A dark and eerie World War Two bunker…
Surreal, thought-provoking and unmistakably sci-fi.
The scene was set for our Alien: Out of the Shadows ad. And it was every bit as unsettling as the films. With every flickering light and unfamiliar creak, the once-absurd thought of a Xenomorph leaping out of the shadows suddenly seemed like a real possibility – a testament to Art Director Guy Thompson.
Written by Tim Lebbon, Out of the Shadows takes place between the first two films (those struggling to figure out the Alien franchise can clue themselves up with our Chronology of Alien post) and sees the return of fan-favourite Ellen Ripley, who after a disturbing distress call, is unknowingly brought to planet LV-178 by her escape shuttle (controlled by Ash, the shuttle’s AI consciousness).
She arrives only to find that Marion, a mining ship looking for trimonite, has been damaged by a collision from one of their own transport shuttles. But things are far worse than they initially seem. As well as crashing into the ship, the shuttles have brought back some unwelcome guests. Despite making it through the destruction of Nostromo, Ripley once again finds herself fighting for survival.
Whether it’s a book, a game, or in this case, an advertisement, following in the footsteps of Ridley Scott and James Cameron is no easy task. But director Glenn Paton took it in his stride and seemed to be in his element. By staying true to the Alien franchise, Paton managed to revive this iconic world, bringing with it a familiar sense of suspense and surrealness.
Check out the final ad and go behind the scenes in the videos below.
Directed by Audie Award-winner Dirk Maggs, this bold Audible Original Drama is just a compelling as the screenplays. Narrated by award-winning performers such as Rutger Hauer, Kathryn Drysdale and Harry Potter’s Matthew Lewis, this audiobook’s mix of music and sound effects paints a vivid picture, throwing you into a world of terror and turmoil. Cinematic listening.
Brought to life by American actor Jeff Harding, his ability to adapt and embrace different personalities makes for a listen that is as intense as it is entertaining. Although more of a traditional audiobook read, it remains every bit as gripping.
Discover more Sci-Fi Audiobooks.
