Alien (1979) / Sci Fi-Horror

MPAA Rated: R for gore, scary moments, violence and language
Running Time: 117 min.

Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto, Veronica Cartwright, John Hurt, Harry Dean Stanton
Director: Ridley Scott
Screenplay: Dan O'Bannon

A benchmark science fiction film, Alien is a simple premise, but given profound and complex treatment.  It's also one of the scariest horror films of its era.

The story begins on board the commercial vessel known as the Nostromo, where its crew are awakened prematurely while still in deep space from their cryogenic slumber.  The reason for their early disturbance has to do with the company's policy to investigate potential alien life forms, so when what appears to be an SOS signal is being transmitted from a small planet nearby, their mission is to check out the situation.  Upon landing on the desolate planet, the scientists discover what appears to be eggs containing another form of life, one of which hatches and latches itself to one of the crew.  Unable to remove the creature, it is brought back on board the Nostromo, where it grows at a rapid pace to become one of the deadliest killing machine's man has ever faced.

Although much of the formula that Alien would popularize has been lifted many times in science fiction over the years, there is still a seemingly intangible quality of Ridley Scott's (Blade Runner, Gladiator) direction that keeps this one heads and shoulders above all of the imitators.  For such a horrific suspense film, there is a quiet beauty to the build-up, taking a deliberate amount of time setting up the struggles, while the desolation of space is always apparent, even when you can't see it. 

The rapport among this fine set of character actors is particularly impressive, and although all of them have relatively few lines of dialogue, you instantly recognize that these are people that have known each other intimately for a very long time.  The conversations have a naturalistic flow, where people talk over each other, and wink to one another as if inside jokes are common place. 

Bleak and isolated, the terror start immediately when you realize that these people are all alone in the middle of nowhere.  No escape and no chance of rescue.  An unstoppable killer is on board and there seems to be no way to contain it.  Jerry Goldsmith's (Total Recall, The Mummy) score is sparse, only coming into play on rare occasions, making the silence during some of the more intense scenes all the more effective in eliciting tension.  H.R. Giger's alien designs are grotesquely horrific, yet wholly intriguing -- and the stuff of nightmares among many a viewer.

Although ahead of its time, Alien is also horror from the old school, never letting you really get a good glimpse of the object of everyone's fears until the time is just right.  By this time, we are so mortified by what it can do that true terror is achieved with certitude.  With each passing year, its status as a classic becomes more secured.  Absolutely essential viewing for anyone into science fiction/horror. 

Note: There is a 2003 director's cut which shortens some scenes and adds some others, and while the differences aren't completely significant to the overall impact, I still prefer the theatrical release.

-- Followed by Aliens (1986), Alien 3 (1992), Alien: Resurrection (1997), and two prequels (of sorts), Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007).

Qwipster's rating:

©2004 Vince Leo