A short while ago I made a lighthearted post about Tobe Hooper's Lifeforce and it got me thinking about the portrayal of alien beings in horror films. Whether or not a horror movie with science fiction elements can actually be considered a horror movie is something that's been debated on many genre nerd message boards (including impassioned posts by yours truly). This is especially true when it comes to movies like Alien or Event Horizon. Those films are clearly rooted in what most of us agree is science fiction, but retain many of the elements that would qualify them as horrific. The feeling of fear and dread permeates even if most of the action takes place in space surrounded by advanced technology and clinical settings. Let's face it, the tug-of-war between the horror and sci-fi communities is downright silly. Can't we all just get along? We should unite and fight against those that are really oppressing us: corporate movie executives with no imagination. Besides, even Frankenstein is rooted in science fiction but considered one of the best horror tales ever written and filmed.
Since it's quite clear a lot of people are xenophobic (I mean you, increasingly ultra-conservative, reactionary Americans. Oops, wait, I'm trying to keep this blog agenda free.), it can be extremely terrifying to encounter an alien presence in movies. The possibility of being abducted by aliens can be downright paralyzing. Running into one in the middle of darkened woods can result in total loss of bowel control. They even come into your home and grab you while you sleep! It makes sense that an alien creature, the embodiment of those fears and insecurities, can rattle the psyche.
I've listed a few movies here that include some horrible, malevolent aliens, some of which are abductors, others that are bloodthirsty killers, and more that just want to take over our world. What is universal is that all of them are rooted in that fear of the unknown and feeling of loss of control resulting from the encounter. A few of these titles are from the early 80's and definitely reactions to the sugary sweet sap of E.T. I've left off about a million and one Alien rip offs like Alien Contamination, Galaxy of Terror, and Creature among others. In any event, I hope you enjoy reading, but remember to KEEP WATCHING THE SKIES!
ALTERED
Altered (2006) – Intriguing revenge film by Eduardo Sanchez (The Blair Witch Project) about a group of young men who find and kidnap a nasty alien that had been responsible for abducting one of them when they were adolescents. The ensuing action is a morality play as the men struggle with conflicting notions of how to handle the situation and their captive.
XTRO
Xtro (1983) – straight up bizarre film about a young man who's long-lost father may have been a monstrous extra-terrestrial. When he starts exhibiting behaviors and powers that are other-than-human, he begins to question his own humanity and would really like to get some fatherly advice about more than just shaving and how to pick up girls.
THE BORROWER
The Borrower (1991) - John McNaugton's surprising sci-fi/horror follow up to Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is rooted in dark humor. The film follows an insectoid escaped convict from space hiding out on earth. Seems the thing keeps losing its head due to not-so-ideal conditions on earth, so it "borrows" heads from humans and animals alike. Super entertaining action with some very funny scenes that cling to the residue of 80's fun.
ALIEN RAIDERS
Alien Raiders (2008) – Energetic, violent, and witty take on the standard “alien parasite inhabiting human host” siege movies. This one is action packed and full of great performances that elevate it above the standard fare.
BODY SNATCHERS
Body Snatchers (1993) – I'm a huge fan of the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and the 1978 remake is one of my favorites ever. Sci-Fi and horror firmly planted in paranoia and an encroaching comformist takeover never fails to make my skin crawl. This often overlooked 1993 version by Abel Ferrara is super creepy with a great setting, a bleak outlook, and a very chilling performance by Meg Tilly.
THE DEADLY SPAWN
The Deadly Spawn (aka Return of the Aliens: The Deadly Spawn) (1983) - Incredibly campy but super fun creature feature with some outstanding creature effects. A group of toothy aliens terrorize a family in Smalltown, USA resulting in lots of blood and strewn body parts. Very goofy and gory and fun with a group of friends!
While there is no shortage of great sci-fi horror out there, this list has excluded tons of it. Here are a few more honorable mentions, and feel free to post your own list: Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Critters, Fire in the Sky, The X-Files: Fight the Future, Communion, The Hidden
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2 comments:
I haven't even heard of the first 4, thanks for the heads up!
Oh wow, even Xtro, Zach?
I thought that one was kinda recognized even if a lot of people haven't actually seen it.
It was one of the "Video Nasties" that the British government banned in the 80's.
Alien Raiders is fairly new and really caught me by surprise. It has a bit in common with Splinter if you've seen that.
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