A step up from last week's short in every way. I liked 'Containment,' but it still felt like a fan film, trying too hard to belong in the Alien universe. Been there, done that. 'Specimen,' on the other hand, shows how the franchise can and should branch out beyond Ripley and the colonial marines. This film feels comfortable creating its own world, in which the nightmare creature is then introduced and horror ensues. I smiled when the montage started with the rock music. "Finally," I thought, "a filmmaker is trying a new direction that truly feels modern, and yet still feels like Alien." Studios cling to original elements way too long (looking at you, Indiana Jones!). Give the franchise to new, young filmmakers, and let them have the freedom to bring the horror back to Alien. Great job, crew of 'Specimen'!
