Alien: Earth Review
What Happens When The Deadliest Thing in Space Deals With The Deadliest Thing on Earth
Imagine this scenario: You hear clanging and what sounds like feet scratching the surface of the vents above your head. The pungent smell of fear thick in the air, and something acrid almost burns the hairs off the back of your neck.
It’s silent, save for the sound of your heart beating and your shallow breaths. Your adrenaline is peaking; your senses are heightening. Your eyes are wide, and all you can do is move through narrow hallways as lights flash all around you, momentarily blinding you.
You know something is there. Something dangerous, predatorial, and unpredictable in its violence. It’s horrific and unearthly. Almost sadistic in how it seems to take pleasure in death, yet you know it’s incapable of feeling pleasure.
Then, as soon as you relax your guard, the creature attacks! Pouncing out of the walls to strike, slamming into you as it screams and spits, its gleaming, wet body holding onto you as it grabs you with sharp claws, ready to kill!
These are the typical scenes depicted in the “Alien” franchise, and they are usually what come to mind for viewers who have seen the first two films. Ever since Ridley Scott’s first film was released in theaters in 1979, the world of “Aliens” has been expanded upon with several sequels, a prequel, spin-offs, video games, comics, books, and thousands of pieces of merchandise.
Not bad, considering that the star of it all is the eponymous alien called the Xenomorph, which is a name based on the Greek word ‘strange form’. Despite whoever is in the leading human role of every film, you can be sure that those who go to see an “Alien” movie are there for the creature itself, since it never feels like a proper film without one dashing across the screen, eviscerating everyone in its path.
“Alien: Earth” is the latest installment in the franchise, but many people have asked since the first episode whether it’s worth their time. On the one hand, you have a lot of reviewers who say that it is, since it includes Ridley Scott as an executive producer of the show and has writers, cast, and crew who were fans of the original two films. Yet on the other hand, you have others who say it isn’t, given the show’s events and some of the creative directions taken, which I’ll briefly touch on in my personal opinions segment below.
No matter what the reviewers think, everyone can certainly agree that there are a lot of things the show HAS done right. It’s slow-building and methodical in how it sets up the pieces for later episodes, featuring flawed characters with their own agendas that often conflict with one another in a complex web of interpersonal relationships. It is undoubtedly a show that harkens back to the very first films and what made them both special.
Especially when it comes to the xenomorph itself in the earlier episodes. Numerous entries in the franchise’s history later rendered the Xenomorph to nothing more than a common enemy that’s easily dealt with, often relegating it to a secondary character. This show, instead, looked back to the start and brought the creature back into the limelight to show why the xenomorph should be properly feared. At least, til the last third act rendered that moot. The creative decision I mentioned just a few paragraphs ago.
Before the last third, though, this works great in the earlier parts because that’s what makes the Xenomorph so scary. It doesn’t communicate; it has no thoughts, reasons, or pathos. It just murders and reproduces, and that’s all it needs to do to be a scary monster. Too much screen time would ruin the appeal, and “Aliens: Earth” has the proper amount of screen time that a monster like that deserves at the start (I keep hinting at it, but you’ll read why later).
Despite the atmosphere, the things they got right, and the people working on this show, that doesn’t exactly answer the question: “Is It Worth Watching?”
Ultimately, it depends entirely on you and how you choose to approach the show. There are a lot of other voices out there that give their opinions, but I always feel that as a person who reviews media, it shouldn’t be my job to tell you what to think, but rather, to give you an idea of what the show feels, sounds, and is built like so you can make the decision yourself, even if I do give personal opinions here and there. Especially since the “Alien” franchise has run the gamut from sci-fi horror to sci-fi Action, to surprisingly, sci-fi comedy, satirizing itself.
If you’re expecting a lot of scenes that include action, gunfight, explosions, cursing, and one-liners, then you’ll be disappointed coming into this show. However, if you’re expecting a slow-burning horror that feels like a roller coaster of tension – high points followed by low points of building drama and world building, followed by high points of tension and excitement, and then back to low points of building back up – then this will be your show to watch especially since it does introduce mystery, complex character motivations, and a few harrowing scenes. Not to mention aliens other than the xenomorph, and locational sets outside of a tiny, cramped spaceship.
So, if that last bit interests you – or if you’re still unsure about adding it to your watchlist – read on and see for yourself whether it’s worth investing a day’s worth of time into the show. I’ll break this review down into several categories that I believe exemplify the series, while also discussing where I felt it faltered. That way, you understand what the building blocks of the show and its story are like.
