Alien: Covenant — Not a Horror … !

15th September, 2017.

You’ve possibly worked something out, haven’t you?

Possibly … 

You’re possibly sitting there, thinking “Paul’s possibly going to go out, isn’t he?”

You’d be wrong.

Frankly?   I’ve been traipsing up and down Brentwood High Street, today: shopping and bill paying.

And thinking “My leg’s killing me!”

Lord knows what I’ve done to it, but there we go: that’s the perils of age, and too many puddings.

At any rate?

I’ve had the night off: and a desire to bleb out in front of the TV screen.

Believe it or not, with a movie for once: just to make a change from the recent run of American Horror Story.

The movie in question … ?   Is Ridley Scott’s own Alien Covenant.

And yes: I don’t think it’s a horror … 

I’m still trying to work out what to it, but horror?

Horror isn’t the word.

~≈Ÿ≈~

Set in 2104, some years after Prometheus, Alien Covenant show us the colony ship of the same name.

The ship’s got some two thousand colonist in suspended animation, a sleeping crew of fifteen and one awake android called Walter (Michael Fassbender).

The crew are awakened in a hurry: as Walter needs them to help him deal with a neutrino burst that’s damaged the ship.

It’s only once that’s done?   That the crew — led by the inexperienced Captain Oram (Billy Crudup) — receive what sound’s like a distress signal.

The apparent paradise planet it’s coming from?

Second Officer Daniels (Katherine Waterston) feels going anywhere near it is unwise.

The crew?

Find David, the only survivor of the Prometheus, is the only intelligent being on the planet.

David?   Hasn’t exactly been unchanged by events … 

~≈Ÿ≈~

Now … 

Good … ?

And ‘Not a horror’ … ?

Yes … 

I think we can say Alien Covenant is acceptable.

Maybe not Scott’s recent best: I still think that’s a title that would go to The Martian.

But it’s as visually stunning as only a Ridley Scott film can be, is well written, beautifully acted — Fassbender, in the dual role of Walter and David, shines — and, while it’s got one heck of a telegraphed twist ending?

Is plotted well: and has a lot less holes than Prometheus.

I will say this, though: long term fans of the Alien might well go to see Alien Covenant expecting

to see a grim, blood splattered, body horror type of film.

Certainly, there’s gore in there: this is, after all, an Alien film, so a certain amount of blood drenched mayhem is obligatory.

No Alien Covenant isn’t horror.

It’s a very grim, blood soaked, science fiction film.

One that says coming up with something helpful can have un-intended consequences.

That when we steal fire from the gods, our fingers can get burnt.

Don’t see Alien Covenant if you want horror.

Do see Alien Covenant if you want some depth.

I think you’ll find something

Alien Covenant

★★☆☆