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5 Reasons Why Ellen Ripley Was a Boss-Ass Bitch

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Alien is a cultural landmark for horror and sci-fi. It showed us a version of space travel that was gritty, grimy, and blue-collar. For once, a spaceship wasn’t all shiny, white and chrome. We followed a group who were horribly under-prepared for the threat they encountered. There was no big bad security or military officer there to lead the charge. And we were introduced to the character of Ripley, one of the most badass bitches to grace the silver screen.

To celebrate Ellen Ripley and National Alien Day, let’s review some of the reasons why she was such a boss-ass bitch.

Ripley Won’t Take Your Bullshit

She’s got pride, she’s got power, she’s a badass mother who won’t take no crap off of nobody. Ripley calls everyone on their bullshit and their ego and it’s just the best. She calls out Ash when he overrules her order to keep Kane in quarantine and confronted him about Special Order 937. She calls out Lieutenant Gorman on his bullshit decisions. She doesn’t hesitate to point the finger at Burke when he locked Ripley and Newt in a room with two live facehuggers. She halts Hudson mid-breakdown to remind him that cooler heads must prevail if they hope to survive. The list goes on, because really, Ripley ain’t got time for your shit.

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It’s a great example of how the character isn’t some shrinking violet. She’s not afraid of confrontation and she’ll do whatever it takes – and sass the hell out of whoever it takes – to make sure her voice is heard.

Zero shit taken, and zero fucks given.

She’s Not Some Sexualized Murder Gymnast

Before Ripley was a superpowered Xeno-clone in Alien: Resurrection, she was just a warrant officer, stuck on the wrong mission at the wrong time. She’s not a back-flipping, high-kicking hyper-female killing machine with perfect makeup. She’s brash, strong-willed, and deeply human.

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Ripley was originally written as a male character. Brilliantly, they didn’t try to make the character more feminine once Sigourney Weaver was cast. Ripley is not a damsel in distress, defined by the men around her or her relationship to them. She’s defined by her strategic intelligence, level head, and survival instincts. Ripley defies gender roles and is inarguably one of the most significant female protagonists of film history.

She’s Maternal As Fuck

After learning of the death of her unintentionally estranged daughter, Ripley is devastated. All she wanted was to return home safely for her daughter’s eleventh birthday. When she finds Newt, her first instinct is to care for her. She has a small idea of what Newt has gone through and understands how much that trauma would affect a child. Ripley is committed to protecting her – no matter what.

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Enter one of the best lines of all time; “Get away from her you bitch!”.

Ripley is driven by her desire to protect. I mean, she’s even protective of Jonesy the cat in a time where most (cold-hearted) civilians would say “you’re on your own” and leave the furry friend behind. She shows that you can be a strong female character and still have a softer touch.

She’s Thorough as Hell

Ripley does not fuck about when it comes to killing a damn Xenomorph. In Alien, she shoves it out the airlock, shoots it with a harpoon gun, and blasts it in the engine. A totally necessary triple-tap overkill.

Image result for ellen ripley maternalIn Alien 3, Ripley requests a full autopsy – which she oversees – and burns the bodies of Hicks and Newt just to be certain that they would have no unfortunate surprises. She’s also the only one who insists on following quarantine protocol when Kane comes back to the Nostromo with an unknown alien entity firmly attached to his damn face. Sometimes you need to make the hard, unpopular decisions, and our girl will not hesitate.

She Was Thrust Into the Hero Role and Totally Owns it

Ripley is only third in command of the Nostromo but she attempts to take charge of the situation, trying to calm the other crew members when things start to go to shit. When Lieutenant Gorman ignores her pleas for action, she takes over and rushes in to save the surviving members of the platoon. And even though she has no military background, Corporal Hicks turns to her for advice, appreciating her input and often giving her final say when decisions are made. She may not be a dominant force, but she’s tough, ready, and capable. From Warrant Officer to Our Lady of Survival, Ripley defies expectations and comes out of her PTSD-inducing experience with a fresh attitude and a license to kill.

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Ultimately, in her humanity, Ripley performs one final heroic act. When she learns that there’s a Xenomorph Queen growing inside her, she sacrifices herself for the sake of mankind, killing the Queen and stopping the Weyland-Yutani Corporation’s surely sinister plans.

There are many reasons to love Ripley. What are yours? Share with us in the comments!

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Movies

‘Violent Night’ Director’s Next Project is a Shark Movie

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Sony Pictures is getting in the water with director Tommy Wirkola for his next project; a shark movie. Although no plot details have been revealed, Variety confirms that the movie will start filming in Australia this summer.

