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Films/TV => Alien Films => Topic started by: Corporal Hicks on Apr 23, 2019, 07:20:15 PM

Title: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Apr 23, 2019, 07:20:15 PM
QuoteAlien: Harvest — The surviving crew of a damaged deep-space harvester have minutes to reach the emergency evacuation shuttle. A motion sensor is their only navigation tool leading them to safety while a creature in the shadows terrorizes the crew. However, the greatest threat might have been hiding in plain sight all along.  directed by Benjamin Howdeshell.



Waiting for that YouTube upload.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Nightmare Asylum on Apr 24, 2019, 02:43:34 AM
This was easily my least favorite of the six.

Keep an eye out in the credits for a "Special Thanks."
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SiL on Apr 24, 2019, 03:12:05 AM
I've heard about the special thanks. Popcorn at the ready :D
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Nightmare Asylum on Apr 24, 2019, 03:13:05 AM
Quote from: SiL on Apr 24, 2019, 03:12:05 AM
I've heard about the special thanks. Popcorn at the ready :D

The short feels like someone is trying really hard to pay tribute there. :D
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on Apr 24, 2019, 03:18:50 AM
I can't believe I'm more excited for the credits lmao.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SiL on Apr 24, 2019, 03:25:03 AM
Quote from: Nightmare Asylum on Apr 24, 2019, 03:13:05 AM
The short feels like someone is trying really hard to pay tribute there. :D
Of all people, why?  :laugh:
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on Apr 24, 2019, 03:57:14 AM
Oh, this'll be good.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: Huggs on Apr 24, 2019, 04:25:31 AM
So will this be based on the novel of the same name   ;D
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SiL on Apr 24, 2019, 04:49:28 AM
If only! But no.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Apr 24, 2019, 05:24:49 AM
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: HuDaFuK on Apr 24, 2019, 09:26:25 AM
Trailer doesn't grab me as much as Alone's, but I'm still excited to see what this is all about.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: The Cruentus on Apr 24, 2019, 04:30:51 PM
I noticed that eggs/facehuggers/chestbursters and shovels/blunt objects seem to be a recurring theme among these shorts. I am glad Ore showed an adult alien, I just hope these last two will show something more.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: HuDaFuK on Apr 24, 2019, 04:47:55 PM
We've still not seen the shot of the Covenant Alien attacking that fella from behind that was in the original, general trailer for these shorts, so at least one of the remaining films must have a full-grown Alien in it.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Nukiemorph on Apr 24, 2019, 04:53:06 PM
This was okay.  Kinda like Containment, but with more brownie points.

Fairly by-the-numbers bundle of franchise staples, but has the fan appeal of a full-grown alien kill.

It probably doesn't deserve it, but I'd be generous and give it a 6/10.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on Apr 24, 2019, 06:59:52 PM
Ouch.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Nukiemorph on Apr 24, 2019, 08:56:04 PM
Hicks, you mentioned not liking the eggs in this one.  That bugged me too.  I'm pretty sure they just bought these:
http://store.unboxindustries.info/product/alien-xenomorph-storage-egg-pre-order (http://store.unboxindustries.info/product/alien-xenomorph-storage-egg-pre-order)

The opening just looks so rigid and mechanical.  It's kinda neat for a home decoration, but definitely not good enough for a movie.

At least they didn't dwell on it much.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Apr 25, 2019, 07:38:52 AM
You know what, I had the exact same thought they might be but I couldn't remember who made them.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Apr 26, 2019, 04:23:17 PM
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: HuDaFuK on Apr 26, 2019, 04:51:41 PM
Not quite sure what to make of this one.

Enjoyed the macabre ending though!
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: P1NK8C1DBOOTS on Apr 26, 2019, 04:54:32 PM
I just finished watching this after the mess that is Alone?!? WTF?!?.....and was pleasantly surprised with Harvest!! The tension was brilliant, well acted and really liked the Alien in this one!! Good effort 👍👍👍


I would agree with you Neocron.....my top 3 also 👍👍👍
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Neocron on Apr 26, 2019, 05:00:58 PM
Wow what an ending!  Loved the tension in this one.  Definitely in my top 3 (Ore, Harvest, Specimen).
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔈𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱𝔥 𝔓𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔢𝔫𝔤𝔢𝔯 on Apr 26, 2019, 05:12:50 PM
Quote from: SiL on Apr 24, 2019, 03:12:05 AM
I've heard about the special thanks. Popcorn at the ready :D

Paul WS Anderson and Milla Jovovich?  ???
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: 0321recon on Apr 26, 2019, 05:47:44 PM
Like the downer ending, though ouch that's a mess. Hated the quick cuts at the beginning, almost no character build up, unlike the others, the sudden turn of the synthetic and the magical egg on the transport. For me, this is literally what imagined a fan flick would be.

