The Scariest Space Movie: QUARTERFINALS!
Thanks for tuning back into The BeX Files! And welcome to the quarterfinals of the Scariest Space Movie, our ongoing tournament to crown the eeriest extraterrestrial entertainment.
I'm grateful to everyone who voted in the opening Round of 16. The roster included films about aliens, clones, robots, space demons, and of course, your standard-issue deranged astronauts. Here are the films that advanced to the next round—and the ones that got tossed out the airlock.
A quick reminder to join the Yub Nub Club for $5/month or $50/year if you want access to the post announcing the winner on October 30 (as well as lots more exclusive content down the line!).
Cast your vote for the quarterfinals here! And scroll on to see the full results of the first knockout round.
MATCH ONE WINNER: ALIEN (1979)
Alien unceremoniously facehugged the life out of Passengers with a completely unanimous vote.
MATCH TWO WINNER: 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
This one was hotly contested, but Kubrick’s Star Child managed to eke out the win against Bava’s extraterrestrial undead.
QUARTERFINAL: ALIEN vs. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
A rendezvous between Nostromo and Discovery One? It’s MU/TH/UR 6000 versus the HAL 9000 in this match between a claustrophobic classic and an expansive epic.
MATCH THREE WINNER: SUNSHINE (2007)
That’s one small step for a man, one giant defeat for Apollo 18.
MATCH FOUR WINNER: MOON (2009)
In our own version of the clone wars, Moon rendered Mickey 17 permanently expendable.
QUARTERFINAL: SUNSHINE VS. MOON
The Sun and the Moon once again face off in a battle of celestial dimensions.
MATCH FIVE WINNER: SOLARIS (1972)
In this match between moody mind-benders, Solaris left Aniara to float through deep space for eternity.
MATCH SIX WINNER: EVENT HORIZON (1997)
While it’s no surprise that Event Horizon won in a rout, I’m glad Le Voyage dans la Lune got a bit of love—or rather, fear! I am vindicated that I am not the only one creeped out by this early vision of space exploration.
QUARTERFINAL: SOLARIS VS. EVENT HORIZON
You choose: Space purgatory or space hell. Have fun!
MATCH SEVEN WINNER: EUROPA REPORT (2013)
"Calvin," the invasive Martian in Life, proved no match for the marine moon monster of Europa Report.
MATCH EIGHT WINNER: TOTAL RECALL (1990)
Sorry, Leprechaun! You’ve been recalled.
QUARTERFINAL: EUROPA REPORT VS. TOTAL RECALL
Do you dare to venture under the alien ice—or is it scarier to probe the recesses of your own mind? This match pairs two films with utterly different tones but that both, nonetheless, chill our bones.
I can’t wait to see which movies make it through to the semifinals! See you at the cosmic rest stop next week.
