20th Century Fox
Life can be terrifying. But don't worry, Mom's here.
Approx. 765 words; 3 minutes read time
Mother's Day is this coming Sunday, May 10th. For movie fan moms, there are many great films to celebrate the joy and beauty of the occasion. Heartwarming tearjerkers and uplifting rom-coms are often the go-to films for this day. And rightfully so - being a mom is the best job on Earth. If a feel-good movie is your thing, then go for it. I like 2010's The Kids Are All Right, starring Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo.
But motherhood is not all tears-of-joy and happy endings. It is hard work. Life can be terrifying, and moms have to deal with it all. Want to watch something that captures this terror while celebrating the saving grace of motherhood? If you answered yes, then I have a rather unorthodox recommendation for you.
*****
Be forewarned: these two films will have you digging deep to make it to the end. They are bone-chilling fright-fests. But if you can stick it out, the experience will leave you drained but inspired, just like motherhood. Yes, I'm referring to my two favorite sci-fi-horror movies of all time, Alien and Aliens. And yes, you read that correctly, I recommend you watch both this Mother's Day Weekend.
*****
Alien, directed by Ridley Scott, burst onto the silver screen in 1979. And Aliens, the sequel by James Cameron, escaped around the world in 1986. These two films, the first and best in the franchise, tell of a species of aliens that violate and prey on humans. At the heart of these flicks is Ellen Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver. Ripley is the reluctant protagonist, leading the defense against the ravenous space monsters. She survives and even grows throughout the two films. By the end, Ripley undergoes a surprising and moving transformation.
Critics and fans alike extol Alien and Aliens for Weaver's portrayal of Ripley. We often think of her character as a battle-hardened warrior. But Ripley isn't one, not at first anyway. She is a regular person, forced into extraordinary circumstances by the alien menace. Fear and hatred of this enemy overwhelm many. But through it all, Ripley somehow musters immense courage. She will stop at nothing to rid the universe of the species, to save her own.
To see Ripley change entirely, you must watch both Alien and Aliens together. They are different movies owing to the styles and choices of Scott vs. Cameron. But Ripley doesn't feel like Frankenstein's monster, pieced together from two creators' visions. Instead, she is a single, cohesive, fleshed-out person. Her struggles feel real, and we admire her as she grows, adapts, and overcomes. It's believable storytelling. And she's a believable character with whom we can relate.
When first confronted by the lifeform in Alien, Ripley is by the book. She insists on following protocol at all costs. But mistakes are made, and soon danger - and the body count - rises. Ripley must forego formality and scramble to save her life and the dwindling crew. In the process, we learn how deep Ripley's fortitude runs. And we recognize her for what she has become - a hero.
But her metamorphosis is not yet complete. It is in the second film, Aliens, that Ripley matures into her true self.
After her return to Earth, Ripley is asked to go back and help investigate a potential alien resurgence. At first, she refuses. But her concern for humanity overrides - a maternal instinct in many ways - and she agrees to go back. But only on the condition that they destroy the aliens for good.
Of course, the aliens are waiting and in higher numbers than expected. But this is only part of the challenge for Ripley. Not long into the mission, they find an orphaned child named Newt. Abandoned and alone, Ripley must now protect Newt amidst the crushing onslaught. In so doing, Ripley reveals herself this time as more than a hero. She is a mother at heart, willing to stop at nothing to protect a human child.
The Ripley we see in the final scenes of Aliens is not the same woman we met at the beginning of the first film, Alien. Changed by violence and shaped by evil, Ripley could have crumbled like those around her. Or become hardened like so many who face such difficulties. But instead, her inner spark, her true self, finds a reason to fight and to live. That spark we learn is the bond of motherhood - the ultimate connection of humankind with itself.
*****
Happy Mother's Day, everyone. Science. Fiction. Create.
JRC