IMHO, Containment was better at executing trap in the rescue ship concept.  Pity in that we didn't have a Xeno. 
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: robbritton on Apr 26, 2019, 07:27:40 PM
Felt a bit "13 year old remixes Dark Horse tropes" to me.

Overall I'm disappointed in how little these have thought outside Alien cliches, but I admire the dog one and the pet facehugger one all the more for doing just that. It's been an ok run.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Apr 26, 2019, 07:30:35 PM
PO's interview with the writer/director is out.

https://perfectorganism.podbean.com/e/110-alien-harvest-an-interview-with-director-ben-howdeshell/
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SiL on Apr 26, 2019, 10:01:32 PM
Probably the most expensive looking of the bunch but god damn was that obnoxious.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: P-Rock on Apr 26, 2019, 10:53:31 PM
Still better than AVP-R though.

I'd put this somewhere in the middle. Nice Alien effects.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: TheDerelict on Apr 26, 2019, 10:58:58 PM
Hands down harvest is my favourite one. Loved the dark ending. And that ship travelling in the comet tail looked amazing. That short was brilliant.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: 426Buddy on Apr 26, 2019, 11:00:36 PM
I really enjoyed this, except for the editing, it was fun and a bit cheezy.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: P-Rock on Apr 26, 2019, 11:07:46 PM
1. Ore
2. Specimen
3. Harvest
3. Night Shift
4. Alone
5. Containment
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on Apr 26, 2019, 11:31:15 PM
Night Shift's awful, the attacking newborn Alien is laughable as is the acting and direction. The contrivance of the gunshot. Ugh. The idea it's superior to Alone or any other short is beyond my perception. Predictable and dull.

Containment and Harvest are, nearly exchangeable, both erratic and a lil' silly, each with a beautiful opening and nothing really of substance.
Spoiler
Containment's fourth place though, superior acting and restraint.
[close]

The top three contenders are,
Specimen, Ore and Alone.
Although I believe people are being a tad harsh on all of them. Myself included.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: A beta male on Apr 26, 2019, 11:45:02 PM
Well done. :)  :)  :) 
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SiL on Apr 27, 2019, 12:13:38 AM
Specimen
Alone
Ore
Night Shift
Harvest
Containment

The only reason Harvest doesn't crash to the bottom is it at least has an Alien in it. Considering the films were meant to elicit the feel of Alien, it is the only one which singularly failed to grasp anything about what made that movie work.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Monster Man on Apr 27, 2019, 12:42:58 AM
Congratz to the main lady with the scanner for looking so damn off-putting that the ending makes perfect sense.

Spoiler
Speaking of that ending, I love it when things like this end on a more horrifying note. We gotta have more endings like this, but all the time so as to preserve that feeling.
[close]
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: D88M on Apr 27, 2019, 01:27:05 AM
It sucked. How surprising.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: bacchus on Apr 27, 2019, 01:27:58 AM
My review..

By far the best looking, most cinematic and technically polished of all of the shorts. Everything from the set design and lighting to the colour grading and camera work was very well done, and really the technical standard I expected for all of the shorts. This is the only one that really made the grade in all of those fronts.

The script and performances were far from reaching those heights though. I liked that we joined the action straight away as if we were viewing the final minutes of a feature. However, not sure about that ending – it seemed as if she intentionally trapped the other two in the escape pod (judging by the grin on her face), but the story until then didn't really provide any reason or foundation for her to act that way and was just a semi-twist for the sake of it.

Given the budget, I thought the Xeno effects were very good, but once again budget limitations meant they had to be creative with the editing to give it as brief an appearance as possible.

Overall, technically the best of the shorts (by some distance), but the script left a lot to be desired.

6/10

My final scores for the shorts..