Also confirmed is that actress Phoebe Dynevor is circling the project and is in talks to star. She is probably best known for her role as Daphne in the popular Netflix soap Bridgerton.

Dead Snow (2009)

Duo Adam McKay and Kevin Messick (Don’t Look Up, Succession) will produce the new film.

Wirkola is from Norway and utilizes a lot of action in his horror films. One of his first films, Dead Snow (2009), about zombie Nazis, is a cult favorite, and his 2013 action-heavy Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is an entertaining distraction.

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)

But 2022’s Christmas blood fest Violent Night starring David Harbour made wider audiences familiar with Wirkola. Coupled with favorable reviews and a great CinemaScore, the film became a Yuletide hit.

Insneider first reported this new shark project.

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Editorial

Why You May NOT Want To Go In Blind Before Watching ‘The Coffee Table’

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You might want to prepare yourself for some things if you plan to watch The Coffee Table now rentable on Prime. We aren’t going to go into any spoilers, but research is your best friend if you are sensitive to intense subject matter.

If you don’t believe us, maybe horror writer Stephen King might convince you. In a tweet he published on May 10, the author says, “There’s a Spanish movie called THE COFFEE TABLE on Amazon Prime and Apple+. My guess is you have never, not once in your whole life, seen a movie as black as this one. It’s horrible and also horribly funny. Think the Coen Brothers’ darkest dream.”

It is hard to talk about the film without giving anything away. Let’s just say there are certain things in horror movies that are generally off the, ahem, table and this film crosses that line in a big way.

The Coffee Table

The very ambiguous synopsis says:

“Jesus (David Pareja) and Maria (Estefanía de los Santos) are a couple going through a difficult time in their relationship. Nevertheless, they have just become parents. To shape their new life, they decide to buy a new coffee table. A decision that will change their existence.”

But there is more to it than that, and the fact that this might be the darkest of all comedies is also a little unsettling. Although it is heavy on the dramatic side too, the core issue is very taboo and might leave certain people sick and disturbed.

What’s worse is that it is an excellent movie. The acting is phenomenal and the suspense, masterclass. Compounding that it’s a Spanish film with subtitles so you have to look at your screen; it’s just evil.

The good news is The Coffee Table isn’t really that gory. Yes, there is blood, but it’s used more as just a reference than a gratuitous opportunity. Still, the mere thought of what this family has to go through is unnerving and I can guess many people will turn it off within the first half-hour.

Director Caye Casas has made a great film that might go down in history as one of the most disturbing ever made. You have been warned.

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Trailer For Shudder’s Latest ‘The Demon Disorder’ Showcases SFX

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It’s always interesting when award-winning special effects artists become directors of horror films. That is the case with The Demon Disorder coming from Steven Boyle who has done work on The Matrix movies, The Hobbit trilogy, and King Kong (2005).

The Demon Disorder is the latest Shudder acquisition as it continues adding high-quality and interesting content to its catalog. The film is the directorial debut of Boyle and he says he is happy that it will become a part of the horror streamer’s library coming fall 2024.

“We are thrilled that The Demon Disorder has reached its final resting place with our friends at Shudder,” said Boyle.  “It’s a community and fanbase that we hold in the highest esteem and we couldn’t be happier to be on this journey with them!”

Shudder echoes Boyle’s thoughts about the film, emphasizing his skill.

“After years of a creating a range of elaborate visual experiences through his work as a special effects designer on iconic films, we’re thrilled to give Steven Boyle a platform for his feature length directorial debut with The Demon Disorder,” said Samuel Zimmerman, Head of Programming for Shudder.  “Full of impressive body horror that fans have come to expect from this master of effects, Boyle’s film is an engrossing story about breaking generational curses that viewers will find both unsettling and amusing.”

The movie is being described as an “Australian family drama” that centers on, “Graham, a man haunted by his past since the death of his father and the estrangement from his two brothers. Jake, the middle brother, contacts Graham claiming that something is horribly wrong: their youngest brother Phillip is possessed by their deceased father. Graham reluctantly agrees to go and see for himself. With the three brothers back together, they soon realize they are unprepared for the forces against them and learn that the sins of their past will not stay hidden. But how do you defeat a presence that knows you inside and out? An anger so powerful it refuses to stay dead?”

The movie stars, John Noble (The Lord of the Rings), Charles CottierChristian Willis, and Dirk Hunter.

Take a look at the trailer below and let us know what you think. The Demon Disorder will begin streaming on Shudder this fall.

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