#and the facehuggers genuinely scare me

[jorgancrath]

Just about to see Alien: Romulus and I have to say the Xenomorph scares me. I saw Aliens when I was really young and that shit stuck with me

And I get it okay, it Get It, I understand why people wanna fuck the Xenomorph, it’s such a cool beautiful design! I just, the Terror of it, I cannot fuck the Xenomorph

[douxreviews]

Alien (1979) Review

By Billie Doux

"A perfect organism. Its structural perfection is matched only by its hostility." Alien is a terrifying work of art. There's something real and visceral about it. It scares you where you live.

In most horror movies, the monster is never as scary as the build-up. In Alien, it's scarier. It's wet, slimy and organic, and it invades their lives while they're at the dinner table. It evokes fears of diseases that cannot be contained, of biting and snapping insects and crustaceans, and the most primal fear of sharp teeth dripping with saliva. The facehugger gets you with the fear of smothering and choking. There's also the lovely super-acid, as well as getting trapped in an enclosed place with a monster. 

Alien has often been described as "truckers in space." The Nostromo is cold, hard, shabby and realistic; the matter-of-factness of a bunch of grunts in a transport arguing about bonuses helps make the fantastic real. There isn't a lot of exposition. We don't know who these people are, where they came from, how they ended up in these jobs. We don't even know their first names. (Even the cat is referred to by a last name.) But the seven actors are so good that each of them is memorable.

It's easy to identify with Ripley early on when she tries and fails to enforce quarantine, because we all know she's right. She is so calm and professional through most of the movie that when she finally loses it, it counts. It's easy to root for her; she's tough and smart and refuses to give up. Sigourney Weaver's Ripley has become a female science fiction icon, although much like Sarah Connor (another icon), Ripley doesn't really come into her own until the second movie.

After Ripley, Dallas (Tom Skerritt) is probably the most sympathetic character. We never do find out how he died. (Except in the extended version of the movie.) Yaphet Kotto and Harry Dean Stanton are great as the resentful engineering staff. John Hurt's part as the curious Kane is smallest, but he's certainly memorable. Lambert (Veronica Cartwright) is the only one of the seven who shows panic and fear early on, but she does it beautifully without going over the top or becoming unsympathetic. 

Ian Holm is the standout, though. Throughout most of the movie, Ash feels human but just... slightly... off. When we discover his true nature and he goes on the offense, he is absolutely frightening. Trying to kill Ripley with a rolled up magazine down her throat is particularly shuddery, as is his final speech in that disembodied head. Note how Ash, who is nearly as terrifying as the alien, is also gruesomely organic, with artificial slime and guts. And milky blood. Love the milky blood.

So much care and talent went into the making of this movie. The sequences on the planet with the wind, the mist, and the organic lines of the enormous alien ship seem like a fantastic nightmare come to life. Every space scene is beautifully composed. For that matter, every scene in the movie is beautifully composed. The famous chestburster sequence may be the most shocking movie scene ever filmed. I can still remember how shocked I was the first time I saw it. Veronica Cartwright's reaction was genuine, too. Most of the actors weren't clued in about exactly what was coming the first time so that Ridley Scott could record their actual reactions. (What a prick.)

Although the effects hold up for a movie over thirty years old, the computer sequences don't. "Mother" should probably have been more like HAL in 2001, although the lack of a human-like voice and the cold, disembodied fatalism of her messages work with the plot. Especially since "Mother" was the only representative of the Company (other than Ash), an organization that had no problem sacrificing the lives of the Nostromo's crew for an alien that could be used as a weapon.

Some have complained that it was unrealistic for Ripley to go back for the cat. I'm a cat person. I'd do it. I've also heard complaints about Ripley taking off her clothes in the last few minutes. I understand why it's referred to as unnecessary cheesecake, and maybe it is. But I think her near nudity was intended to make her appear even more vulnerable in that final cat and mouse sequence with the alien. Which was also very well done – her careful movements as she slides into the suit, her ragged breathing, the halting way she quietly sings, "You Are My Lucky Star." I always thought that was an acknowledgement that the alien was so powerful that only luck will help Ripley prevail.

Alien runs just under two hours. The entire first hour is set-up, and every moment of that set-up is paid off in the second hour. When things start going nuts, we know the characters, we know the situation, and we know that they're completely screwed. I've seen this movie five or six times (it's not a movie you watch over and over for pleasure) and I still feel dread; the scares are so well set up that they still make me jump, even though I know they're coming. 