Specimen - 8.5/10
Alone - 6/10
Harvest - 6/10
Ore - 5.5/10
Night Shift - 4.5/10
Containment - 3/10



Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on Apr 27, 2019, 03:06:50 AM
One of the three worst, but pleased by all of them above this one to various degrees.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SiL on Apr 27, 2019, 03:08:49 AM
The editing and the ending are just...

Why.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: Xenomorphine on Apr 27, 2019, 03:24:09 AM
Great visuals. Sort of WTF at how the Alien was somehow fended off. Got confusing at the end.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: Huggs on Apr 27, 2019, 04:28:00 AM
That's how you do it baby!

Outfu**in standing!!!
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on Apr 27, 2019, 04:35:00 AM
New thread idea:

Egg on November
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: 0321recon on Apr 27, 2019, 04:54:20 AM
Quote from: The Old One on Apr 27, 2019, 04:35:00 AM
New thread idea:

Egg on November

build theories how the magical egg got into the transport and such lol!
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on Apr 27, 2019, 04:59:12 AM
Exactly, the real movie magic.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: Huggs on Apr 27, 2019, 05:06:29 AM
The answer is as clear as it always was.

The synthetic did it.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on Apr 27, 2019, 05:10:58 AM
lol. The aforementioned short film's? Sure.
The ridiculous evil smile confirmed it.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: Highland on Apr 27, 2019, 05:22:01 AM
I thought this was pretty good actually. The droid got me on this one unlike the others. For 10 minutes I thought it was pretty well rounded , another solid 7 for me. It's a 10 minute short guys...
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: Huggs on Apr 27, 2019, 05:29:03 AM
That ending is just delicious.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SiL on Apr 27, 2019, 05:31:17 AM
Their goal was to try to capture the feel of the original Alien, and out of all them, this is the only one that didn't get anywhere close to the mark. As disappointing as Containment's lack of monster or Night Shift's bungled ending are, they at least felt like attempts to make an Alien movie. Imagine if Alien had been made with this style -- we wouldn't be talking about it 40 years later :D

I'm not seeing what's great about the ending. It doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Huggs on Apr 27, 2019, 05:36:27 AM
Quote from: SiL on Apr 27, 2019, 05:31:17 AM
Their goal was to try to capture the feel of the original Alien, and out of all them, this is the only one that didn't get anywhere close to the mark. As disappointing as Containment's lack of monster or Night Shift's bungled ending are, they at least felt like attempts to make an Alien movie. Imagine if Alien had been made with this style -- we wouldn't be talking about it 40 years later :D

Alone was the farthest thing we got from the original, like covenant meets driving miss daisy.

Night shift tried to be too much like aliens with its colony and ending that implied everyone getting overrun.

Specimen had a synthetic dog and a face hugger loose in the garden.

At least Harvest was a group of presumably human survivors getting towards a shuttle, with a unknown hostile android in the mix and and mature alien running amuck. Sounds pretty darn closer to the original upon close inspection.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SiL on Apr 27, 2019, 05:40:34 AM
Quote from: Huggs on Apr 27, 2019, 05:36:27 AM
Alone was the farthest thing we got from the original, like covenant meets driving miss daisy.
Stylistically, no. Story, yes. It kept the creepy haunted house vibe, it kept the music and aesthetic, it kept the working class environment and synthetics. It took familiar concepts and presented them in a unique way.

QuoteAt least Harvest was a group of presumably human survivors getting towards a shuttle, with a unknown hostile android in the mix and and mature alien running amuck. Sounds pretty darn closer to the original upon close inspection.
In the story, yes. In the style, no. The ending is straight out of Covenant.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Huggs on Apr 27, 2019, 05:51:47 AM
Quote from: SiL on Apr 27, 2019, 05:40:34 AM
Quote from: Huggs on Apr 27, 2019, 05:36:27 AM
Alone was the farthest thing we got from the original, like covenant meets driving miss daisy.
Stylistically, no. Story, yes. It kept the creepy haunted house vibe, it kept the music and aesthetic, it kept the working class environment and synthetics. It took familiar concepts and presented them in a unique way.

QuoteAt least Harvest was a group of presumably human survivors getting towards a shuttle, with a unknown hostile android in the mix and and mature alien running amuck. Sounds pretty darn closer to the original upon close inspection.
In the story, yes. In the style, no. The ending is straight out of Covenant.

