About The Thing on Your Face

Post 1205:

The other day the original Alien film popped up on my recommended. I didn’t feel like going out in the 110 degree balls boil of the Texas summer. I stayed in and watched. While I used to be a bigger fan of the sequel Aliens because of more action and more monsters, I now put Alien in the category of my favorite films.

My lists change over the years. But it takes a lot.

And yes, I’ve seen Alien before. It just never hit me. It seemed too atmospheric. A slow burn. The art direction and cinematography take a front seat to the story, or so I thought. Now I’m pretty sure it all works in beautiful harmony to freak me the hell out.

Things I love. The characters are very natural. I believe I’m on a space freighter with a bunch of normal working class people. The captain is weird but decently competent. Ripley, one of the greatest protagonists in history, comes into her own slowly and surely. Everything in this movie is earned. It takes its time and isn’t afraid of silence. It all makes sense in context.

And there’s a horrible thing that attaches to your face. I hate it. I hate it. It’s so great. Keep in mind, I’m not really a fan of horror. Especially face horror. And that’s before it turns into—well, you either know or you don’t.

This is a movie that is made and performed with deliberation. The characters are people you care about without having to know too much about them. Great writing. A really pointed, perfect ending. There’s diabolical drama in this tense sci-fi masterpiece. I’m pretty sure there’s still nothing like it. In a sea of mediocrity it’s quite alien… sorry, I had to.

I’ll go now. Be happy for your face the way it is. If you’re not, watch Alien. That should help raise your appreciation meter. Cheers and see you after.