As stated, I’ll keep it as spoiler-free as possible. Let’s get into it.
Cinematography
This is, by far, the best aspect of the show, and one that I wanted to start with. It looks, feels, and even MOVES just like the first two films did back in the day.
I think you can say whatever you want about the show’s story and the creative liberties taken with the franchise, but there is no denying that the people who filmed and edited this show knew what they were doing. It was just that excellently done.
What made “Alien” and “Aliens” (the sequel) stand out from other horror movies of the era is that both Ridley Scott and James Cameron knew how to make films rather than simply movies. Horror movies of the time were typically low-budget, schlocky films meant to push the bar. Often, they were full of jump scares, light on story and atmosphere, and were usually meant more to titillate and excite the viewer… though not much has changed since, unfortunately. Often, they offered nothing more than a cheap thrill and an hour or two of popcorn munching, along with some nightmares for the less desensitized.
What both Scott and Cameron excelled at was being definite auteurs of their craft, and they made the films in the image they wanted. Slow-moving camera pans; silent moments where the scene would play without a single sound save for the characters’ breathing; tension-building moments between spoken dialogue; camera closeups to evoke claustrophobia, almost to the point of suffocation, and then frenetic action as if all the built-up energy over the last 30 minutes had been suddenly unleashed. Not to mention how dirty, grimy, and messy the characters became over the course of the film.
These were the hallmarks of the first two films, and made them stand out from the other horror films of their day. It is also, thankfully, where “Alien: Earth” shines best. Which is great because not only did they get Ridley Scott on board to help with the script and set, but directors Noah Hawley, Dana Gonzales, and Ugla Hauksdóttir do a great job of direction, while the Cinematographers David Franco, Bella and Dana Gonzales, and Colin Watkinson do a great job of capturing the mood that’s so evocative of the first two films that made the franchise what it is.
While some scenes pan out to give us a wide view of the surroundings, these are few and far between and are meant to establish the world in which the story is taking place. After all, it wouldn’t have worked if we had shifted our focus from the laboratories and tropical island setting, where the majority of the cast are located, and suddenly found ourselves in an urban setting and back again. We need some of those pulled-back scenes to show that we’re either in a city, a tropical island, in space, or somewhere else.
Thankfully, most of the scenes in the show are up close and personal, allowing us to see the characters’ reactions and emotions and watch how they interact with their surroundings. In fact, we’re close enough that we’re almost intimate with their body language, which makes us feel like we’re right there next to them.
In fact, it sends chills up my spine thinking about my favorite scenes this way.
Sound and Music
The sound and music were done very well in the show, all things considered.
What “Alien” and “Aliens” excel at is the use of music and silence in tandem with one another. Silence is a great way to build tension in a scene, while music is a great way to convey emotion or distract the viewer from noticing something that might not be apparent on a first viewing.
“Alien: Earth” continues with that tradition. There are scenes where the characters look at one another or their surroundings, forcing the viewer to look around with them because they’re just as scared as the characters. Often, this rewards eagle-eyed viewers with background movement to heighten the tension. The music, when played, is instrumental, fitting the theme and the moods it aims to express.
You know the type. Soft and tranquil in moments of peace, often when the characters are espousing exposition, or discussing their feelings and thoughts. Heavy, rhythmic, and ominous tones, frequently featuring low baritones, are employed when the monster is on the prowl, chasing the characters, or when tension needs to be built up and leave us on the edge of our seats.
Not only do they use music to their advantage – or a lack of it when the scene calls for it, usually with the xenomorph hunting, or a character is about to die a gruesome death – but the background noises do an excellent job of conveying the surroundings too.
When we’re in New Siam (the human city in the first episode), we’re met with a lot of industrial sounds. Vehicles driving by, people talking, life and laughter, yelling, and the sounds of the buildings rattling.
When we’re in the spaceship, it’s generally quiet, save for the sounds of the characters walking. The characters’ voices echo, accompanied by the hiss of pipes, beeps of broken machinery, and a subtle click of scuttling feet in the background.
When we’re in the island laboratory, it’s often quiet, serene, and relaxing. An almost home-like atmosphere where one can feel safe. There are the beeps of computers, television displays playing, the sounds of soft leather chairs and couches, and when they’re outside, the sounds of tropical animals, foliage cracking as the characters move through it, and more.
All in all, the sounds are nice and crisp.