There was no threat to the character in Alone.

Harvest feels nothing like covenant. Alone is just covenant 2.0, with the added bonus of cute little pet facehuggers. It's not originality, it's laziness trying to disguise itself as originality. Much easier to film than chase scenes and aliens killing people. Sub-par effort.

Harvest is hardly the first alien story with a dirty android.

Unlike Covenant, the Alien won here, not the android.

The company will be overrun, and the Android is dead.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SiL on Apr 27, 2019, 06:03:41 AM
Quote from: Huggs on Apr 27, 2019, 05:51:47 AM
There was no threat to the character in Alone.
That's true, it's not much of a horror. But I was much more invested in that story than anyone in Harvest.

QuoteHarvest feels nothing like covenant.
Again, feels? No. But it's still the same "Oh you thought you were with someone safe but now they've trapped you on a ship full of Aliens" ending.

QuoteAlone is just covenant 2.0, with the added bonus of cute little pet facehuggers.
Covenant isn't about a lonely android making a friend last I checked, it was about a psychopathic robot obsessed with creation and the destruction of his creators making a biological weapon to destroy things. The only similarity is an affinity between the android and alien monsters -- and even then Alone leaves the result ambiguous.

QuoteIt's not originality, it's laziness trying to disguise itself as originality. Much easier to film than chase scenes and aliens killing people.
Considering how poorly Harvest handled both those things I'd rather they stick to their limits and come up with an interesting story, than try to overstretch and create confused, terribly filmed and edited "action" sequences.

There's not an original thought in Harvest either -- it has every lazy trope people complained about the last few entries, but replaced any kind of Alien style with something trying much too hard to be slick and early 2000s.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on Apr 27, 2019, 07:00:18 AM
SiL's correct.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: HuDaFuK on Apr 27, 2019, 09:00:05 AM
Quote from: SiL on Apr 27, 2019, 05:31:17 AMI'm not seeing what's great about the ending. It doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense.

It didn't. I appreciated it because it was darkly hilarious.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: Still Collating... on Apr 27, 2019, 06:05:37 PM
I love how they paired up this one and Alone. Both are completely opposite of each other. Harvest has the best visual execution (until the end that is) and by far the weakest story, while Alone has the most interesting story, but a very poor execution, IMO.

This one doesn't have bad camerawork like Alone does, but has the worst choppy action editing by far. The story was uninspired, not horrible, but meh. Some of the character decisions were weird.
The facehugger and egg are the worst things I have ever seen. Unforgivably bad. So sad, since it ruined the previous great visuals.
The final "Muahaha, I was the real android bad guy all a long" stare was pure cheese.

The visuals in Harvest are the best for the most part. The alien looked so much better than I thought it was going to. Not perfect, but really good. The lighting, costume design and space scenes were brilliant. It's "look" didn't feel cheap at all, until the bloody hugger/egg... I'm a very visual type of guy, so I appreciated this effort a lot. The final scene ruined the consistency.
The pregnant lady's acting was very nice, liked her.
Liked the idea of a horrific ending, but the execution failed to be dark and serious. Instead, it as dark and ridiculous.

Overall, these shorts have been fantastic. I did not expect them to be as good as they were. This was a great idea by Fox. I'm so glad we got these additions to the Alien universe. Some were better than others, but all were a decent effort. I'm proud to be a part of such a dedicated fanbase. Considering these were fan projects with a modest budget, all of this is amazing.
Not bad for a human...

My ranking goes like this:

Ore - 9.8/10
Specimen - 9.7/10
Alone - 7/10
Harvest - 6.9/10
Containment - 5.2/10
Night Shift - 5/10
   
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Glaive on Apr 27, 2019, 11:03:41 PM
Style over substance...not a fan...
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on Apr 28, 2019, 02:49:34 AM
Completely agree.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: Huggs on Apr 28, 2019, 03:32:11 AM
Only so much substance you can cram into a short about an ongoing event.

This utilized the mature alien well.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on Apr 28, 2019, 03:36:35 AM
I disagree.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: TC on Apr 28, 2019, 05:15:52 AM
Quote from: SiL on Apr 27, 2019, 05:31:17 AM
Their goal was to try to capture the feel of the original Alien, and out of all them, this is the only one that didn't get anywhere close to the mark.
...

