Prometheus

‘Prometheus has landed’

After 33 years Ridley Scott returns to the Alien franchise to bring us a prequel to the terror filled Alien (1979) that stated ‘in space no-one can hear you scream.’

The film returns us to the planet where Alien first takes us. However, the film is not centred on the xenomorphs that the Alien quadrilogoy is based on, but, instead focuses on how they came about and the mysterious space jockey that is featured in Alien. Therefore, if you are expecting another instalment of chest bursting and terrifying xenomorphs then you will be greatly disappointed. There are, however, plenty of other aliens that should quench your thirst for horror. This is a film of paradoxes as it is about creation, yet at the same time destruction.

Prometheus follows, in 2089, archaeologist couple Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) who have discovered ancient pictograms on Earth that appear to them as an invitation to a distant planet. Shaw, Holloway and a team of scientists head to this planet, on a ship named Prometheus, on a trip that is funded by the Weyland Corporation, who has their own agenda for visiting this alien planet. After being cytogenetically frozen, the team arrives in 2093 and soon discover that they are not going to get the answers that they came looking for.

This prequel unravels the mystery surrounding the humanoid space jockey that is found by the crew in Alien and it appears that the space jockey, known to this team as an engineer, is answerable to a lot more than they could have ever imagined. This prequel, as promised by being a prequel, answers many of the questions raised in Alien. However, it would not be a Ridley Scott film if it did not leave us questioning more.

Prometheus takes an existentialist view on the world, as it questions our origins and our faith.  The crew are on a mission to uncover the formidable question of where we come from, a question that was avoided in the Alien Quadrilogy. The name Prometheus has its origins in Greek mythology as Prometheus was a Titan God who created man out of clay and stole fire from Zeus to give to humans, which lead him to be punished. In the film the ship Prometheus brings the humans to their creator which in turn unleashes fire upon them. Again, this film returns us to the great paradox of life, the fact that with life comes death and with creation comes destruction, sometimes without meaning.

It would seem however, that Michael Fassbender’s performance as David, a robot, steals the film. David appears to be one of the most interesting characters in the film, as his lack of empathy makes him eerily un-human despite his appearance. This is contrasted against Noomi Rapace, who questions her humanness as she is unable to procreate, well to a certain extent.... This film is embedded with philosophical, religiously challenging questions of where we come from and what determines us to be human. The abjection caused by the body horror, featured in all the Alien films and Prometheus, create this post-human body that raises these question of identity.

Prometheus is a film that will get you questioning your values and beliefs as it takes an existentialist view on our lives and purpose. The film may answer some of the questions raised in Alien, but it will definitely leave you asking more. What the film lacks in chest bursting alien action, it makes up in a well thought out plot, full of twists. This thrilling, suspense filled film will have you gripped from the start and is definitely worth watching.