However, I do have one caveat about the music choices that I’m not a fan of. The show’s soundtrack is filled with instrumental music and typically lacks anything truly contemporary that stands out. Yet the ending credit songs are always popular heavy metal songs by bands such as Queen, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Tool, and more. Often, the songs chosen are lyrically related to the events of the last 10 minutes of the episode.
Now, I’m a coffee-loving werewolf, but I’m also a metalhead at my core. I love heavy metal music and all its subgenres, but the ending credits were a poor choice when silence might have been more poignant. Not only do the songs feel jarring, but they also seem more suited to an action-packed show than what we have. In an interview, series creator Noah Hawley said he wanted to “highlight the cliffhanger endings by making an arena show, something that feels bigger than a small theater.”
Fair enough. I personally felt that this approach falls flat and doesn’t achieve the objective because the show is more slow-paced than fast-paced. Amping up an audience typically means preparing them for fast-paced, frenetic action rather than interpersonal character drama and setting up future plot twists. Though others might disagree with me on this, as it provides a nice segue into the next episode… provided you listen through the entire end credits of each episode instead of skipping them outright.
Of course, that’s more of a personal gripe. Some people have liked it, and believe that it sets it as a modern show, getting them amped up for the next episode and on the edge of their seat (just as the Series Creator wanted), but others are like me and think it was odd since much of the show is either silence, or percussion and reedy instrumentals meant to evoke emotions that either build or release tension.
You’ll Like It If-
You like “Aliens” and the franchise in general.
That’s really it. It’s a show about the Xenomorph and other dangerous aliens that are brought to Earth, and the first half feels like the second movie “Aliens”, while the latter half feels more like the first film “Alien“. Both have their slower moments, with building tension in between the big pieces of the story, with plenty of visceral gore, blood, dismemberment, and more.
The Xenomorph is horrific, the eyeball alien is terrifying, and the other aliens are… Well, they’re there.
Although admittedly, the last two episodes of the show somewhat negate the “Alien” connotation – something I’ll touch on in my personal thoughts below.
All in all, it’s a great sci-fi horror show with some action sequences. While some segments of the story dealing with the Hybrids are okay, you’ll more than likely want to stick around for the long stretches of silence that build up the tension, the simple mistakes when dealing with the alien creatures that lead to horrific death (and holding your hand over your face while you watch, knowing it’ll end badly). The way the characters interact with each other and pursue their individual goals ultimately leads to the deaths of those around them.
Plus, it gets close to the action as well. There are plenty of scenes where the camera pans in close to the aliens once they’re revealed, and the CGI effects are crisp and clean, even if the practical effects from the first two movies are still leagues better.
If you like something where you’re either sitting on the edge of your seat, eyes straight ahead, wanting to see what the xenomorph does, or what the humans do that leads up to their demise, then this show is something you’ll enjoy. Likewise, if you’re the sort of person who sits back after those scenes and munches on snacks during the slower segments of a show.
You Might Not Like It If-
That’s going to depend entirely on how you feel about the ‘Alien‘ franchise.
Suppose you’re more of a fan of the first Alien, where it’s more of an atmospheric, claustrophobic sci-fi horror where the xenomorph picks off members of the crew one by one, all the way to the bombastic, frantic finale. In that case, you’ll probably not be terribly thrilled with “Alien: Earth,” as it takes roughly six episodes to feel like a proper “Alien” movie, where the titular creatures get a chance to wreak havoc in a scientific setting.
You also probably won’t be as captivated by the issues the hybrid children face or the moral questions they raise. While it is fascinating to think about moral quandaries like “What it means to be human”, “are they really still children even though they’re in the body of synthetic adults, and will never experience puberty?” and “is it justifiable to alter their memories, moods, and thoughts”, these are questions that are better suited for an entirely different show rather than one about an xenomorph on Earth and how that is going to affect humanity when the perfect killing machine is let loose on the world.
If you’re more into “Aliens” (the sequel), then… well, you still might not be as into it. The first few episodes offer the action you might like, with tense moments in Episodes 2, 3, and parts of 4. However, the pace slows down again, only picking up again in Episodes 7 and 8. If you find yourself struggling to sit through what feels like a slog through around two to three episodes, then it might not be exactly what you’re looking for.
And if you’re not a fan of sci-fi horror with a bit of action, and cyberpunk existentialism…then what are you doing here?
