Sci-fi and Horror - two sides of the same coin?
It occurred to me recently that while films like Alien are a blend of horror and sci-fi, many of the classic horror stories shared this trait.
Frankenstein is the story of a man using science to try and cheat death, not that his creation has any reason to thank him. It's a cautionary tale about scientific advancements without considering moral and ethical issues. Frankenstein succeeds in bringing a man back from the dead, but doesn't stop to consider whether he should, or what the consequences will be.
While some of the stories are cautionary tales about scientific advancement, Dracula is the opposite. On one hand there is Dracula, coming to the (then) modern world of Victorian London from Transylvania, a land portrayed as shrouded in superstition. On the other there is Van Helsing and the others, using science to survive and fight back.
The heroes try to save Lucy using blood transfusions, albeit the author doesn't seem to know about blood groups, as several men donate blood to try and keep Lucy alive. Which makes me wonder if she died from Dracula's repeated feeding, or from receiving incompatible blood!
Early on, the protagonists are at a disadvantage as they know nothing of supernatural beings such as Dracula, but later on it is Dracula who is disadvantaged by the modern world, the protagonists using Lloyds of London to track Dracula's flight back to Transylvania.
In the end, Dracula is killed by Quincy, an American who represents the new world of America as opposed to the old Europe.
Some modern sci-fi horror stories also portray science as either the saviour or villain. I'd consider the film Alien a horror despite its sci-fi trappings. The prospect of studying the alien blinds the android to the risks, and the crew pays the price. This is a common theme throughout the franchise, with the highers-up willing to sacrifice lives to get their hands on the 'ultimate weapon'.
Blade Runner in many ways is a thematic follow-up to Frankenstein (albeit with few horror elements), depicting the reckless creation of life while not taking true responsibility for it. And like Frankenstein's monster, the replicants aren't willing to take their abandonment lying down.
Frankenstein is the story of a man using science to try and cheat death, not that his creation has any reason to thank him. It's a cautionary tale about scientific advancements without considering moral and ethical issues. Frankenstein succeeds in bringing a man back from the dead, but doesn't stop to consider whether he should, or what the consequences will be.
While some of the stories are cautionary tales about scientific advancement, Dracula is the opposite. On one hand there is Dracula, coming to the (then) modern world of Victorian London from Transylvania, a land portrayed as shrouded in superstition. On the other there is Van Helsing and the others, using science to survive and fight back.
The heroes try to save Lucy using blood transfusions, albeit the author doesn't seem to know about blood groups, as several men donate blood to try and keep Lucy alive. Which makes me wonder if she died from Dracula's repeated feeding, or from receiving incompatible blood!
Early on, the protagonists are at a disadvantage as they know nothing of supernatural beings such as Dracula, but later on it is Dracula who is disadvantaged by the modern world, the protagonists using Lloyds of London to track Dracula's flight back to Transylvania.
In the end, Dracula is killed by Quincy, an American who represents the new world of America as opposed to the old Europe.
Some modern sci-fi horror stories also portray science as either the saviour or villain. I'd consider the film Alien a horror despite its sci-fi trappings. The prospect of studying the alien blinds the android to the risks, and the crew pays the price. This is a common theme throughout the franchise, with the highers-up willing to sacrifice lives to get their hands on the 'ultimate weapon'.
Blade Runner in many ways is a thematic follow-up to Frankenstein (albeit with few horror elements), depicting the reckless creation of life while not taking true responsibility for it. And like Frankenstein's monster, the replicants aren't willing to take their abandonment lying down.
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