This week, we’ll dissect “Prometheus,” a sort-of prequel to “Alien” that was No. 2 at the box office last weekend in its opening.

“Prometheus” marks legendary director Ridley Scott’s return to the franchise that he helped create more than 30 years ago.

“Prometheus” starts when a team of scientists on Earth discover a series of ancient pictograms across various cultures depicting the same star cluster with a giant humanoid pointing to it. These pictograms seem to invite mankind to literally meet its maker. The crew of the ship Prometheus travels to space to search for our beginnings — but it’s a search that could lead to our end.

“Prometheus” works on many levels. At its most basic, the movie is a lot like the original “Alien” film. It’s not just horror, with a bunch of targets running around for various monsters to pick off one at a time. The horror here is painted with a very intelligent, science-fiction-colored brush.

You can enjoy the chills and spills without ever thinking more deeply about the mythology that’s presented (I suspect that’s just what the film’s haters have been doing), but where’s the fun in that?

“Prometheus” is definitely worth watching, particularly if you, like me, are a nut of Scott’s other science fiction films like “Alien” and “Blade Runner.”

There will probably be a sequel, and that’s swell because the cast does a stellar job. Michael Fassbender, who plays an android named David, will be remembered for one of the greatest portrayals of an android in film history.

I’m a fan!

McBrayer’s column appears weekly in the Courier. If you’re a fan of Showtime with Sasha, watch reviews at www.coastalcourier.com.