Alien: Resurrection (1997)

Finally, it is 2017. In some ways, I hate to see 2016 go away. I graduated Valedictorian in Creative Writing for Entertainment from Full Sail University; I had a fun trip to Universal Studios with Brenda and the girls, and dove into a ton of conspiracy theories that were proven true thanks to WikiLeaks. What more could anyone ask for (maybe the PowerBall or something). Here is hoping that 2017 will be just as fun. For my first review of 2017, I decided to finish the Alien franchise with 1997s Alien: Resurrection.

Plot/ Two centuries after her death, Ellen Ripley is revived as a powerful human/alien hybrid clone that must continue her war against the aliens.

In finishing off the sequels to the Alien franchise, Alien: Resurrection is definitely an improvement over Alien 3. While it is far from a perfect movie, featuring many different plot holes and a soundtrack that did not seem to create the same atmospheric elements as the earlier entries, there are some moments that make it an interesting entry in the series. Of course, some of the love/hate attitudes that exist with this entry could be because it is quite different than its predecessors. Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet definitely created something more surreal and dreamlike than the others, plus there were a lot more images of blood, gore, and violence than what was featured earlier in the franchise. The storyline was interesting (even with the plot holes), and the cast and performances were solid (plus the alien hybrid was a nice twist). In the end, this one does not rise to the quality of the sources, but it is more memorable than Alien 3. If you love the Alien franchise, give it shot. There are a lot worse out there.

Contamination (1980)

Sometimes, I need to take a trip down memory lane to my youth and the big box VHS flicks that made the 1980s one of the best decades for no-budget horror cinema. One such movie is my next review; the 1980 horror/sci-fi entry Contamination (AKA Alien Contamination).

Plot/ A former astronaut helps a government agent and a police detective track the source of mysterious alien pod spores, filled with lethal flesh-dissolving acid, to a South American coffee plantation controlled by alien pod clones.

There is really nothing better than horror from the 1980s and the gore that often accomplished in before the political correct censorship establishment took control. While this is not the best of the era, it is a movie that offers a unique combination of gore and schlock that makes it a fun watch. Couple those elements with an entertaining storyline (albeit somewhat predictable), some solid performances, and enough classic Italian cheese to make it watchable. Yes, some of the gore effects are overused and a little dated today, and some of the movie would seem cliché with many scenes mirroring other films from the era, but that was common back in the days of big box VHS. In the end, if you love European horror from the 1980s, you have to check out this version; it is worth watching. Be warned though, this schlockfest is not for everyone.