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Late to the Party: Alien (1979)

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This ‘Late to the Party’ is a review of one of the most memorable films of all time,1979’s Alien.  I must say, I’ve never truly been a fan of space based horror films or really any sci-fy to begin with.  Aside from Star Wars not much else interests me when it comes to that genre.  However, with the revival of ‘Late to the Party’ I’ve been able to dive into a series that I never watched before.  I know, I know, Alien is one of those groundbreaking films that almost every horror enthusiast has seen… but me.  Alien has been quoted so many times and  has been referenced multiple times in pop culture making me feel that I have already seen it.  It’s common knowledge that the main character’s name is Ripley and she was played by Sigourney Weaver.  I could tell you that in one of the films Weaver shaves her head to battle the beasts.  I could tell you what the alien looked like and I know about the scene when the creature emerges from one of the crew’s chest, but aside from that I really didn’t have a clue what the rest of the film was about.

Image result for alien film series pics

The first two things that struck me as peculiar was Mother and the crew’s initial mission.  The crew is a commercial mining outfit tasked with carrying minerals back to Earth.  I couldn’t help but find it striking that after humans used up all the fossil fuels on Earth, it would only be fitting that as a planet we would start molesting other worlds for theirs.  What I also found interesting was Mother.  The main brain on the ship that monitors the crew and their actions seemed distant and cold.  It’s ironic this cold and emotionless computer would have such a warm and loving word like “Mother” be the name of the system.  Before long the crew receives a signal.  Due to company policy they must investigate.  It doesn’t take them long before things become a mess.  Landing on the planet the bottom of the ship is badly damaged due to the rocky terrain of the planet.  Two members of the crew decide to stay back and repair the ship while the other three investigate the signal.  The crew learns that the signal had been coming from another spacecraft, so they head in to investigate the spacecraft.  This is where the initial alien is found.  The alien, however, seems to have exploded from the inside.

Image result for alien film series pics

While investigating alien eggs aboard the ship one of the creatures attaches itself to crew member Kane’s face.  The jellyfish/squid looking alien becomes the reason that Ripley does not want the three to reenter the ship, as she claims that quarantine issues prevents it.  This is one of those moments, and there are many, where the crew should have listened to Ripley!  It’s also obvious at this point what is to become.  It’s almost a bad joke.  The crew attempt to remove the alien from Kane’s face but only find that it’s blood is highly acidic and corrosive.  The alien eventually removes itself and dies.  However, it would just be a waste if it did no harm.  So during the final meal before stasis, Kane becomes very ill and the moment we all know and love finally arrives!  The alien bursts through Kane’s chest and runs away!  The crew attempts to locate the alien using many methods, including the use of a flame thrower! Because, why not?

Image result for alien film series pics

If things weren’t ridiculous enough already another member of the crew, Brett, follows the ship’s cat into the engine room.  Why is there a cat aboard you may ask, because, again, why not?  Perhaps it was on board to chase space mice, to cuddle with the crew during stasis, or perhaps as a last minute meal if the crew had problems.  Who the hell knows?  It is in this engine room that a full sized alien attacks Brett.  Man they grow fast!  The crew eventually chases the alien through air ducts, but they soon get tired of the chase and decide to evacuate in a small shuttle.  The problem is the shuttle is too small for four people, so they argue some more and decide to keep hunting for the alien.

It is eventually revealed that the scientist on board, Ash, is a droid with one goal in mind; to return to Earth with the alien while the crew is expendable.  Sounds like a great plan; bring the nasty alien with corrosive blood back to Earth so that it could kill more people.  However, now knowing that Ash is a droid there are only three left to escape in the shuttle!  The other two crew members are killed by the alien while gathering supplies.  Seriously, no big surprise.  Ripley sets the self destruct mode on board the ship, because what ship doesn’t have a self destruct button?  Ripley narrowly escapes the exploding ship only to find that the alien is in the shuttle with her. She blasts the ugly creature into space with a grappling hook but it is still attached to the ship!  She fires the engines that eventually destroy it.  She then proceeds to put herself into stasis with the only other living creature that survived, Jones the cat!

Final Thoughts:

This movie was absolutely absurd!  Perhaps it was that it was made in 1979, but I don’t really think that was the problem.  The main problem is that the first part of the film seems to drag on and on.  When the action finally hits, it comes off as laughable and silly.  This film is a classic, however, deserves a watch even if it’s only to laugh at the silliness of it all.  A good majority of the film is quite predictable, however there are a few subtleties along the way that give intrigue, like the on board scientist being a droid.  I truly hope that the next film, which I’ll review in November, steps up its game and is less silly than the original is right out of the gate.  If you’re a fan of this film, I’d love to hear why, leave a comment and let me know.

It’s Aliens 31st Anniversary

 

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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