Alien Isolation - Video Game Review

A well crafted horror film is full of tension, shock and atmosphere but a well made video game really adds that extra level of immersion to the player that film just can't deliver. The horror genre hasn't been particularly popular with console gamers for the past few years. However with 2014's mainstream offerings and some promising titles to come, could the genre be making a welcoming comeback? 

I remember hearing about Alien Isolation early last year and I instantly had my doubts , considering this is not the first Alien based game. I didn't particular enjoy AVP and lets not even talk about the diabolical Aliens: Colonial Marines!  Alien Isolation thankfully has different developers, Creative Assembly, who wanted to take a different approach, this time opting for a stealth based, first person, survival horror. Now I was interested! The game is set just 15 years after the events of Ridley Scott's original film. You play as Amanda Ripley, who is on a mission to find out what really happened to her mother aboard the Nostromo. Approached by a member of the Weyland Yutami, Amanda is informed of the whereabouts of the Nostromo's flight recorder, still intact, inside the Sevastopol space station. She agrees to help the team on their mission to retrieve it. Whilst attempting to dock, Amanda becomes separated from the group, left alone, with little supplies and equipment. It soon becomes apparent that something has gone seriously wrong aboard the seemingly deserted Sevastopol.

It was clear off the bat that Creative Assembly had got the tone of the game right, with the use of the classic 20th Century Fox opening titles. The game also uses the original score from the film, which adds to the atmosphere perfectly. Throughout the story there are many easter eggs and plot tie ins that I'm sure will please die hard Alien fans. I got particularly excited near the beginning of the game where you emerge from a hyper-sleep chamber in first person! The Sevastopol itself is beautifully designed and captures the look and feel of the similarly designed Nostromo perfectly. I was playing on Xbox 360 and the graphics were fantastic! so I can only imagine on next gen and PC it must look stunning!

Onto the gameplay itself. Like how a true survival horror game should be, you are given nothing to aid you as you begin your journey through the dark, claustrophobic tunnels of the space station. As the game progresses, you must find flares and materials to craft your own tools to aid your survival. Eventually you will quickly realise that you are not alone. The few remaining crew of the Sevastopol will become hostile towards you, this does mean that some weapon combat is inevitable. Thankfully the game keeps this to a minimum. Excessive gunplay WILL ruin the "horror" of a survival horror. I want to feel vulnerable with only limited ammo, it makes the experience far more unnerving. AI has a perfect amount of gunplay, only used where it's really necessary.

This leads me onto the most critical aspect of the game, stealth. If you don't like stealth games then AI is defiantly not for you. You will spend quite some time hiding inside a locker or under a table but you will quickly understand why when you first encounter the relentless nature of the xenomorpth. I won't spoil it but I loved the introduction of the alien. Like many stealth based games, you can often learn to predict the movements of the AI, however the Xenomorpths movements are completely random. It can appear from vents above or below you and thats when its not stalking the various corridors of the station. You will eventually receive the tracking device to help inform you of its movements, another unique feature, perfect for building tension. Sound plays an important part of the experience and I highly recommend you play wearing headphones, often hearing the xeno crawling through the vents is a good indicator whether its behind you or not.

I literally had moments where I would be hiding in a locker, check the tracker, leave, hear a rumble above and run back into the locker again for another 5 minutes! Yes the game is that nerve-racking at times! Having an enemy you cannot kill or outrun makes for a truly intense experience. I tend to play games on there "normal" difficulty setting, I still probably died hundreds of times. The first person death cutscenes are truly spectacular though!

If the perfect killing machine constantly stalking you wasn't enough, then the incredibly creepy synthetics or "Working Joes" will tip you over the limit! Upon first encounter they seem harmless enough but it soon becomes clear that they are either malfunctioning or just don't like guests...  These fellas are surprisingly scary with their dead, glowing eyes and creepy dialogue. I will never forgot my first encounter with a hostile Working Joe who proceeded to stalk me for 10 minutes, eventually catching me and strangling me to death whilst telling me "I was becoming hysterical!", chilling stuff!

