Alien Film Franchise Encyclopedia – Coming Soon

I'm thrilled to reveal the cover of the Alien Film Franchise Encyclopedia, a brand new in-world guide to the Alien universe, due to be published by Titan Books on 15 August, 2023. Through 2021-2022, I was part of a four-person writing team working in a top secret virtual bunker alongside my inestimable colleagues Clara Čarija, … Continue reading Alien Film Franchise Encyclopedia – Coming Soon

“Alien: Covenant” Crew Remembers “Alien”

While researching my upcoming Cinefex article on Alien: Covenant, I spoke at length with supervisors in the visual effects, creature effects, and special effects departments. At the end of each interview, I asked everyone the same question: “What are your memories of seeing the original Alien for the first time?” As a long-time fan of the … Continue reading “Alien: Covenant” Crew Remembers “Alien”

My movie list (2): Alien

Don't ask me what my favourite movie is. I can't tell you. What I can do is offer up a list of movies I never tire of. Here's the second ... Alien Anyone who knows me will be unsurprised to learn that Ridley Scott's Alien (1979) is one of my favourite films of all time. … Continue reading My movie list (2): Alien

Revisiting Cinefex (27): Aliens

The human star of Aliens might be Sigourney Weaver, but it's her extraterrestrial adversary - the ferocious alien queen - that features on the front cover of Cinefex #27, No surprise, then, that this issue is devoted entirely to the Oscar-winning visual effects of James Cameron's 1986 blockbuster. The cover shot shows Stan Winston's remarkable full-size queen … Continue reading Revisiting Cinefex (27): Aliens

Writing the ride at Alton Towers

Earlier this year I had the great privilege of working on a brand new ride at top UK theme park Alton Towers. The ride is Nemesis Sub-Terra, a claustrophobic horror experience set in the Forbidden Valley, near the famous Nemesis inverted roller coaster. I was hired as scriptwriter by Farmer Attraction Development to flesh out … Continue reading Writing the ride at Alton Towers

On Prometheus

Most people who like cinema have a movie that shines like a beacon in their memory, brighter than all the rest. Mine is Alien. I was there for its first release in 1979, sneaking past the warning signs in the theatre foyer even though I was too young for the movie's X-certificate. 'This film contains … Continue reading On Prometheus

Five scary monsters

Without the dark there is no light. Here’s a list – in no particular order – of five monsters that still have the power to keep me awake at night if my mind makes the mistake of inviting them in. Are they my top five? It’s hard to say. Ask me again tomorrow and I … Continue reading Five scary monsters

Moebius and McQuarrie

You can tell the books I love the most because they're falling apart. This week, I've taken a moment to browse once more through two of the tattiest volumes I own: The Book of Alien and The Art of The Empire Strikes Back. My reason for doing so is a sad one, because this week … Continue reading Moebius and McQuarrie

Alien, Prometheus and Santa Claus

I have an obsessive streak. When I like something, I really like it. That includes things like medium-rare steak and those songs I just have to listen to over and over again (perhaps by Kate Bush or the Electric Light Orchestra or Elbow or any number of tracks from popular film scores) but mostly I'm … Continue reading Alien, Prometheus and Santa Claus