Surely Alone better fits what you are describing. Alone didn't even feel like a horror until Paxton shows up.

Maybe you could describe Alone as a "perversity of mind" horror, rather than a "tension/thriller" horror.

TC
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: Highland on Apr 28, 2019, 06:27:12 AM
Alone is definitely covenant 2.0, I dunno how you can even debate that. Even down to the drawings.

Although Harvest is the simplest story, I guess somebody had to go for the simple corridor Alien kills you short. It's definitely still in the flavour of the original. It even looks like the B movie straight to VHS version.

Specimen still the most original for me ( and best) , just for the fact it has something in it we've never seen before.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SiL on Apr 28, 2019, 06:38:51 AM
Quote from: TC on Apr 28, 2019, 05:15:52 AM
Surely Alone better fits what you are describing. Alone didn't even feel like a horror until Paxton shows up.
Alone's style fits Alien, Harvest doesn't. Harvest evokes that weird early 2000s ghost music-video-style ghost movie aesthetic.

Quote from: Highland on Apr 28, 2019, 06:27:12 AM
Alone is definitely covenant 2.0, I dunno how you can even debate that. Even down to the drawings.
David was trying to make a friend?
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: Highland on Apr 28, 2019, 12:42:43 PM
Quote from: SiL on Apr 28, 2019, 06:38:51 AM
Quote from: TC on Apr 28, 2019, 05:15:52 AM
Surely Alone better fits what you are describing. Alone didn't even feel like a horror until Paxton shows up.
Alone's style fits Alien, Harvest doesn't. Harvest evokes that weird early 2000s ghost music-video-style ghost movie aesthetic.

Quote from: Highland on Apr 28, 2019, 06:27:12 AM
Alone is definitely covenant 2.0, I dunno how you can even debate that. Even down to the drawings.
David was trying to make a friend?

If he malfunctioned enough or even got the chance , who knows. He was blowing on nostrils and stuff. He thinks he's the daddy etc.

The short could have possibly worked if it was the Alien and not the face hugger ( even then that's pushing it). Was a bit too Red Dwarf for me.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Xyz on Apr 28, 2019, 01:49:37 PM
I like that one: it has a lot of tension and, although I expected something to happen at the end, I was surprised. :) Good job!
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Nightmare Asylum on Apr 28, 2019, 02:00:54 PM
Anyone have a clue as to what Paul WS Anderson and Milla Jovovich did to warrant a "Special Thanks" in this? Other than, you know... completely inspire the style of the thing. This felt way more like one of Anderson's Resident Evil movies than it did Alien.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on Apr 28, 2019, 02:50:42 PM
AVP? Blergh.
The general style? Blergh.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SM on Apr 29, 2019, 01:30:43 AM
Another solid effort, but two dodgy robots in a row detracted a little.  I dug the idea of the plasma harvester.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SiL on Apr 29, 2019, 02:31:15 AM
Three if you think back to Ore.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SM on Apr 29, 2019, 02:52:21 AM
Ah, yeah.  Forgot about that one.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: Highland on Apr 29, 2019, 10:31:28 AM
Quote from: SM on Apr 29, 2019, 01:30:43 AM
Another solid effort, but two dodgy robots in a row detracted a little.  I dug the idea of the plasma harvester.

It reminded me of a basking shark. Maybe that was the intention. Very cool though.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: HuDaFuK on Apr 29, 2019, 05:50:59 PM
Having just watched this again, I enjoyed it far more second time around.

It's not especially nuanced or clever, but it is entertaining. As someone else said, at least one of these shorts had to go for the straightforward, Alien-stalks-people-and-kills them route. And I still got a good, macabre laugh out of the conclusion.

Other than doubling down on the mad robots, it makes for a nice companion to Alone because it's the polar opposite in terms of style and tone.

Anyone have any idea who the "Laurel Tooms" character is supposed to be? She's listed in the credits but I only see four in the film (plus the Alien).
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Apr 29, 2019, 09:16:46 PM
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Kimo on Apr 29, 2019, 09:55:14 PM
Looked great and had nice set and strobe light effects and that, but felt it never offered anything new. Basically we must escape why the alien hunts us scenario that has been done to death already. However I'm not knocking it since it was pretty well made for a low budget short so congratulations to the director.

