Film Review: Alien 40th Anniversary Shorts

Very Average Joe
Sep 20
4 min read

Released in 2019, these six short films were produced in association with 20th Century Fox after being selected as winners of the competition. I revisited these short films due to the release of Alien: Earth.

The competition was launched in 2018. Each film was required to be 5 to 9 minutes long and feature original characters. Winners were awarded a budget of $35,000.

On balance, these short films aren’t bad even if they’re not great. This is quite an achievement since the Alien franchise is not exactly new, so one knows what to expect. Despite their predictability, there is sufficient suspense to keep one watching.

Most of these short films are basically one sequence with minimal plot, but there is some sense of progression that leads to a conclusion with possibly a so-called twist.

The performances and production are good. The visual effects can be better and some of the interiors look a bit too much like a regular room, but that is expected given the budgetary constraints.

Containment – Director(s): Chris Reading, Screenwriter(s): Chris Reading

The Barrowdale, carrying over twenty-three thousand souls on board, explodes and disintegrates. Four individuals, one unconscious, escape on a lifeboat.

There is the obvious question of who is carrying the Alien. This is handled well enough but the main weakness is that it is initially a bit dialogue-heavy as the four survivors discuss what had happened.

Specimen – Director(s): Kelsey Taylor, Screenwriter(s): Federico Fracchia

Set in a colony on Planet LV-492, Julie is a botanist working the night shift in a greenhouse (which resembles an underground facility) with only a Doberman as a companion.

Of course, there must be something in one of the soil samples and the alarm goes off, which Julie would sooner hear if it weren’t for the unwise practice of wearing headphones when working alone.

Basically, it’s a hide-and-seek sequence. And partly in the dark. It is nicely lit when it is not dark and the suspense works.

Night Shift – Director(s): Aidan Michael Brezonick, Screenwriter(s): Aidan Michael Brezonick

On a mining colony on Planet LV-422, two blokes want to get a late drink at the supply depot just as the Rolly and Springer are about to close for the night. Springer lets them in and, of course, one of them is carrying an Alien.

Rolly is the main viewpoint character and the conflict is with the two guests as much as the Alien. The performances are fine, but the premise and plot are somewhat bland, and the set just looks like a room. This is one of the weakest pieces of the anthology.

Ore – Director(s): Kailey Spear & Sam Spear, Screenwriter(s): Kailey Spear & Sam Spear

On a platinum mining colony, Lorraine struggles to provide for her family. On one shift, there is a body thanks to a chestbuster.

The piece is not just Lorraine and her colleagues dealing with the problem but also with the synthetic, Hanks, providing instructions from above. Hanks is interestingly written with some pathos: she acts on behalf of the company but it’s not as if she does not care about the miners either and Tara Pratt does really well in these few minutes.

The mine looks sufficiently convincing but the control room can look less like a set, although the computer displays look faithful to the franchise.

Overall, it’s not a bad piece. The tension is effective and although the buildup is also well-managed, the concluding act can be better.

Harvest – Director(s): Benjamin Howdeshell, Screenwriter(s): Craig Dewey

On the comet harvester The November, four survivors attempt to make their way to the escape pod on a failing ship.

The piece tries to inject tension and dread by having a pregnant woman as one of the survivors. I am not sure why a pregnant woman is on such a mission in the first place. Either way, it’s a variation of the hide-and-seek sequence obviously inspired by the final act in Alien (1979) when Ripley is attempting to abandon the Nostromo.

Even for a short film, it lacks a plot and that wow factor even though the final act does elevate the work somewhat. This is the other weak piece of the anthology.

Alone – Director(s): Noah Miller, Screenwriter(s): Noah Miller

A lone synthetic is on board the Otranto after the crew abandoned the ship over 400 days ago. To emphasize the loneliness, voiceover narration is utilized as her efforts to maintain the failing ship are shown.

She eventually breaks into the secured lab and discovers a live specimen. The facehugger can’t make use of her and so there is a semblance of a rescued-pet relationship.

It’s an original idea and well-executed. The sets are pretty good. It is nicely lit to yield that eerie dark tone. The cinematography and editing are excellent with good use of tight shots, handheld, as well as slow fades and transitions to heighten the realism and eeriness.

At approximately 12 minutes, it is the longest of the six films and the producers are commended for allowing this piece to run over 9 minutes. It is easily the best piece of the six.