On July 26th, David Grusch, a former air force intelligence officer, testified the existence of UAPs — more commonly referred to as UFOs — and ‘non—human’ beings at the hearing held by the House oversight committee. I don't know what this sensational news means for us, but it immediately reminds me of the movie Life (2017).
The horror brought by the extraterrestrial beings and the unconventional ending still lingers in my mind today! I'm not saying this out of any hostility towards non-human civilizations. I'm just worried about ourselves as humans and our future.
When Life was released, I was still in college. If it weren't for the handsome Jake Gyllenhaal, I wouldn't have noticed this movie. As a result, in the theater, I was so scared by its audiovisual effects and thrilling atmosphere that I kept covering my ears and squinting. Too scary! When I walked out of the theater, I immediately texted my ex, "Go see 'Life'!"
"No-no, I know how scary it is."
"No, it's not! You shouldn’t miss it!" And I meant it. How could I let him miss the horror?
Tentacles + High Intelligence = The Ultimate in Imagination of Non-Human Creatures
The alien creature Darwin in Life is portrayed as a "tentacle monster". Yes, like those of an octopus. Tentacles are known for their flexibility, smoothness, softness, and easy access to small spaces or even anywhere. They are capable of wrapping, embracing, binding, and restraining and many more, leaving sticky fluid wherever they go. All these features evoke the hidden fear in the collective unconscious of humans, which is why many monster images on screen are portrayed as tentacled creature.
A creature like an ultra-large octopus wouldn't be such a big deal. What makes it terrifying is its super intelligence and adaptability, which go far beyond current human neuroscience or cognitive science. No one can explain how its tentacles are so incredibly strong as to break a person's wrist or even strangle them to death.
Initially, Darwin was not yet mature and only responded in a friendly manner to Hugh's touch. However, Hugh's eagerness to research led him to make a mistake. In an attempt to stimulate Darwin's growth, he delivers electric shocks, making Darwin defensive and hostile upon awakening to human interactions and misinterpret them as killing attempts. Otherwise, it might have grown into a friendly alien. Nevertheless, the instinct of any living creature is survival, which may lead to killing. When Darwin perceives everything around it as a threat, the disaster begins.
The whole movie is like a big escape game played in a spacecraft. Even if the devices and equipment are advanced and sophisticated, Darwin can always find you. It's everywhere - what can be even more terrifying than that?
Enclosed Spaces + Unexpected Endings = Reinforced Horror
The success of a horror movie largely depends on the settings. Enclosed spaces are often favored by horror movies, trapping people inside with nowhere to go but to face their fears.
It’s even more so in a spacecraft. Firstly, spaceships are highly precise devices, and the more precise they are, the more prone they are to malfunctions. Secondly, they float in the vast, silent universe like isolated islands in the sea, cut off from the world. Therefore, David (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) and Miranda (played by Rebecca Ferguson) decided to trap the uncontrollable Darwin in an escape pod and leave it to drift into deep space, silencing it forever.
If the story had ended like this as how everyone expected, Life might not have made such a lasting impression on me. It's the lack of a happy ending that makes its horror extends beyond the screen. As the camera zooms in, we realize that it's not Miranda in the lifeboat but David, tightly embraced by the xenomorph. It's hard not to feel a sense of despair, like how you feel before world collapse.
This ending strikes us as a surprise, leaving the audience with plenty to ponder. It's a testament to the high quality of the film, especially a Hollywood commercial one.
Arrogance vs. Reverence - Humanity's Attitude Towards the Unknown
Life has received criticism for its unrealistic and unscientific plot devices. For instance, the safety protocol in the space station laboratory is confusing, as the ventilation system is connected to other parts of the station. Additionally, the astronauts and scientists demonstrate poor ability to handle unexpected situations.
Nevertheless, in my view, loopholes as they are, it is these scenes that reflect humanity's arrogance. Human beings have long been confident in themselves until they are faced with the alien's overwhelming power.
In conclusion, Life may have flaws, but they do not overshadow its strengths. It manages to make an excellent thriller, planting fear in the audience before raising their deep contemplation. For me, this movie is more like a "revelation" that questions humanity's desire to explore the world and themselves. What will happen when Pandora's box is opened?
At last, here's a joke from a non-English-speaking country: this movie reminds us of the importance of learning English - after all, Jake Gyllenhaal kept saying, “No! No! No! Don't open the gate!”
LC@J Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐
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