MovieChat Forums > Leviathan (1989) Discussion > Concerning Assimilation (SPOILERS)

Concerning Assimilation (SPOILERS)

posted 15 years ago by Ame_Ryoshi
2 replies | jump to latest

So I just watched Leviathan for the second time tonight. I have to say, I love this movie.

In any case, upon my second viewing I saw that the Doc's face on the monster is very expressive; he seems to shed a tear, and is about to say something to Beck and Jones, but stops and looks down as the monster pulls back. DeJesus' face on the monster's shoulder actually whispers for help.

I have three questions regarding this:

1. When the monster assimilates the crew members, are the crew members fully cognizant still parts that make up the monster? I cannot imagine how the creature is keeping them alive as faces (unless the mutagen transformed them into something similar to the biology of a male angler fish?)

2. If so, what purpose would that serve the monster? I'm aware it's a low budget horror/sci-fi flick, but I can't imagine any reason to have your hosts-turned-parasites still alive after assimilating them. Is it all for the shock factor?

3. Again, if so, why didn't Six Pack and Bow cry out for help? Is it because they died before the assimilation took place? And again, if this is true, then why would the monster keep the other three alive as parts of it?

Thanks for taking your time to read and consider my questions!

"If you're lonely when you are alone, then you are in bad company." - Jean-Paul Sartre

[–] Breakwood83 15 years ago

Back in the 80's shock and gore were everywhere, the faces was just a way to scare us like" you see! they cant die in peace! they will suffer for ETERNITY". Not even talking about the disgusting factor. being born in the early 80's had a lot of nightmares over movies like leviathan lol.

[–] smirre44 15 years ago

Bowman and Sixpack were dead, so probably the reason why the faces just seemed inanimate.

DeJesus and Thompson speak (although you can't hear what Thompson says, you only see the lips move) and are clearly alive and aware of their horrible fate. Perhaps it accesses their minds and uses their knowledge to move around the base, knowing where to go. And then again, as you say, the writers may have put that in just for the horror factor.

Edit: Upon watching the movie again, the characters actually discuss the matter at one point. The victims minds are kept intact, as the monster accesses their knowledge and memories and know what to sabotage to incapacitate the station.