We Are Walter.

I have visited this before but one of the most disturbing moments in a movie , for this timid writer anyway, of recent years was the closing moments of the android Walter's introduction in the Alien Covenant short which was released on line just before the movie itself. Essentially an explanation for why there were two Michael Fassbenders in this movie( although this writer would require no such explanation, excuse nor plot motivation to have two Michael Fassbenders in a movie. I would insist on it contracturaly! Oh the mind boogles...) Anyway, there we are in the new Alien prequel continuity, with a previous model of android having gone bonkers, the next human voyage to the stars in search of a new home requires an updated model to look after the crew while they sleep out the lengthy trip. Enter; Walter. 

           In a pre publicity move a few very clever wee prequels to the events in Alien Covenant were released. One of them involved the creation of the artificial man and well crafted it was too. Walter in birthed in a sterile workshop of creation and not a filthy one as used by victor Frankenstein but the possibility for birthing monsters is always there. Biblically it plays with the notion of creating Cain before Adam.

            But that is not what I found particularly disturbing about this short film. in the run up to the release of the movie Alien Covenant there was a lot of speculation about where this tale would take the alien franchise. A lot of people, for good or ill, had been wrong footed by Prometheus, it was not the direction fans of the series had perhaps hoped it would go. And Covenant seemed set to wander off in another direction fans of the series  had not considered; A.I. and its place in our race to the stars.

            Again, it was not so much this that I found chilling about the Walter Bio. After we get a glimpse of Walter's actual construction, and it is that, we get to see him being made, after he is birthed and clothed we get to see him sitting in the company of some truly disturbing individuals. 

             It was a though a subliminal had been found, paused and then lingered upon.

             Who were these people? were they even people? Why was the newly built Walter sitting in their company and what was their intention. I had no idea how any of this fitted into the larger picture. I just found their stillness, the smiles that never reached their eyes truly disturbing. Was Walter the second born of a new race. Were these calm but menacing individuals more of the same?

             One of the great tropes of history has been the prevalence of the charismatic leader. The great orator, who bellows out his beliefs, who shouts his way into the history books. Who commands a podium leading his followers to war and atrocity. it has happened so many times. It is happening now, in different parts of this world we share, and sadly quite close to home, yet we are always on the look out for them. We recognise the skill set, we roll our eyes and we prepare ourselves "Oh Here We Go Again", and tragically all too often we do not see the quiet monsters, who come bearing gentle smiles and sage advice. Nodding in gracious and self effacing acknowledgement and understanding at our all too obvious flaws and our need to believe in the better angels of our nature, these benign beings who have come to protect us from ourselves. Just watch that short film and see what I mean. They smile, they nod, they know they are on the right path, and will ensure we follow.

            Now let the atrocity exhibition begin.

            Chilling.

            And not a face hugger in sight.