Bloodchild by Octavia Butler

1) What is your reaction to the text you just read?

A little bit intrigued, a little bit disgusted. It takes a while to get a good image of the Tlic, and of the situation as a whole. They're giant parasitic worms- that's gross. But the world and the relationship built around the Tlic and the humans is so unique from the other stories I've read and watched.


2) What connections did you make to the story? Discuss the story with which you were able to connect.

There's a lot to compare between Bloodchild and other alien stories in which the alien race uses humans to birth their young. Most notably the Xenomorphs from Alien. I don't think I've ever heard a story about a compromise between the aliens and humans, and it's definitely an interesting angle to work with. It's mentioned that early on during this relationship, the Tlic had treated the humans like cattle, but they eventually had the sense to treat the humans with a little more dignity.


3) What changes would you make to adapt this story into another medium? What medium would you use? What changes would you make?

I've been watching Love, Death, and Robots on repeat since Netflix released it. This story would be awkward, cumbersome, and probably with poor reception if made into a live action film of any kind, but an animated short would bring it to life. Love, Death, and Robots showed that animation can be gritty and pretty, and can push horror and scifi like no other medium can.

Classic Horror Tropes

Dramatic score
Night setting
Monsters
Mirrors
Creepy, abandoned houses, placed on a hill, mansions
Secret bookcases
Cobwebs
Science gone wrong
Thunder storms
Howling in the distance
Romance
Traveling to a destination
Trains, wagons
Typical spooky lab equipment- coils, sparks, "primitive" electricity
Creepy portrait paintings
Quiet, empty town
Detached music being played in another room
Candles despite electricity
Mysterious shadows