Jokes aside, at the end of the day, the show’s pacing tends to shift from frantic, action-packed to slow, meandering, and sometimes philosophical, while building tension and horror in other scenes. If you’re looking for consistent pacing from one episode to another, you might skip certain segments to get to the parts you want. This isn’t a problem if you approach it as one long movie that spans eight hours, rather than eight short episodes. However, you won’t get the full scope of the story that way.
My usual recommendation is to watch the first episode yourself and see if it fits your taste. This is the best way to see if a show is right for you before you get into it, since the first episodes typically contain the character introductions, buildup, and world-building before slowing down to tell the narrative.
Personal Thoughts
I’m at a conundrum with this show, after watching all eight episodes comprising the first season (trust me, they hinted at a second season).
I enjoyed the show for what it was, all the way to the final two episodes. If I had to sum it all up, I’d say that it was a worthy entry into the “Alien” franchise up until a certain point, primarily because of style, cinematography, and the fact that some entries in the franchise have been far worse.
Plus, sci-fi alien horror isn’t one of my favorite genres of horror (that would be psychological, gothic, or atmospheric horror), but I did like the original two films, Prometheus, and I played enough Alien Isolation that if I so much as hear the ductwork in my house clang around, I get heart palpitations. I watched the first two films as a small child with my Father, who was a big film buff, and I remember having nightmares for months afterwards, thinking something was going to crawl out of the heat register in my bedroom.
Thanks, Dad.
But the movies excelled at what they were supposed to do. They frightened the hell out of me, and made me want to know more about the monsters themselves. The atmospheric dread that came with the long shots of characters either looking around or not speaking, fearing what was around the corner, struck a chord with me. The way the monsters weren’t overly utilized until the last third of the film made me appreciate the buildup of terror rather than just the constant danger, which made me emotionally exhausted by the third act. It was that catharsis when Ripley beat the Alien that stuck with me, having vanquished the monster that terrorized her and the crew at the end at the cost of her sanity and friends.
The movies were instrumental in developing my love of being scared, because I was HOOKED.
Admittedly, the show didn’t hit those chords for me. I was genuinely interested in the hybrid’s story and all of the moral and ethical questions that came with them. However, I felt that they would have been at home in a different show meant for them, since it felt more like something you’d see in “Black Mirror” or “Altered Carbon.” They felt superfluous, since even the show didn’t know if they were prototypes, super soldiers, a product being developed for mass marketing, or just an experiment. If they were altered to be something else, they would have been far more interesting. Especially if they were just synthetics, since synthetics played crucial roles as both antagonist and supporting protagonist of the first and second films.
Where the show excelled was the atmosphere. It was tense watching the show, and I often found myself on the edge of my seat, leaning into the screen to catch what was happening in the background when it got blurry, and perking up every time the scene went silent and the characters became scared. I could sense the raw emotion of the characters, and I felt a connection to their worries, fears, questions, concerns, and more. I visibly winced when the Xenomorph killed.
Although I mentioned I wasn’t a fan of the hybrids, the actors still did a phenomenal job. I read an interview where they mentioned that they had the child actors act out the scene first, with the adult actors mimicking them to achieve that child-like quality in their actions, and it worked really well. Part of my squeamishness with the hybrids is that technically they are children, and thus when they get hurt and killed, it didn’t horrify me, but instead saddened me.
Hence, one of the reasons I wasn’t a fan of their inclusion.
Overall, the show was well-paced at the start, with a sagging middle, and a quick, jolting start to the last act in the 6th episode. However, the final two episodes didn’t sit well with me.
Which is where the conflict of my enjoyment with the show comes in, and it will, unfortunately, include mild spoilers. Yes, this is the part that I’ve been alluding to, so if you do read, buckle up.
MILD SPOILERS AHEAD! Skip below to the second warning to remain spoiler-free if you wish.
The final two episodes felt like a complete subversion of what we had been building toward throughout the series. I was with the idea of corporate espionage and sabotage, of human stupidity bringing forth an invasive species to Earth, and I was even willing to deal with the hybrids as a quirk that should have been shelved.
In episode 7, Wendy – the main protagonist of the show – flexes her ability to control and communicate with the Xenomorphs. She treats it as a pet, and it acts as if she’s a surrogate mother. She uses this ability to kill enemies who want to harm her and others, thereby protecting the other hybrids, her brother, and a few other characters.