Another aspect I really enjoyed were the playable flashback scenes, prior to the events aboard the Sevastopol. This also gives the player the chance to explore planet LV-426, which was very cool! One other thing to note was the save system. The sheer lack of them makes the experience more intense as you desperately try to run to the next save point without alarming anyone or anything!

Theres very little I can fault with the game. I did encounter the occasional glitch, one amusing moment involving the xeno stuck in the vent, unable to reach me! Another time I was hiding behind a desk and a synthetic appeared to be dancing on the spot? Also some of the tasks you need to complete are sometimes a little repetitive, and uninteresting.

That aside, I thoroughly enjoyed Alien Isolation and would definitely rate it as my favourite survival horror! Not only does it capture the feel of the original film but it delivers an interesting new story and a great protagonist. The most important thing is the game IS actually scary, with few jump scares instead relying on the build up of tension. It's basically a very intense game of cat and mouse, only this time the "cat" has acid for blood!

9/10

As always, thank you for reading! Have you played Alien Isolation? If so let me know what you thought of it in the comments below!

Splinter Movie Review

Yesterday I was traversing the horror collection on Netflix and came across an interesting film from 2008 named Splinter. After reading some very positive comments from horror fans I decided to check it out!


Splinter is a creature feature/SciFi horror, directed by Toby Wilkins, which unfortunately skipped a theatrical release, instead going straight to DVD. I know your probably rolling your eyes but stay with me on this as Splinter is a surprisingly entertaining little gem.

The film is primarily set in the single location of a small gas station in Oklahoma, US. A young romantic couple (Seth, Polly) are trying to find a motel after their unsuccessful camping attempt. Meanwhile an escaped convict and his partner (Dennis, Lacey) are on the run needing a vehicle. Seth and Polly are soon hijacked and kept hostage by Dennis and his drugged girlfriend. Before long the couples are forced to stop at a seemingly empty gas station. To her horror, Lacey finds a half dead man in the restrooms, begging to to killed. The man's limbs grossly distorted and strange "spines" protruding from his skin. Dennis, believing its the drugs talking, dismisses her before Lacey is viciously attacked by the now feral man (if you can call him human). Just minutes after, Lacey's corpse begins to move, eventually splicing itself with the other creature. Now with the remaining three trapped inside the gas station, the group must figure out what the hell the thing is and most importantly, how to escape!

Considering this is a low budget release, the effects are great, with plenty of gore to keep those gorehounds happy! The cast also do a fantastic job, with good character development early in the film and some interesting character dynamics amongst the group. There are clearly some nods to John Carpenter's The Thing and even the Re-animator, with themes of assimilation and resurrecting corpses. The origins of the creature, (first seen in the opening of the film), are never explained, this may frustrate some viewers, though personally I much prefer it that way. My only complaints with the film are that it doesn't really deliver when it comes to outright scares, though some of the more gruesome scenes did force me to look away! Also some of the more action focused scenes revealing the creature, relied a little too heavily on "Shaky cam", making it a little hard to distinguish what was happening at times.

Overall though, I found Splinter a thoroughly entertaining film. If you like your creature features and gore, then this is definitely for you!

4/5

COVER YOUR EARS! My favourite horror soundtracks

Horror movies and TV shows are usually filled with creepy imagery, gory deaths and other visually shocking scenes to be burned into our minds. Sometimes though, shutting your eyes and simply listening to the horrors can be enough to unsettle your audience. I firmly believe that having an appropriate score and sound design are an essential part of the experience. Below are some of my favourite horror film scores.  

The Babadook

Ba-Ba-ba Dook-Dook-DOOK! Last October, directer Jennifer Kent  gave us one of the strongest horror films in years. The babadook is an incredibly tense and unsettling film, helped by it's beautifully creepy soundtrack. What makes "Mister Babadook" so damn scary is the fact we never get much of a glimpse of him. We do however hear the monster knocking, creaking and screaming as he terrorises Amelia and her young son. This allows the audiences imagination to run wild and conjure up their own ideas of what exactly the creature is. The stand out, scariest scene for me is when Amelia finds the book on her doorstep. What she finds inside is made twice as horrifying thanks to the creepy, twisted melody playing along in the foreground, truly chilling stuff! 

