The Deadline Exclusive:  “Oscar-winning Up composer Michael Giacchino will make his big-screen directing debut with a reboot of the 1954 sci-fi man-eating monster movie “Them!” at Warner Brothers.”

The headline should have read, “ALIENS “Them!” Remake at WB by Michael Giacchino!”

If the reader missed the softball lob written above, “Them!” was already remade by James Cameron and titled ALIENS.

When familiar with both films it is impossible not to see the myriad of similarities between the two.  At the highest level both are top notch science fiction films and just below those crowns, the two films grow more and more similar by way of characters (sentric) and plot points.

Let’s go through some of them –

  • Opening Mystery Infestation
  • Armed Governmental Response
  • Fascinated Scientist
  • Shell Shocked Little Girl Who Knows ALL
  • A Romantic Couple Who Follow Correct Leads
  • Nuclear Involvement – A LOT Of Nuclear Involvement
  • BUG TUNNELS
  • A Female Down The Bug Tunnels
  • Flame Throwers (against eggs)

I could go on, but if the reader has ANY memory of either film, the direction of the other film becomes more apparent and in that exact order…

They mostly come out at night… mostly…

Please Note However –

BOTH FILMS ARE AMAZING AND ARE REQUIRED VIEWING

The similarities do not detract from either production.

What both feature films did with every aspect of production, in their own respect, are not just impressive but mindblowing by their set designs, scripts, paces, and visual effects.

SO WHERE DOES THIS LAND MICHAEL GIACCHINO?

Giacchino undoubtably has his work cut out for him – but similar to the classic trifecta of the Bodysnatchers films – Invasion of the Bodysnatchers (1956 – Siegel), and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978 – Kaufman), and Body Snatchers (1993 – Ferrara) –  the greatness will come from how the story is told rather than the story iself.

However, similar to the Aliens take on the original Them!, that is not to say that there is a lot to do with the story itself.

The original “Them!” took place in the 1950’s in a small New Mexico town and miles and miles of empty desert. Aliens – in the future, on a remote planet being terraformed via a massive industrial nipple shaped refinery with a vagina entrance. To say Giacchino has a lot of exciting room to run is an understatement.

It will be fun to see the direction Giacchino decides to take the production.