Review: Prometheus by Ridley Scott

Abstract

Ridley Scott’s 2012 Prometheus can be considered as a milestone in contemporary science fiction as it perfectly exemplifies the major characteristics of the genre, particularly regarding the use of special effects, the creation of alternative, new worlds and creatures and the depiction of the human will to explore beyond the confines of the known space (and the possibly lethal consequences of such a leap towards the unknown). Typical of such a genre is also its representation of villains and evil as “dei ex machina, external elements that enter to disturb the equilibrium, external elements that unlock doomsday” (Sardar 5) (emphasis original). The narrative is set in 2093 when a spatial expedition attempts to ascertain whether there is alien life connected to humans in a distant star system. According to archaeologists Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green), several ancient artefacts and digs belonging to different cultures portray such a star system as an invitation to reach a race of gigantic beings. The mission, made of several scientists and experts, is commanded by authoritarian and glacial Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron), daughter of the elder CEO of Weyland Company (Guy Pearce). Once they reach their destination and land on a barren, mountainous moon, the members of the expedition find a massive, labyrinthine structure and a space ship where the gigantic beings (named “Engineers” by Dr. Shaw and Dr. Holloway) have been exterminated by a black liquid substance that they apparently harvested in order to return to Earth to extinguish the human race. Some of the characters are killed by coming into contact with the substance, after being painfully transformed into malevolent subhumans. The encounter with the only survivor of the alien species leads to further deaths and the destruction of the “Prometheus” spaceship in the attempt to stop the alien ship from reaching Earth. The film therefore definitely exemplifies an anti-Star Trek sentiment characterizing the exploration of space as a disastrous failure.

Keywords

• Film Studies
• Ridley Scott
• Prometheus