Saw Franchise

Saw, not exactly the first film you would think of when it comes to memorable soundtracks. Especially considering most of what you hear is people screaming in pain as there brutally tortured! I'm not talking about the slightly cheesy "death metal" tracks over the credits, rather the awesome score written by Charlie Clouser. The most iconic piece "Hello zepp" from the first film is really intense, almost mechanical sounding and contributes the on screen action perfectly. The music builds as the timer on the trap ticks down, making you feel the panic of the victim as they quickly run out of time. Another of my favourites is "The Rack" a fast paced piece from Saw 3, only ever interrupted by the occasional sound of crushing bones! Lets not get started on the many disgusting sounds of Saw!

Halloween

Perhaps one of the most iconic and instantly recognisable horror film themes. Like many of John Carpenters scores, the Halloween theme is simple yet very effective at getting under your skin. The theme is used repeatedly throughout the film, yet every time you hear it you feel unnerved as Myers watches and stalks his next victim. I'll be honest, I never find slasher films particularly scary, though Halloween is defiantly an exception. As if Michael Myers emotionless expression isn't enough, the disturbing, breathing sounds he makes as he kills his victims are incredibly creepy and unsettling. The simple fact you never hear him speak is enough to disturb, a trick many slasher films since have used.

The Shining

Stanley Kubricks adaption of The Shining is hands down the creepiest film I have ever seen. You get a good idea of the horrors to come just from the opening scene, thanks to Wendy Carlos's sinister opening score. The whole mood of the film is incredibly dark and twisted, with a soundtrack to match. Some of the most disturbing scenes, such as the twins in the corridor, use a series of distorted, high-pitched violins to build the tension before the shocking reveal. Another particularly memorable moment is the "shining" scene between Danny and Dick Hallorann. The ear splitting high note played whilst Hallorann realises the danger Danny is in is truly unsettling.

The Walking Dead

I was quite late to discover just how awesome the Walking dead is. I have literally only just started watching season 5 at the time of writing this! The hit TV show boasts a fantastic mix of superb character development, strong cast, intense action scenes and plenty of gore filled horror. Amongst all this is a brilliant soundtrack consisting of a memorable score as well as a selection of both old and new songs that always fit perfectly with each episodes narrative. Bear McCreary's epic opening theme never fails to excite me for each episode and I often reach for the remote to turn up the volume! Combine this with songs from likes of Ben Howard and Motorhead and you have one hell of a soundtrack!

As always thanks for reading! Please feel free to let me know your favourite horror film/TV soundtracks in the comments below!      

Top 5 Sci-Fi Horror Films

Science fiction is another genre that I adore, so when it's combined with horror its a match made in heaven! There are many great sci-fi horrors, below are just a few of my favourites! *There may be a few spoilers, you've been warned!*

5.) Event Horizon (1997)

 Released in 1997, Event Horizon is often referred to as the "haunted house film in space". Set in the year 2047, a rescue crew are sent out to investigate the Event Horizon ship that had gone missing seven years earlier. The ship was capable of lightning speed travel through black holes. Upon boarding, the research crew realise something went horribly wrong. The crew slowly begin having strange, disturbing hallucinations. Paranoia and tension amongst them starts to build. The standout moment in the film comes when they find the video logs from the previous crew and discover what really happened! This particular scene is over in a matter of seconds but is surprisingly graphic.

The effects have held up a lot better than some of the 90's dated CGI. There are some disturbing moments (who doesn't find eyeless people creepy?). The plot, though interesting does get a little daft towards the end. I particularly liked the random Shining reference and classic 80's "final scare" though!

4.) The Fly (1986)

David Cronenberg's beautifully grotesque take on the classic 1958 film remains one of the best horror remakes of all time. Jeff Goldblum at his finest, stars as the intelligent yet eccentric Seth Brundle, a scientist busy developing a revolutionary machine that can teleport matter from one place to another through the use of two "telepods". Whilst experimenting he falls madly in love with Veronica Quaife (Geena Davis). 