I wasn’t a fan of how it shifted the xenomorph from the focus of the horror to just another character on their side. The thrilling terror of the xenomorph comes from its movement through the darkness of the setting, using ventilation ducts, dark corners, and narrow hallways to hunt and kill the human characters. It’s a force of nature that doesn’t think other than to consume and reproduce. When the creature is in broad daylight, reacts to human touch, and even responds to slightly affectionate touch, it… well… It kills the horror. It’s like staring into an abyss and finding out that it’s strangely cute.
What I’m also not a fan of is the message at the end of the show’s current season, since it IS setting it up for a second season. The last episode, literally titled “The Real Monsters,” sets up humans – or more accurately, corporations – as the real monsters of the series. For me, that feels like a nice message to showcase in horror, because it’s often true, but he fact is, the foundation of the “Alien” franchise is built on how humans deal with a force of nature beyond terrestrial.
The xenomorph and, by extension, the other hostile aliens, are scary because they don’t react as aliens in most sci-fi do. They’re not intelligent and behave more like animals. They hunt, kill, eat, reproduce, repeat, and it’s the fact that they don’t act like anything we’re used to that makes them frightening. If you normalized them, they’re just ordinary animals that come from a different world, and it just feels like a standard sci-fi show rather than what the franchise is built on. There’s a reason why, up until now, the Xenomorph has consistently been portrayed as the antagonist. It’s the terror of what it IS, rather than what it could be.
MILD SPOILERS UP ABOVE! I’ll not spoil the show from here on out.
It’s the changes I previously mentioned that make me feel conflicted about whether I like this show or not. On the one hand, the majority of the show was pretty good, even with the sagging middle, up till the last two episodes.
Plus, I wasn’t a fan of the rock music at the end of each episode, as I’ve mentioned before. I was also not a fan of certain characters like Boy Kavalier, despite Samuel Blenkin’s acting. The actor I enjoyed, and I really want to see him in other future roles, but the character of Boy Kavalier rubbed me the wrong way, and I couldn’t put my finger on why.
Overall, I’d watch it again, but only with fans of the franchise who want to watch it for the first time, so I can see their reaction. It’s a nice weekend binge if you’re looking for something scary in parts, philosophical in others, and tense in a lot of others. You can even put it on in the background during the slow moments, and scroll through your phone before it picks back up.
If You Liked This, You’ll Also Like
Anything else from the “Alien” franchise… except the “Alien: Colonial Marines” video game. That one was just bad.
Seriously, there’s so much in the franchise that it’s mind-boggling. Many people only think there are the movies and a few games, but there are actually at least 50 tie-in novels (Which I’ll link below), as well as a handful of video games and comics. “Alien” came out in 1979, and since then it has also inspired a plethora of other films, video games, space-horror books (Which I will also link below), music albums, and even live shows.
Here’s a small sample of suggested media similar to “Aliens: Earth” and the entire franchise, in case you’re looking for more space horror featuring aliens, cramped spaces, and small crews being picked off one by one.
Movies:
- – Life (2017)
- – Pandorum (2009)
- – The Descent (2005)
- – Sputnik (2020) NOTE: This is a Russian film, so you’ll have to find an English-dubbed version.
- – Event Horizon (1997)
Video Games:
- – Dead Space (2008) NOTE: Be sure to play the sequels too.
- – The Callisto Protocol (2022)
- – Prey (2017)
- – Soma (2015)
- – Moons of Madness (2015)
Books:
Unfortunately, I haven’t read many books like “Alien” or its franchise, as my personal library is mainly filled with Gothic Literature, Classic Literature, Ghost Stories, Hauntings, and anything illustrated by Dav Pilkey (don’t judge).
I personally recommend checking out the following Goodreads Reading Lists. As it turns out, there are a LOT of official “Alien” novels that expand the world-building, including comic books.
Alien Book Tie-Ins
Space Horror Reading List
Final Words
Overall, your enjoyment of the show will depend on whether you want it to remain faithful to the “Alien” franchise or not, and whether you mind that it takes a new approach to it.
While the show is crafted exceptionally well, and the cast competently does their job, there’s nothing here that truly stands out. It does, unfortunately, feel like the writers had several ideas they wanted to mash together that don’t feel coherent in the last third of the show’s first season.
However, what is there is a fun show that’s competently put together, taking the franchise from doomed colonies and quiet, desolate space stations and spaceships. Just be sure to lower your expectations on what is there, however, and gauge the first episode yourself.
And if you happen to hear anything rustling around in your vents? Bring a flamethrower with you.
~ Rease Stoneheart
