Instead of finding hope, the meaning of life, and answers to some of the oldest questions known to man, the film Prometheus travels down a much darker path. Directed by Ridley Scott, Prometheus dives into the history of the Alien series. But it introduces one new question: Where did we come from?

After finding a number of ancient markings depicting alien creatures worshiped like gods, archaeologists Elizabeth Shaw (Naomi Rapase) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshal-Green) set out on a mission to find the truth of Man’s origins. Their journey takes them to a planet deep in space. They are accompanied by a robot with his own agenda, a commander with trust issues and a motley crew of disordered, colorful characters.  Each individual has their own expectation of what they will find on this desolate planet.

But what they expect and what they actually find is drastically different. The crew discovers enough blood, gore and violence to surpass all of its predecessors put together. The first scene depicts an alien’s body disintegrating after he drank a solution that changed his DNA. This new DNA is the first link in the chain of human evolution. So it would seem that a depiction of a divine Creator is nowhere to be found.

But faith manages to play a crucial rule in the film’s story. Shaw, the main character, caries a cross around her neck. She says she believes because she chooses to, not because she has any proof. Shaw turns to this belief many times throughout the movie.  Temporarily, the cross is taken from her, and she loses hope. But after eventually finding her symbol of faith, she regains her strength.

When asked how she can still believe after finding out humans were created by aliens, she responds, “Who created the aliens?” Shaw is not willing to give up her faith, but is still unable to find the creators of the human race she seeks so desperately. Eventually she gives up all hope of a happy ending and seeks vengeance on the aliens instead.          

As many would expect from a new release, the film’s cinematography and special effects are unmatched. Wide landscapes and intricate detail elevate the film to epic proportions. It is a tense, shock-filled 124 minutes that will provide most viewers with exactly what they expected to see. As is the case with most Alien movies, all but one of the characters die – each with a more inventive death than the last. And the one who is left manages to survive through impossible odds.

In the end, the audience is left with a pile of dead people, blood and gore riddling the inside of their brains and not one satisfying answer. The semblance of faith that is presented is nothing more than a symbol and does not provide a solution to the critical questions of humanity: Who are we? What is our purpose?

As Christians we already have the answers to these questions. We are the children of God, created to “glorify God and enjoy Him forever” (Westminster Shorter Catechism).

Anne Reiner lives in Beaver Falls, PA and is a rising senior at Geneva College. She is a member of an OPC congregation in Williamsport, PA. She works as a freelance journalist, writing for World Magazine, World on Campus, and other publications.