After several unsuccessful (and messy) results with live animals, Seth finally perfects the machine and begins the first human trial. Unknowingly whilst entering the telepod, a fly enters in with with him, he starts the process and unwilling gets his DNA spliced with the fly. Unlike the original, upon emerging from the other pod, Seth looks and behaves normal. Cue David Croneberg's love for the flesh! What follows is a slow, painful, disgusting transformation into Brundlefly! The makeup effects are fantastic,with some truly revolting scenes, (can anyone stomach that nail peeling scene?). I'm not one for romantic films but you can't help but feel saddened by the final, surprisingly moving moment between Veronica and her now hideously deformed partner.

3.) Aliens

Many people actually prefer James Cameron's sequel to the original Alien. It was very difficult for me to decide as I adore both films, however I feel as a standalone horror film, Alien has the edge. Set 57 years after the original, Ripley is awakened from hypersleep and reluctantly agrees to join the Colonial Marines to supposedly destroy the last remaining aliens.

Though it doesn't quite hold the tension as well as the original, Aliens still remains a claustrophobic, thrilling film with some fantastic practical effects. It's much more high octane and action focused, similar to Predator. Sigourney Weaver once again steals it as the tough, yet compassionate Ellen Ripley.The addition of not one but a whole hive of Xenomorpths, makes for lots of plasma firing, saliva dripping, chestbursting fun!

2.) Alien

Alien has always been one of my all time favourites. I first saw it when I was around 12, thanks to my dad who loves science fiction films. Set in the year 2122, the crew of the Nostromo spacecraft intercept a distress signal on a planet codenamed LV-426. After landing, they discover evidence of earlier lifeforms and a chamber full of thousands of large, leathery eggs. Upon inspection, one crew member is seemingly attacked by a strange, spider like creature, which emerges from one of eggs. Upon boarding the ship, ignoring quarantine, they begin heading back to Earth. Soon after we witness the birth of one of cinemas most iconic aliens, the Xenomorpth! 

H. R. Giger's design of the Xenomorpth, to this day, remains one of the most terrifying aliens ever created. I find the chestburster scene very unsettling every time I see this film. Though it's undoubtedly shocking the first time you see it, I actually find it more horrific when you know that the alien is growing inside Kane and that he thinks he is fine until the famous dinner scene. I love the atmosphere of the film, the Nostromo looks and feels eerie with its dark, claustrophobic corridors. The film has some clever, subtle scares to catch the audience off guard and an unnerving score to accompany the on screen terror. Lets not forget Sigourney Weavers fantastic performance as Ellen Ripley. Alien has since gone onto spawn 3 sequels, 2 crossovers (AVP 1/2) and the underrated prequel Prometheus. For me though, the original remains the scariest and definitely the most memorable.

1.) The Thing (1982)

So how do you top Alien? let me introduce you to John Carpenters masterpiece! The Thing  is actually a reimagining of the 1951 film, "The Thing From Another World", which was loosely based on John. W. Campbell. jr's novel, "Who Goes there?". The story is set in an antarctic research station known as Outpost 31. At the beginning of the film a dog is seen attempting to outrun gunfire from a Norwegian helicopter. Unaware of its origin, the scientists take in the animal. Confused over the event, Macready (Kurt Russell) and Dr Copper (Richard Dysart) travel to the Norwegian research facility. To their horror, they find all the scientists dead as well as a hideous looking creature concealed in ice. An autopsy shows the now dead organism to be made up of previous human bodies. Further tests prove that the creature is capable of assimilating (taking on the form of its previous kills). Upon this realisation, the dog is ordered to be incinerated, however it is already too late. The creature is already amongst them!

I am a big fan of the use of practical effects in films. The creature effects by Rob Bottin are incredibly gross and hold up very well to this day. What really makes this such a unique horror is that you never know who in the group has been assimilated. This quickly leads to a growing sense of paranoia and tension that works so well, even on repeat viewings. The iconic "Bloodtest" scene is a great example of this. The 2011 prequel ties up nicely with the original, but for me the CGI just doesn't cut it compared to the grotesque look of the 1982 creature designs. The remote location of the research base adds yet more panic. In one particular scene, the scientists realise the devastating effects on humanity should the creature reach civilisation. The Thing really does have everything you would want out of a sci-fi horror. Amazing creature design, setting, atmosphere and plenty of scares! A must see!

