Consider a different alien horror that does this reveal well: In 1982, John Carpenter released The Thing, a loose adaptation of the 1951 film The Thing From Another World. Its premise - who is the real enemy? - sets up a reveal that never really comes. вЂ¦вЂќ (One YA project that differentiates its characters exceptionally well is the CWвЂ™s The 100.)ДЄside from not working as an adaptation of a childrenвЂ™s book, The 5th WaveвЂ™s primary failing is in its misunderstanding of what builds tension and dread in a sci-fi story. I specifically remember watching The Maze Runner with my 12-year-old brother, who reacted when a minor character died by saying, вЂњOh no, not вЂ¦ that вЂ¦ guy. Lack of specificity is the downfall of many projects meant for adolescents projects like The 5th Wave and The Maze Runner create characters so bland that they feel written by a team of adults hoping to appeal to teenagers, rather than kids about whom teens could feel strongly. Another character keeps his little sisterвЂ™s locket. Even her objective lacks memorable details she keeps her little brotherвЂ™s favorite toy with her, which is a teddy bear named Bear. There are no specifics given regarding what kind of teenager Cassie is, so her character doesnвЂ™t have any footholds for audience members to find while trying to relate. What does this even mean, in the context of the film? If youвЂ™re not a human, but you donвЂ™t know youвЂ™re not a human and you feel conflicted about killing humans, then whatвЂ™s the big deal about being from another planet?

human conflict complexity, this ambiguity just seems to confuse the characters as much as it does the filmвЂ™s audience. The aliens in question, however, look exactly like humans, and some of them donвЂ™t even know theyвЂ™re not humans, at least initially. The 5th Wave, though it seemed to touch on but not commit to the fifth wave theory of terrorism, combines the вЂњskinwalkerвЂќ fear from more memorable films like Invasion of the Body Snatchers with a YA love triangle setup, complete with a cute boy who is part alien and part human. GigerвЂ™s aesthetic and a cast of talented actors, and contemporary alien horror developed from there. The film didnвЂ™t feel simplistic, in part due to H.R. Ellen RipleyвЂ™s objective was clear - survive - and the alien Xenomorph chasing her had a similarly pure, but oppositional viewpoint: kill Ripley. A survivor вЂ¦ unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality.ДЄlien remains one of the best horror films, and best alien films, of all-time because its stakes were so high in such a claustrophobic, focused space. Its structural perfection is matched only by its hostility. Remember when Ash says he admires the horrific Xenomorph monster in Alien? Ash: You still donвЂ™t understand what youвЂ™re dealing with, do you? Perfect organism.

The 5th wave actors