Bits and pieces:

— Alien had a killer ad campaign: "In space, no one can hear you scream." I saw a bumper sticker parody of it once: "In space, your cat can't hear the can opener."

— The alien ship and the alien itself were based on the disturbing art work of H.R. Giger. His contribution to this movie was huge. And I hope he got some serious therapy.

— The movie begins when the crew of seven wake up, and ends with Ripley and Jones going to sleep. Like I said, a waking nightmare.

— John Hurt's first line is, "I feel dead."

— It might not mean anything, but I always register the fact that all the white males die first. The last survivors are Parker, Lambert and Ripley. And the cat.

— We didn't see the cat when the crew woke up at the start of the movie. Was Jonesy running around while they were sleeping? If so, what did he eat? Jones the cat also managed to evade every member of the crew except Ripley. Smart cat; he refused to go with anyone but the star of the sequel.

— There are several shots of empty helmets just sitting on panels and counters. Eerie. And a top candidate for Most Obvious Symbolism.

— There's an extended version of the movie, and the additional footage was interesting. But in my opinion, the theatrical version is better.

Alien is a brilliant, memorable movie. It's the perfect mix of science fiction and horror. Four out of four empty helmets. 

Billie Doux loves good television and spends way too much time writing about it.

[journeysintowebcomics]

Stand Still Stay Silent Liveblog #39

UPDATE 39: Nothing Harmless About Those Ghosts

Last time the crew had sought cover in the royal residences – the Danish Royal Residences! Thanks for the information in telling me that. There’s something that may be worth keeping in mind: there are spirits in there. Mages can see them. Is it good, is it bad, who knows. When they were returning to the tank, the kitten puffed up, which is a sign of alarm. Let’s continue.

Last time Reynir didn’t tell anyone the cat was getting upset – and if he had, well, who knows what they’d have said. With all those husks nobody would be surprised the cat reacted – and this time he did, and it’s take with the utmost seriousness. Sigrun immediately stops them and starts looking around, and Mikkel puts the mask on Reynir’s face. Troll nearby – undoubtedly the flat facehugger that followed them here. Do they have weapons with them? I don’t see rifles; no doubt they have their knives but...yeah. Could be risky, and Reynir can’t be left unprotected. With some luck they could try getting him to the tank and to safety. At least they can be certain whatever’s here isn’t enormous, so...small blessings, yep.

Ah, good! Their immediate plan is to take their non-immune crewmembers into the tank. Tuuri is already there by its side, so she’s not in trouble, but Reynir is in the open. They’ll have to hurry before—oh, dang there it is, leaping at Reynir. Maybe they can sense who isn’t immune! They want to spread their awful disease! Oh the humanity!

I gasped when saw this. Damn, that’s brave! Even though I knew it was jumping at Reynir, I thought Mikkel or Sigrun would push him out of the way and it’d be a very close call, I didn’t think Sigrun would sacrifice her arms for this. That must hurt like hell! Not the first time she suffers grievous bodily injury – back when she was chosen as the captain of this crew she had a neck brace and that can’t have been pleasant either – yet I didn’t expect it to happen. Props to her for immediately smacking that thing biting her arm.

I have to respect someone who’s willing to get in the way of a post-apocalyptic maw for the sake of someone she doesn’t even want around.

Also, there’s something I’m worried about. Here, take a look at thiiiiis small part of that image.

See? The tip of this over here slashed Reynir’s jacket. He was in extremely close contact with a troll. I don’t think he was injured – because that’d lead to his death, and no way Ms. Sundberg would kill the newest character after so little time – but I’m concerned about any minor health problems stemming from this, especially because they may think he’s infected. He’d be quarantined to await and see how his sickness progresses. I mean, it was an extremely deadly disease that mutated like half of the living creatures on the entire planet, and it’s transmitted by air and contact with infected beings. The odds he gets sick are high, I’d say.

Well, if he dies, this won’t be the end of this presence, anyway. It was just established ghosts exist, maybe there’s something up with International Mage Dreamhub that lets dead mages keep appearing there, maybe he gets reincarnated into the cat and it grows a long braid somehow…it’s still early in the story, there’s so much I don’t know about the spiritual mechanics of the SSSS world. My point is that I respect Ms. Sundberg enough to believe she wouldn’t waste a character.

Emil comes forth with the gunfire, trying to shoot it, while Mikkel shoves Reynir towards the tank. Before he’s taken inside, though, he checks the place where the clothing was torn.

Ah, good! Unharmed! That’s a relief. Now I just hope he won’t get sick at all. It’s almost a miracle he wasn’t scratched!

