From all the Alien 40th Anniversary short films, this is definitely the most interesting one, as it is just not a re-thread or recreation of the elements and atmosphere of the honoured movie. And although being very cheap looking in its execution, it compensates with its original idea.
The idea of a lonely android who sees in the alien not fear but companionship is an interesting alternative look at the original threat. In fact, when you see the android approach the facehugger as it was a small dog, you feel a sense of confusion, as you know it's supposed to be a scary being, but the protagonist and the camera treat it like a loveable one.
If there's something I would criticise, it would be the fact that the android is slowly approaching its end, only because it takes a bit from the urgency of the alien's life expectancy. Nevertheless, as the android needs it to keep it company during the remaining journey, its quest to find human life to prolong the alien's life is in itself a natural step to this short's original idea and, again, a bold and worth-it variation on the tropes the 1979 movie created.
The idea of a lonely android who sees in the alien not fear but companionship is an interesting alternative look at the original threat. In fact, when you see the android approach the facehugger as it was a small dog, you feel a sense of confusion, as you know it's supposed to be a scary being, but the protagonist and the camera treat it like a loveable one.
If there's something I would criticise, it would be the fact that the android is slowly approaching its end, only because it takes a bit from the urgency of the alien's life expectancy. Nevertheless, as the android needs it to keep it company during the remaining journey, its quest to find human life to prolong the alien's life is in itself a natural step to this short's original idea and, again, a bold and worth-it variation on the tropes the 1979 movie created.
