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Alien

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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Roger Luckhurst delves into Ridley Scott's Alien (1979), a landmark film blending science fiction and horror. The book traces the film's evolution from its origins as the rejected monster movie script Star Beast to its lasting cultural presence through numerous sequels and prequels. Luckhurst examines how Alien challenges our ideas of otherness and explores humanity's vulnerabilities within its terrifying, confined spaceship setting.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for fans of film history, science fiction and horror cinema, and readers interested in cultural analysis of iconic movies.

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Alien, that legendary fusion of science fiction and horror, was born out of a terrible monster movie script called Star Beast. Tracing the constellation of talents that came together to produce the film, this book explores how and why this interstellar slasher movie, this old dark house in space, came to coil itself around our darkest imaginings.

Luckhurst offers many insights into characters and subtext that would presumably escape the average viewer of Ridley Scott's hugely successful SF/horror hybrid. But he also covers the gestation of the production, which is a fascinating story in itself, before dissecting the film to provide a pretty comprehensive and incisive analysis.' - Good Book Guide

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A legendary fusion of science fiction and horror, Ridley Scott's Alien (1979) is one of the most enduring films of modern cinema β€” its famously visceral scenes acting like a traumatic wound we seem compelled to revisit.

Tracing the constellation of talents that came together to produce the film, Roger Luckhurst examines its origins as a monster movie script called Star Beast, dismissed by many in Hollywood as B-movie trash, through to its afterlife in numerous sequels, prequels and elaborations.

Exploring the ways in which Alien compels us to think about otherness, Luckhurst demonstrates how and why this interstellar slasher movie, this old dark house in space, came to coil itself around our darkest imaginings about the fragility of humanity.

This special edition features original cover artwork by Marta Lech.

Series: BFI Film Classics

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781844577880

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 31 October 2014

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: BFI Publishing

Illustration: 60 colour illus

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 6.0mm

Width: 134.0mm

Height: 194.0mm

Weight: 160g

Pages: 96

About the Author

ROGER LUCKHURST is Professor of Modern Literature at Birkbeck College, University of London, UK. His many books include The Trauma Question (2008), The Mummy's Curse (2012) and, in the BFI Film Classics series, The Shining (2013).

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