Oh my goooood the cat is adorable, you excel at drawing an adorable kitten, Ms. Sundberg. Sigrun picks the kitten up and uses it to try to pinpoint where the troll is. If its fur stands on end, then the troll is over there. Heh, wait, give me a second here.

Miju, miju! I wonder, do animals sound different in other parts of the world somehow, do people in other parts of the world perceive the sound differently…it’s most likely the second one, right? Languages are different, and things like sounds and the such would be written different in other languages. Maybe it’s like that in this case. In Spanish it’s ‘miau’, which is…the sound written exactly like a cat says it, more or less. But I digress, what’s this tangent I got into.

The cat actually does a good job pointing where the troll is at, the humans are the ones that are doing less than a stellar job here.

Well at least he hit something. The problem is that if he was going to hit the troll with enough strength to kill it, then he’s going to have enough strength to break Emil’s leg. Dang it! Better start preparing the amputation tools…to scare Emil, haha! Okay, but seriously, this isn’t good. I hope Emil will be okay, I can’t imagine how they’ll deal with a broken limb. I don’t think they’re unprepared, but it’s going to be troublesome in an expedition that’s already filled with problems.

Also, there’s someone who knows to aim, Sigrun! The kitten does – and you get credit too, for aiming with the cat so well.

While Emil writhes and is hurt, Sigrun points out the troll went inside to hide, and tells Mikkel to go and stomp it to death. The troll runs and hides underneath a bed, presumably having heard the plans that included stomping on it. There’s no foot incoming, but there’s a ghost. I’m genuinely feeling goosebumps over here!

…ah. Okay, looks like in this world, the trolls aren’t the only ones they’ll have to be wary off. The ghosts killed that troll. So far there’s no reason to believe they’re hostile towards the humans, but after seeing this, I don’t trust them at all. If they killed a troll by…whatever happened…I have no reason to believe the same can’t happen to anyone in the crew. I really hope all these ghosts are confined only to these royal residences and can’t approach the tank. The tank’s armored against trolls and the such. Unless Lalli does something, I doubt ghosts are unable to get in there.

Sigrun sure is taking well the fact her arms was shredded into bits. ‘I’ll need a stitch’. Just one? As if! Emil, who’s standing and well despite the blow on his leg – it’s not broken, thank goodness! – lingers for a moment too long.

Okay, it’s official. Being anywhere near these ghosts is a bad idea. This is not good at all. Lalli didn’t seem worried at all, I hope he’s correct about not being worried. If there was any danger of the spirits reaching them, then he wouldn’t have proposed to stay here, so it should all be fine as long as nobody enters the building.

Reynir was quarantined to the office while everyone returned. I hope he’s not panicking too hard in there. For now, I’ll stop, since it seems the scene will change.

Next time: in four updates

[cavendishh]

I wasn't really expecting any responses on this dumb little post but the replies are very lovely and just make me soft because like,,, as a marine bio student I used to be super antsy with crabs, they freaked me out and I was afraid they'd pinch me, and tbh they still sometimes can freak me out if they move unpredictability.

But getting to work with them and use them in educational demonstrations just... totally outweighs all fear? It's such a fascinating and unique experience that growing up in poor rural Arkansas I could have never dreamed of having, and now I'm chasing zoology because it just clicked, this is what I love doing. Working with these animals is incredible and now I can't imagine not chasing it.

I wrote my college application essay about the first time I put a horseshoe crab on my face. It sounds silly, and it definitely is a... unique subject for a first impression, but it was genuinely an important moment for me! For those who don't know, this is what the bottom of a horseshoe crab looks like:

And since crabs, spiders, and other creepy crawlies tend to put me on edge... you can see how putting one of these guys directly on your face might change a person.

It was the moment I realized this field made me better, that it was finally an interest I had a healthy passion and love for, and that while there was so much unknown out there, I enjoyed discovering the unknown, even when it scared me. I wondered what it would feel like to put the little facehugger on my face and then... I did it. And I loved it. I love this field. And I love seeing people in the replies of my original post who describe exactly how I feel regarding working with animals. Most of the people at the marine station that I attend are there for a science credit and nothing more, and I genuinely can't express how nice it feels to have my feelings of excitement reciprocated, even if with internet strangers.

Even if the fear is never gone, the passion always seems to magically outweigh it. And I can't wait for more.

AYO CALLING ALL ENTOMOLOGISTS

bugs are really neat and cool to study but how do you not get scared when they go brrbrrrrhskerw in your face asking for a friend