If you missed it, Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant, the sequel to Prometheus, released its first trailer on Christmas morning, giving audiences their first peek into a world that portends the creation of the Xenomorph. Already attaining several million views, it’s obvious that the film has generated huge amounts of buzz and interest, all for good reason.
Since 1979, Alien has become a cultural phenomenon. The Xenomorph, designed by H.R. Giger, is now one of cinema’s most iconic characters and the universe and mythology that was created around it has developed into a multi-film franchise that also branched into video games, comics, original novels, and more. At this point, it’s one of the most comprehensive sci-fi universes out there.
Prometheus was supposed to kick off a trilogy of films that lead up to the events in Alien. Alien: Covenant is the second film in this series and it’s worth looking at with a critical eye since we know what’s coming and what ultimately happens. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the trailer and see if it holds up to scrutiny!
Bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, the crew of the colony ship Covenant discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world — whose sole inhabitant is the “synthetic” David (Michael Fassbender), survivor of the doomed Prometheus expedition.
Alien: Covenant stars Michael Fassbender, Noomi Rapace, and Guy Pearce, returning in their roles from Prometheus, with newcomers Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir and James Franco. The film is scheduled to be released on May 19, 2017.
What Works:
1. The World:
Setting the film on a new world allows for explorations not just into the Engineer’s spacecraft but also into the biodiversity of the planet. Much like how people fell in love with the world of Pandora in Avatar, there is potential here to create an alien planet that is fascinating to behold.
2. The Production:
Holy shit, this movie looks incredible. If Ridley Scott knows how to do something, it’s create something so visually engaging and engrossing that we sometimes forget that we’re watching a film. This looks like it’ll offer the same immersion.
3. The Gore:
Throughout the Alien films, there has been this wonderful battle between showing too much and showing too little. For much of the film, it focuses on tension and suspense. But when it decides to bring the violence, it brings it hard and it doesn’t shy away from the fact that the Xenomorph is a destructive and catastrophic force of nature.
4. The Cast:
While we’re not given a ton of time with the stars of the film, what we are treated to is pretty damn solid. I know that many people are concerned about Danny McBride and James Franco but I’m not. I can easily see them pulling off very serious and down-to-Earth roles.
5. The Visuals:
This is different from the production in that a film can be made to feel immersive but at the same time cold and uninviting. However, Scott has also made sure to create visuals that are gorgeous, even in their offering of terror. It’s obvious that this is going to be a beautiful movie, no matter how you cut it.
What Doesn’t Work:
1. How Much Was Given Away
Showing Billy Crudup getting latched onto by a facehugger was excessive. Why not just show the egg opening, the footage of the innards, and then cut away. That would create suspense for the audience. “Did it get him???” Guess you’ll have to see the movie to find out! Instead, we see him get pounced upon, which means he’s not going to make it. Thanks for ruining the fate of that character five months before the release date.
2. The Stupidity:
Look, I’m all for suspension of disbelief. But unless the planet this film takes place on has been researched and studied extensively, why the fuck are they walking around it without masks on? Am I really supposed to be okay with a guy stepping on something that releases a spore that enters his ear canal? Sorry, I’m not buying it and it’s offensive to think we should be okay with that kind of lack of scientific discipline.
3. The Technology:
This was actually a problem I had in Prometheus. Much like how the Star Wars prequels showed off machinery and ships that seemed to be more advanced than the original films, which took place afterwards, the same happened in regards to Alien. Now, I realize that what Alien offered would seem incredibly backwards in comparison to today’s technology. But it also demonstrates inconsistency and ultimately it raises more questions that simply can’t be answered.
4. The Shower Scene:
What the hell is this, Friday the 13th? Look, I have no problem with the Xenomorph seemingly stalking its prey. It worked to great effect in Alien 3. However, the death of Clemens after he and Ripley hooked up wasn’t there just because they bumped uglies. Rather, it was a reminder that Ripley is doomed to never have anything good again. Everything she loves and holds dear will be taken from her, like some unwarranted divine retribution. But in Alien: Covenant? It seems cheap as hell and certainly doesn’t fit without some really good reasoning behind it.
5. The World:
Yes, I put this in both categories but hear me out. At the end of Prometheus, David and Dr. Elizabeth Shaw and David leave the planet in search of the Engineer’s home world. Alien: Covenant takes place on the planet where David is the sole inhabitant. That suggests that the film takes place on a different planet, one that he and Dr. Shaw found together. So why the hell is it as dreary and overcast as the one from Prometheus? Is every planet in this franchise going to be gloomy and dreary? Shit, show off something else for a change! Give a different vibe to the planets! You can still slaughter a bunch of astronauts on a sunny day, I assure you. In fact, the visual opportunities skyrocket once you take away the clouds.
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Brian McNatt
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Morteus