Ridley Scott’s magnum opus, Alien, presents a particularly captivating struggle between a collection of space miners aboard the Nostromo and a frightening biomechanical mixture of phallic and vaginal imagery referred to as a xenomorph. This conflict between the crew and the alien creates the excellent fusion of science fiction and horror that made this movie such a success. Unlike the average horror movie, the fear that this film instills in the viewer does not rely solely on jump scares and a combination of practical effects and CGI (although these elements of the film definitely leave a lasting impression). Instead, the dread for the obsolescence and replacement of humanity, one of the most significant underlying themes of the film, functions as the foundation for most of the film’s horror. Ridley Scott employs “the uncanny,” a psychological concept of fear analyzed by Sigmund Freud, as the primary vehicle to subtly convey this theme. As a result, Scott traps humanity within the cross hairs of stronger forces, from automation to corporations to nature itself, all of which threaten to destroy humanity (represented by the crew). Therefore, Ridley Scott cleverly manipulates the (un)familiar within the film in order to attack the audience’s concept of humanity as the movie systematically destroys the human perception of birth and sex – which are critical parts of the evolution and progress of mankind, in order to finally portray mankind as weak and not long for this new and
The movie Arrival is full of complexities, and different ways to interpret the deeper meaning behind the movie. In analyzing this text, at first it seems to be a slow sci-fi drama, however, there is a lot brewing just below the surface. The main character discovers how to be content, and to live and enjoy each moment. This can be seen and proved through multiple elements. The cinematography, composition, and lighting of the movie Arrival can be combined and analyzed to showcase the belief that all people should enjoy the present, and live in the moment.
The Alien is a science fiction horror movie. Its setting in space and the presence of technology and artificial intelligence empathizes on its science fiction genre. Moreover, the presence of the Alien and the fact that it is a threat to human lives reflects it is also a horror film. The movie revolves around seven human beings that have the mission to return to earth from the space.
Tim Burton’s gothic drama film Edward Scissorhands explores what is immoral with our society. A present issue with humanity is people who are different are encouraged to conform. In addition, society plays by the rules and follow societal norms rather than listening to their hearts. Most importantly, humans are cruel and exploit those who are vulnerable for their own benefit. Through the use of film techniques, Burton proposes the faults in humanity and the brutal nature of humans.
From the very beginning of Slaughterhouse Five the biggest question is: is it real or delusion? Throughout the book, Billy pilgrim claims to travel through time and be abducted by aliens, but until the later chapters, there is no solid evidence as to whether it is real or just delusion. The truth about Billy’s tale is concealed until near the end of the book when he meets Kilgore Trout and finally some solid evidence shows that Billy’s unusual adventures are just delusions and insanity.
Shelley’s Romantic novel Frankenstein (1818) compares and reflects values of humanity and the consequences of our Promethean ambition against the futuristic, industrialized world of Blade Runner (1992) by Ridley Scott. The notions of unbridled scientific advancement and technological progress resonate with our desire to elevate humanity’s state of being, mirrored amongst the destructive ambition to overtake and disrupt nature and its processes. The disastrous implications of overreaching the boundary between progressive and destructive power and knowledge are heeded through the ultimate and inevitable loss of self and identity, transforming humanity into a form of monstrosity.
Ridley Scott’s film Blade Runner reflects some of the key themes seen in Mary Shelley’s classic novel Frankenstein. For one, both the sources touch on the necessity of creators taking responsibility for their creations. Another key theme established in both works is the idea that emotional complexity and knowledge, over memory and appearance, allow people to be defined as human beings.
American Psycho is a movie adaptation directed by Marry Harron released in the year 2000 that was based off of the 1991 novel of the same name authored by Bret Easton Ellis. The movie focuses on the main character Patrick Bateman who is an investment banker in New York in the era of the early 1980’s. Patrick is a perfectionist whose life by day seemingly rotates between his picture-perfect job, his superficial relationship with his fiancée Evelyn, and his shallow interaction with his co-workers and peers. By night, Patrick is a textbook Psychopath and a serial killer.