But I really want to see something fresh and new that not your typical cat and mouse scenario or the is a creature in the room with us. If Fox/Disney do more awsome shorts like this for Alien Day in the future, can we please get fresh ideas like Alien Alone or even Specimen were it has a slight twist at the end.

Overall I have loved these shorts hope we get more in the future.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: TC on Apr 29, 2019, 11:57:25 PM
Quote from: Nightmare Asylum on Apr 28, 2019, 02:00:54 PM
Anyone have a clue as to what Paul WS Anderson and Milla Jovovich did to warrant a "Special Thanks" in this? Other than, you know... completely inspire the style of the thing. This felt way more like one of Anderson's Resident Evil movies than it did Alien.

The director actually worked on a couple Resident Evil films (Extinction and 1 other, I think) in the cutting room as some kind of asst.

TC
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SiL on Apr 30, 2019, 01:04:55 AM
That explains the obnoxious editing.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Apr 30, 2019, 08:13:40 AM
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: HuDaFuK on Apr 30, 2019, 08:14:53 AM
Are these teases of the BTS stuff we're supposed to be getting next month?
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Apr 30, 2019, 08:16:19 AM
Are we supposed to be getting something more?

They've been sharing behind-the-scenes of the shorts after each has been released.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: HuDaFuK on Apr 30, 2019, 08:21:39 AM
You could be right. But the way it was described it as "exclusive" behind the scenes stuff made me think it would be new.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on May 01, 2019, 02:02:22 PM
Does it make you care? No, I don't think so.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Corporal Hicks on May 01, 2019, 02:21:29 PM
Care about what, sorry?
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on May 01, 2019, 02:50:06 PM
"Directed by Benjamin Howdeshell, pulls no punches when it comes to special effects and gore, but it still finds a way to make you care about everyone in the small, broken crew running from a monster."
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: The Cruentus on May 02, 2019, 11:03:55 AM
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Apr 29, 2019, 05:50:59 PM
Having just watched this again, I enjoyed it far more second time around.

It's not especially nuanced or clever, but it is entertaining. As someone else said, at least one of these shorts had to go for the straightforward, Alien-stalks-people-and-kills them route. And I still got a good, macabre laugh out of the conclusion.

Other than doubling down on the mad robots, it makes for a nice companion to Alone because it's the polar opposite in terms of style and tone.

Anyone have any idea who the "Laurel Tooms" character is supposed to be? She's listed in the credits but I only see four in the film (plus the Alien).

Having watched Harvest recently, I think the android thing lets it down ny being too over the top. I mean seriously, smiling and having the "yes I am evil" facial expressions? that was a minus for me personally. It would have been better if the synthetics face was expressionless, apathetic rather malevolent.
The other thing that let it down was the facehugger effects too,  it could have better done as a practical effect and it would not be too hard me thinks as you can get all sorts of alien merchandise online these days.

Other than that it was one the ones that I enjoyed better and it was good to see more of the adult alien. The sets were great as well.

Interestingly, the actress who plays Hannah is Jessica Clark, an actress who has had some major roles in mainstream media, namely as Lilith in season five and six of True Blood. I am not sure if there is any other known actors in these shorts, other than the woman who played Lorraine in Ore. Makes me wonder how they got her, did use most of the budget to hire her or did she do it for same amount as the other actors?
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: HuDaFuK on May 02, 2019, 11:34:38 AM
Quote from: The Cruentus on May 02, 2019, 11:03:55 AMInterestingly, the actress who plays Hannah is Jessica Clark, an actress who has had some major roles in mainstream media, namely as Lilith in season five and six of True Blood. I am not sure if there is any other known actors in these shorts, other than the woman who played Lorraine in Ore.

The guy who played Nass in the first short has been in a few things, most obviously the first Inbetweeners film, and is starring in a new comedy series starting on British TV in the near future.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SM on May 02, 2019, 08:34:35 PM
QuoteHaving watched Harvest recently, I think the android thing lets it down ny being too over the top. I mean seriously, smiling and having the "yes I am evil" facial expressions? that was a minus for me personally. It would have been better if the synthetics face was expressionless, apathetic rather malevolent.

