A long time ago in the summer of 1978, I was one of 4,700 people to attend IguanaCon, The 36th World Science Fiction Convention, in the waterless void that is Phoenix, Arizona.
It was a whole new world to me, my first real convention filled with people of similar tastes and likes and quirks and kinks. I had never before seen so much Star Trek memorabilia in my life, stuff that dreams were made of. (Real, working communicators! Tribbles for sale! Romulan ale!) I got to sit in on a panel featuring a writer whose stories I’d been reading for some time, who hosted a reading of one of his own works himself, who I’d discovered had written Star Trek’s classic “The City On The Edge Of Forever” and who swore like a sailor: the one and only Harlan Ellison. (Talk about an eye-opener. I learned a few new words during that panel, an event I probably shouldn’t have been party to.)
And it was my first introduction to Alien. A panel was conducted at the Con (I don’t know who chaired the thing) which featured discussion, a few storyboard images from the film and the revelation of the first part of the script right up to and concluding with the facehugger attaching itself to Kane. I distinctly remember the room in a complete hush when the moderator asked if there were any questions. One man raised his hand, was called on and asked: “Is this a comedy?” Laughter burst throughout the room. The thing I remember most was the you-could-hear-a-pin-drop quiet in the room as everyone concentrated on what was being told, the wonder of it all as the story unfolded before us. There was a feeling of anxiety as we listened and, at the conclusion, we were collectively sighed in relief at the tale, yet charged with excitement for the film to come out. And … I remember a feeling of foreboding and fear from what I heard.
I haven’t felt that feeling in quite some time. When it appears, it rears its head soundlessly, making its presence known through a daunting, disquieting air, manifesting itself by the hackles rising on the back of your neck and with a general uneasiness from within you.
And that’s exactly how I felt watching the videos below, especially the one of Michael Fassbender (Shame) with David 8’s literal crocodile tears filled with faux humanism, yet eerily and emotionally void of sensation.
The videos are the brainchild of Ridley Scott, mastermind of not only the original Alien film which started the franchise, but standard-setting fare such as Blade Runner — and two of my very favorites — Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven. Scott continues to build suspense and excitement with gems such as these leading up to the much-anticipated Prometheus premiere June 8th.
Hurry, June. I can’t wait to experience that creepy feeling full-bore.
Clacked by Michael Noble 
on Apr 24, 2012 @ 14:16 EST5EDT
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Bonus!
In the world of Alien, the Mayans are wrong! Woot … !!!
(As evidenced by the Roman numeral above the various reference materials behind David 8.)
“Manifesting itself by the hackles rising on the back of your neck and with a general uneasiness from within you”.
That sums it up so well Michael.
Although it’s not the creature that gives me that feeling this time around, but the world in the future as it’s depicted in these beautiful scenes. A certain coldness not unlike the effect the masterpiece 2001 A Space Odyssey had on me.
Great blogging!
Like you said, come on June!
I wanna hear more about the 1978 convention. Harlan Ellison?! No mention of Star Wars?
Alien has an interesting history in our house. I had been creeped out by the promos, so I declined to go to the theater that night. I had no problem with Hubby seeing the film with a friend, but did ban any discussion of details post-viewing. Little did I know the nightmarish effect that would create in him as he replayed – but could not talk out with me – various effective horror elements of the picture. To date it and Exorcist are the two top shudder movies for him. I’ve still never seen it, and we still only talk around the edges of the movie itself.
Hubby was shocked when I asked him about Prometheus, and eagerly started to describe Alien I through IV. Nope, nada, not going there.
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I will say this about Star Wars, Nyela:
Ellison railed against it saying it would ruin science fiction in film. He said everything would follow in its footsteps and be utter crap. That was his prediction.
Dude was a character, I tell you …
…and he was 100% correct.
Michael,
glad you enjoyed Iggiecon. I helped put it on and missed most of the programming as a result – with the exception of a signing by Ellison (I was making sure no one got ‘too’ personal’, one by Gahan Wilson the guest artist and the Hugo Awards ceremony.
Ellison is definitely a character, no doubt and I agree with Mr. Arthur – Harlan’s prediction was 100% correct in that Star Wars took film down the “we can show you anything now” path. We’ve entirely lost the ‘movie in your head’ approach to film (well, except for the monster in Cloverfield and that aspect of the film was what helped make it the sensation it was). No more listening to the radio and imagining stuff for yourself – instead the director gets to inject his imagination into your skull, so you’ll be happy with your Bantha toys and whatnots – cause they look just like “you” imagined them to.
Next stop – Philip K Dick Land.