We often think of science fiction as a science but in fact, it has more to do with destruction than anything else according to Susan Sontag in “the-imagination-of-disaster”. I think that scary movies give off a wrong interpretation by the way it is presented, many people see it as scary monsters that are only there to scare you but I think that a lot of people watch these movies bring out the little demon that is trapped inside them. I think that scary movies are misinterpreted at times because it gives the viewer that is enjoying the movie the impression that its only motive is to scare you, but there are many ways that these scary movies bring out the little demon that you usually are unable to let out.
Every text is a product of its time. In Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”, she uses the gothic horror genre to explore some of the concerns of her time relating to the use of science and technology and its impact on humanity. Similar concerns are also present in Ridley Scott’s “Bladerunner”, a futuristic text which combines science fiction and film noir to present a bleak view of a future world overrun by technology and consumerism, but devoid of human emotion. Both these texts offer insights into the human experience namely between man and science and man and nature.
Michael, nicknamed Fresh is a 12-year old kid running drugs for gangsters. Because he is smart and honest, they respect him. Fresh lives with 11 other children in the spotless, orderly apartment of his aunt. His father has become a street bum, but still meets with Fresh on occasion to play chess. Fresh's sister is also a junkie who sleeps with the dealers who Fresh sells for.
The movie Shutter Island presents wrenching twists and turns from a psychological state of mind. The author of the story, Lehane, makes it certain that the psychic mind of the main character helps to enhance the plot of the story. The darkness of the story is based off of the year nineteen fifty-four to drive the setting of the story. Throughout the film, clues are given that eventually give way to the realization of reality. When the story begins in medias res, it helps engage the audience and jumpstart theories. Manipulation is a present factor used throughout the story with both the audience and the characters to create a thrilling story.
The Dawn of Man. Four simple words introduced what is remarked as one of the greatest films of all time. There is no spoken dialogue within the first 25 minutes and the last 23 minutes of the film. “2001: A Space Odyssey” is an ambiguous film. The broad range of audience captures various interpretations of the film. The main theme seems to be about the evolutionary process of mankind interwoven with elements of a higher or extraterrestrial entity guiding this evolution. There are some film theories that suggest this movie was all propaganda used in conjunction with the space race that occurred during World War 2. Some even go as far as to say that the same set used in “2001: A Space Odyssey” was used to fake the moon landing of 1969. However, theories with more evidence suggest that the iconic monolith doesn’t represent aliens or “God”, but instead represents the cinema screen of which we are viewing. The artistic importance of “2001: A Space Odyssey” is derived from its ability procure various conclusions.
Good Will Hunting is a movie about a boy that is extremely book smart, his name is Will. He grew up in not the best environment and was a janitor for the college MIT. Will does nothing with his smartness until he is caught solving a problem. After being thrown in jail he is forced to see a therapist and work on math problems with the professor. The movie shows the walls and psychological problems Will has built up and the process that he goes through to knock them all down.
The good thing about films is that we not only have the opportunity to choose from a wide selection of different genres, but also compare them and understand their purpose in the world. The Horror genre has used the basic principles throughout time, and as a result, films of this type have not proven to be as timeless as another genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy. At first, these two genres might at times seem similar as they have at several occasions been blended together, but their basic, common theme serves different meanings about humans. I shall compare and contrast these two genres and focus on both classic films and modern films. From the Horror genre perspective I shall discuss Psycho (1960) and The Mist (2007), while in the Science Fiction/Fantasy genre I will examine 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), and Serenity (2005). Although the Science Fiction/Fantasy genre and the Horror Genre share some similarities, the differences lie in their focus on human progress.
Before the Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock made its way into theaters across the world, film was produced in a completely different way. Some of the elements that were in Psycho were things that nobody saw in movies before. According to Entertainment Weekly’s Owen Gleiberman, when the movie came out, it took place in “an atmosphere of dark and stifling ‘50s conformity” and that the elements of the film “tore through the repressive ‘50s blandness just a potently as Elvis had.” (Hudson). Alfred Hitchcock changed the way that cinema was made by breaking away from the old, “safe” way of creating a movie and decided to throw all of the unwritten rules of film making out the window. The main ways he accomplished this task was by adding graphic violence, sexuality, and different ways to view the film differently than any other movie before its time.