Like this?

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffo4mw16y1z42edr6j2m4n6vt.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fash1-560x288.jpg&hash=2c23cb408cf2a1298b869269f3a7df0a67dd7212)
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: The Cruentus on May 03, 2019, 01:31:14 AM
Nah, thats completely different, add in some evil eyebrows, a kubrick stare and more malevolence and there may be some similarity.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SM on May 03, 2019, 01:35:30 AM
If only there was some precedent for robots smiling evilly...

(https://www.alien-covenant.com/aliencovenant_uploads/shawdavid_(2).png)
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Huggs on May 03, 2019, 01:37:03 AM
Harvest just gets better every time I see it.

Quote from: SM on May 02, 2019, 08:34:35 PM
QuoteHaving watched Harvest recently, I think the android thing lets it down ny being too over the top. I mean seriously, smiling and having the "yes I am evil" facial expressions? that was a minus for me personally. It would have been better if the synthetics face was expressionless, apathetic rather malevolent.

Like this?

http://fo4mw16y1z42edr6j2m4n6vt.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/ash1-560x288.jpg

No, that's more of a "i pooped in their donuts" face.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: The Cruentus on May 03, 2019, 01:38:04 AM
Quote from: SM on May 03, 2019, 01:35:30 AM
If only there was some precedent for robots smiling evilly...

(https://www.alien-covenant.com/aliencovenant_uploads/shawdavid_(2).png)

If only, but smiling pleasantly without kubrick stares will just have to do.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on May 03, 2019, 01:38:26 AM
The prototype, the artform "perfect" A.I. -various terminology from Ridley Scott himself.

So David's hardly a precedent setter for anything, by Ridley Scott's own admission.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SM on May 03, 2019, 01:40:35 AM
Fark - it's edit and repost tag.

It's irrelevant because "robots can only smile evilly if they're prototypes" is asinine.

And even if it were the case - the Harvest robot can be a prototype too.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on May 03, 2019, 01:42:06 AM
"Irrelevant"
No. It can't, because David's a prototype.
A one of a kind, Prometheus' own sequel establishes fairly concretely David's the outlier and the successive generation of Android's emotional "expression" is redacted.

This is only reinforced by the portrayal of Walter, Ash, Bishop and Bishop again.
+ (Samuels, Davis, Marcus, Hanks)

There's something human in them, but not maniacal evil intent.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SM on May 03, 2019, 01:44:04 AM
See above.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Local Trouble on May 03, 2019, 01:44:43 AM
I like where this is headed.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SM on May 03, 2019, 01:45:35 AM
It all came out of "I don't like evil smiling robots" then excuses to discount the already existing evil smiling robots...  :-\
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SiL on May 03, 2019, 01:48:20 AM
I don't like evil villains gloating in stupid "got'cha" moments that are pulled out of thin air.

A shocking twist! A betrayal! And look -- look at that smile! The fiend!

It was cheesy even for a short film.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on May 03, 2019, 01:51:22 AM
Quote from: SM on May 03, 2019, 01:45:35 AM
It all came out of "I don't like evil smiling robots" then excuses to discount the already existing evil smiling robots...  :-\

Or a pathetic justification of a ridiculous smile I'd say.
Ash isn't all that different from Hanks.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: The Cruentus on May 03, 2019, 01:57:41 AM
Quote from: SiL on May 03, 2019, 01:48:20 AM
I don't like evil villains gloating in stupid "got'cha" moments that are pulled out of thin air.

A shocking twist! A betrayal! And look -- look at that smile! The fiend!

It was cheesy even for a short film.

Exactly, its just too over the top and there is no need to pull such an expression, because honestly its not just smiling, its a competely psycho face.

Quote from: SM on May 03, 2019, 01:45:35 AM
It all came out of "I don't like evil smiling robots" then excuses to discount the already existing evil smiling robots...  :-\

No one even said that. And there is a difference between a smile and a full blown supervillain psycho face.  :P
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Local Trouble on May 03, 2019, 02:01:41 AM
Like this?

(https://i.gifer.com/origin/8a/8a9025c2813bef262f577345e0b21c3c_w200.gif)
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on May 03, 2019, 02:02:04 AM
David.jpg
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SM on May 03, 2019, 02:08:56 AM
QuoteNo one even said that.

