Alien (1979)
 When Alien hit theatres in 1979, science fiction movies
had mostly been flying saucer films with goofy looking aliens who
abducted good-looking models to their ships to perform medical
experiments.
At the other end of the spectrum there were space operas that
predominantly focused on space battles or weird outer space
experiences. No one was really prepared for the kind of experience
Alien would provide.
Immediately the movie fascinated audiences with its horrifying
ambience and the gory events taking place on board the
claustrophobically dark Nostromo.
Ridley Scott’s film presented us with a science fiction story
for the first time that was neither glorious nor romanticised. It
was a story about death lurking in the unknown depths of space.
His merciless approach in depicting these events catapulted Alien
to cult status literally the day it was released.
On its way home to Earth, the deep space towing vessel Nostromo
intercepts a radio signal. The ship’s computer awakens the crew
who have been in hypersleep for the lengthy travel to investigate
what seems to be an emergency signal.
 After
tracking the source of the signal to a nearby planet, the crew
sets out to explore. Just as they discover an alien hive, the ship’s
computer finally deciphers the original message, which turns out
to be a warning rather than a call for help.
But it is too late already - One of the crew members has become
the target of a strange face-hugging creature .
The remaining members of the team rush him back to the ship for
help, but with every attempt to free their partner from the
clutches of the creature he seems to come closer to death. Soon
they learn the hard way that they should not have brought the
creature on board. Seemingly indestructible, the alien starts a
reign of terror throughout their vessel.
Apart from the actual creature, much of the appeal of the film
stems from the characters. A bunch of blue-collar space workers
who have trouble coping with their situation and have only one
real wish - to get home alive.
 Unlike
the characters in some of the subsequent sequels, these guys are
not moronic, half-brained pseudo-Rambos who talk tough for
effect.
The characters in Alien are truly a believable group of
working class people, who just happen to live in the future and
work in space.
The film became Sigourney Weaver’s most important career step
as the story’s character Ellen Ripley. She also returned to
reprise her role in all three sequels.
|