Note: If your already a fan of the original or would like to learn how the incredible special effects were made, then I highly recommend purchasing the Blu Ray. It includes a feature length documentary on the making of the film plus loads of other goodies!

Well thats my list of my favourite sci-fi horrors, thanks for reading! Please let me know your favourites in the comments below!

GHOST STORIES - Theatre Review

Photo by Jennifer Panting

I first heard of Ghost Stories back in 2011, whilst it was playing at the Duke Of York Theatre in London. Co-written by Jeramy Dyson and Andy Nyman, the show promises "extreme shock & tension"  as well as having an advised age rating of 15+. Naturally I was very intrigued. After nearly a three year break, the show re-opened in it's new home at the Arts theatre London. Last Friday, thanks to my fabulous sister, I finally got the chance to see the show for myself but did it live up to the hype?

"You haven't seen horror until you've seen it live!" is the new tagline. I deliberately did no research prior to the show, so I had literally no idea what to expect. Previous reviews we're overwhelmingly positive, with many describing the experience as truly terrifying. We arrived early, ready for the 20:00 show.

Photo by Jennifer Panting

The Arts theatre is a very small, slightly dated venue. Upon entering the small foyer, you are greeted with the ambience of dripping and other eerie noises as well as police tape covering the walls/doors. Around 19:30 we were let into the auditorium. The theming continued inside, with yet more tape and strange, random numbers scratched into the walls. The combination of dim lighting and creepy noises created a perfect atmosphere to build the suspense before the show begins. At 20:00 sharp, the show very abruptly began, triggering the first scare of the evening! To say anymore from this point, would ruin the clever story and surprises instore! 

Photo by Matthew Panting

The show runs for a straight 80 minutes, with no interval. This means there is never a chance to catch your breath and the tension never gets lost. I was fully engaged in the story throughout. One thing I was surprised by, was the amount of humour in the script. The actors did a fantastic job of having us laughing one minute, then sat in nervous anticipation the next. The set design, though simple, was very effective. A particular scene involving a moving car was done remarkably well. The lighting and sound engineers have to be praised. The show uses many subtle audio and lighting cues and the timings were spot on. Another nice addition was the use of scent to fully immerse the audience into the story.

 Did I find the show terrifying? To be honest no. I felt very tense during certain moments and had a few startle scares. As someone who normally loathes the overuse of "jump scares" in films, I actually found myself wanting a few more of them in the show. If your someone who hides behind the pillow during horror films, you would probably find it pretty damn scary but hardened horror fans like myself, might be left wanting a bit more.

So was it worth the wait? Absolutely! Despite not being as scared as I would have liked, I still had a blast. It's more than just a show, the very well themed theatre actually ties into the story to make it feel more like an experience. Acting was superb, as was the set design and score. The audience seemed to agree, with everyone buzzing upon leaving. If you fancy an entertaining, slightly different show to your usual West End affair, then this is for you!

Welcome to Fear For Thought!

Hello! Welcome to FEAR FOR THOUGHT! A new blog dedicated to all things horror! Here you will find horror film/video game reviews, features and articles, as well as a look at the ever growing scare attraction/events industry.

About me
To be honest, I'm not entirely sure where my love of horror came from. Growing up, I always had a fascination with the supernatural, unexplainable phenomena, ufos, that sort of thing! I loved reading ghost stories and watching those cheesy "Most Haunted" documentaries. I think it was my first viewing of Alien in my early teens that really kicked off my love for horror films. To this day it still remains one of my all time favourites!

As a bit of a thrill seeker (and a self confessed roller coaster enthusiast!) I first came upon the scare attractions industry through my other love of theme parks. The "Haunted house" industry first started in America but has slowly become more and more prominent here in the UK Many theme parks, farms and private events have started popping up over the country and not just for Halloween!  I'm a bit of a newbie in this industry, only visiting a grand total of 3 scare mazes or "Haunted Houses" but I hope to visit many more and share my reviews here.

Thanks for checking out my blog and stay tuned for more updates very soon!