QuoteI mean seriously, smiling and having the "yes I am evil" facial expressions? that was a minus for me personally.

Yeah righto...
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Local Trouble on May 03, 2019, 03:20:35 AM
Can you say that without sounding like a serf from Warcraft 2 in my head?
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SM on May 03, 2019, 04:01:52 AM
I ain't going anywhere near the inside of your bonce.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Huggs on May 03, 2019, 04:09:16 AM
Quote from: SM on May 03, 2019, 04:01:52 AM
I ain't going anywhere near the inside of your bonce.

He wears a bonce?
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: The Cruentus on May 03, 2019, 09:17:19 AM
Quote from: SM on May 03, 2019, 02:08:56 AM
QuoteNo one even said that.

QuoteI mean seriously, smiling and having the "yes I am evil" facial expressions? that was a minus for me personally.

Yeah righto...

Yeah righto, because that doesn't say "I don't like evil smiling robots".  Somebody give this man some spectacles.  :P

Quote from: Local Trouble on May 03, 2019, 02:01:41 AM
Like this?

https://i.gifer.com/origin/8a/8a9025c2813bef262f577345e0b21c3c_w200.gif

Pretty much what her face was like. It lets the short down a bit. Would have been better had she just had an apathetic expression.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: Huggs on May 04, 2019, 04:00:08 AM
She doesn't smile for long.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Kradan on May 12, 2019, 09:37:49 AM
Hmm... I really surprised how much complains that short has got. It's ... confusing.   :-\

Harvest is my favourite one. It was the only one that scared me to shit. That ending to me was creepy as f**k. That egg really terrified me. And that evil smiling android. I didn't expected that! Story made me believe that now everything is ok and safe and BAM! everybody is doomed. For 10 minutes short it was damn good.

It was kinda strange though that xeno killed android character with its tail ('cause usually aliens don't do so with synths ) but that didn't bugged me too mucn.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Uncanny Antman on May 12, 2019, 10:13:37 AM
Quote from: Kradan on May 12, 2019, 09:37:49 AMIt was kinda strange though that xeno killed android character with its tail ('cause usually aliens don't do so with synths )
Didn't that happen the very first time we ever saw an adult Alien and an Android in the same scene together?  ;)
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: The Cruentus on May 12, 2019, 08:22:30 PM
If you are talking about Bishop, I always just thought he was just in the way of the Queen, Ripley was her target.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: Kradan on May 12, 2019, 09:24:04 PM
Quote from: Uncanny Antman on May 12, 2019, 10:13:37 AM
Quote from: Kradan on May 12, 2019, 09:37:49 AMIt was kinda strange though that xeno killed android character with its tail ('cause usually aliens don't do so with synths )
Didn't that happen the very first time we ever saw an adult Alien and an Android in the same scene together?  ;)

Well, that was the case with the queen but i always assumed she did so because she was f**king outraged in general and Bishop helped her enemies flew off. But in Harvest android actually helped alien to get people, so yeah still a bit strange.

But outside of the logic it was pretty terrifying seeing alien's tail through her chest and her twitching as hell in convulsions. I think it served the creepiness of the ending pretty well.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on May 13, 2019, 07:42:04 AM
Rewatched it.

It's Prometheus-ish the experience is worse each time.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: Huggs on May 17, 2019, 12:20:47 AM
It's still awesome.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Films
Post by: SiL on May 17, 2019, 01:43:44 AM
It's worth rewatching just to try to work out how someone looked at the edit and said to themselves "Yes, this is good work".
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: Huggs on May 17, 2019, 02:09:42 AM
Just admit you love it.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: The Old One on May 17, 2019, 08:36:04 AM
It's trash, and won't be memorable in any capacity in five years.
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: LastSonofKrypton on May 17, 2019, 09:14:01 AM
Quote from: The Old One on May 17, 2019, 08:36:04 AM
It's trash, and won't be memorable in any capacity in four-five years.

My dad said that when he read my first book. 

I'm kidding, he refuses to read my work...
Title: Re: Alien: Harvest - Alien: 40th Anniversary Short Fil...
Post by: Kradan on May 17, 2019, 12:16:34 PM
Quote from: Huggs on May 17, 2019, 12:20:47 AM
It's still awesome.

100 % agreed