , As the world erupts with nocturnal life - the real battle begins...