The Silence (Tim Lebbon)
I.Raptus
MemberPraetorianMay-31-2019 6:34 PMTim Lebbon author of Alien: Out of the Shadows and the AVP Rage Wars trilogy has a novel called The Silence which was recently released as a Netflix film.
Although the Film was a poor mish-mash of other films like The Mist, Bird Box and A Quiet Place I feel there was a lot of content omitted to the make the film adaptation more mainstream action-suspense. There were alot of unanswered questions, introduced concepts that weren't explored and stupid rushed/forced conclusions like a certain scene involving a mulcher.
Has anyone read the novel and able to elaborate?
The point I want to discuss is the novels antagonistic force the 'Vesps', a horde of subterranean bat-like creatures with wasp-like parasitic reproductive methods.
The creatures are blind and are attracted to sound, hunting en masse towards any sound that is made.
In the film they appear to lay eggs in the dead whom feed on the dead then emerge in groups.
I feel Lebbon, after having written for the Alien franchise has used his experience and inspiration to try and create his own xenomorph-like creature. But I also feel the film adaptation has probably stripped his ideas down to a diluted and weak experience.
The biggest upgrade in terms of Xenomorph vs Vesp is the Vesp's ability to use the dead as a host and to impregnate them with multiple embryos increase their reproductive capacity to 1:1 ratio to about 9:1
I enjoyed Lebbon's Alien novels, and his writing is better than this film would suggest. His usual attention to detail and thoughtful plots are missing in the film.
dk
MemberTrilobiteMay-31-2019 7:17 PMI am unfamiliar with these but added to my list. From the trailer and what you describe, it still sounds interesting. If I watched it without knowing the background, just from the trailer, I would have guessed a little Pitch Black vibe in there and wouldn't guess anything Alien. At any rate, I will try to see it this summer.
I.Raptus
MemberPraetorianMay-31-2019 9:42 PMIm not going to lie the film is pretty weak and frustrating, especially towards the end. It is Entertaining at best.
Yes! It does have a bit of Pitch Black to it!
Im just wondering if the book goes into more detail about the Vesps life cycle and origins, i feel the movie left huge portions outs. I just cant see Lebbon writing something so shallow.
Lone
MemberPraetorianJun-01-2019 8:59 AMI wasn't aware of this at all I Raptus so thank you for pointing out the novel & the film.
I'll seek both out!
"Let The Cosmic Incubation Begin" ~ H.R. Giger
Ingeniero
MemberPraetorianJun-12-2019 11:55 AMI'll check out both the book and the movie.
Thank you for the share I Raptus.
dk
MemberTrilobiteJul-20-2019 12:34 AMWell, having only knowledge of the movie itself, it was pretty good and the concept of being mostly silent was very engaging. The last 15-20 minutes was a shit show though. It is worth watching until you see the toungueless clan- then shut it off. (One can still make plenty of vocal noise without a tongue)! And why bother mentioning a girl was fertile? So what? That point went nowhere.
The Vasps were pretty much a thing you had to take as a given like you had to accept zombies in the Dawn of the Dead- they were just there. I just took it in- no problem.
The egg laying bit was late in the movie and was very brief and only explained by what what was seen for about 5 seconds. That bit could have been chopped and no one would have noticed. Meh-
The Vasps themselves resembled the creatures from Pitch Black pretty much and behaved the same except they reacted to sound and not light- Fair enough!
It is worth a watch up until you you see the Tonguless guy sketch "Shhhhh".
Good concept, good acting, so so CGI, good story, some unexplored plot points, horrible last scene.
Have some popcorn and a few beers and give it a go one time. One and done!
