THE maker of Buffy the Vampire Slayer has created a new breed of science fiction film - fast-paced, emotionally gripping and generally impressive.

Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion), captain of the spaceship Serenity and its crew of renegades, is on the run from the Alliance which rules over the universe, living a Robin Hood existence to stay independent from their control over the galaxy's population.

Their plight is made worse by the fact psychic adolescent River Tam (Summer Glau) and her brother Simon are on board.

River was rescued by Simon from the Alliance, where she was being groomed as a psychological weapon but is still haunted by hallucinations.

As her behaviour spirals out of control, Malcolm and his crew are forced to either abandon her to the Alliance, who have sent an assassin after her, or to get to the bottom of the secrets that are plaguing her mind.

The plot contains enough depth without being over-complicated and director Joss Whedon teases the audience with enough little bits of information to keep you hooked until its climax in the closing 30 minutes.

Science fiction movies can often be disappointing, but Serenity manages to come across as a strong film that does not take itself too seriously.

The only criticism is some strange camera work, causing moments of seasickness - but exhilarating action, plenty of dry humour and a few lump-in-the-throat emotional scenes really do put Serenity a cut above the rest.

ECB