Why ALIEN is the Best...

In space...no one can hear you scream.

As we are now in October, I thought it only fitting to give you guys my personal take/semi-review of my all-time favorite horror movie ever: Ridley Scott's Alien. 

Not until 1979 did cinema goers and science fiction fans alike get exposed to something this horrific and violent as A L I  E N. Sure there's been a share of action and suspense with other films, but nothing quite like this. The science-fiction genre at the time consisted of entertainment like Star Trek, Star Wars-though some would consider it to be more fantasy-Battlestar Galactica, and several others. Although Alien would fall under the same category, Ridley Scott was adamant to show a crew in space not for the sake of exploration, but for the sake of getting home after making some money in the process. I'm sure most of us can relate to this. After working 9 to 5, the one thing on our minds is to clock out, go home and catch up with our personal lives. I know I do, anyway. This just happens to be in space. There are no gallant captains, no enthusiastic crew members and no time for new worlds so don't expect family night with this movie unless you're prepared. 

The film beings in the void of space. No major fanfare, no flashes of ships going by...but just space. The dead cold of space. Slowly entering the foreground is what sounds like a drum, or the equivalent of something sinister and malevolent if you will. Then, the sound gets louder and louder as the credits continue.  Meanwhile, you see these strange shapes which end up making out the title of the film once the director is listed. Check out the opening credits here:

USCSS Nostromo landing on LV-426

Now, we see our first glimpse of the USCSS Nostromo of Weyland-Yutani corporation. It's practically a floating ore refinery in space. Not as pleasing as the Starship Enterprise or as haunting as a Star Destroyer. It just...is. Again, very simple. If you can just imagine an oil rig in space, this would be it.

Lt. Ellen Ripley and cat Jonsey 

The crew of the Nostromo are people like you and me. Well, if you're middle-class anyway. The crew consists of seven officers. There's Captain Dallas (Tom Skerrit) who just wants to get back on Earth and complete their shipping of ore. Second in command is Lieutenant Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), a laid back yet dedicated officer on the ship. She is the one that follows protocol to the T and even has a cat on board with her: Jonesy. Third in command is Kane (John Hurt), a steadfast crewman who jumps at the chance to go on away missions. A smoker, casual and passive at times, he's the man who puts the entire crew in danger. There is another officer, Lambert (Veronica Cartwright), who's a communications officer if you will and also can't wait to get home. Powering the ship are two men who complain about getting their fair share in payment. Parker (Yaphet Kotto), the chief engineer, and his dopey companion Bret (Harry Dean Stanton), who can't says nothing but "Right" in response to people. Last but not least, there is Ash a science officer with something more up his sleeve.

As this crew are accustomed for long journeys back to Earth, the ship is operated by MUTHR, the computer system on board to keep things on track. All of a sudden, the ship awakens all seven occupants. What for? The crew isn't even half way back to Earth! It is discovered that a new life form has been discovered on a not-too distant planet known as LV-426. While Parker, the ships engineer and Brett aren't too keen on going after discovering they won't get any shares, they reluctantly agree and the ship proceeds to the planet

Once on the planet, Captain Dallas assigns two additional members to accompany him on the planet. Discovered what looks to be an abandoned ship, Kane jumps at the chance to board it, not knowing what will lye in store for the rest of the crew...and the audience for that matter...For those of you that have yet to see the film, I suggest you watch it and then get back to me.

Two major factors bring this film to the spot light.

A SENSE OF ISOLATION

The interior of the Nostromo...did you hear something?

Sometimes you don't need to have action happening every second in order to be freaked out or uncomfortable. The sets do all of that for you. The long corridors; the lighting; the humming of the engines and the shadows are enough to make one feel uneasy. From the first shot of the interior of the ship, I felt like I was in the Overlook Hotel in space. Less is more and Scott does that wonderfully. Isolation is a major part why this movie is superior to the ones that follow. What's around the corner? Who's around the corner? 

Once the Alien gets released on board the ship, you hardly see it. Where did it go? The fact that you barely see the damn thing is enough to shit your pants. That makes it all the more freaky and entertaining when it DOES appear and kill some of the crew. 

CREW EXPENDABLE:

Another aspect to the film I love is the sense of greed and how the people on board this ship risk their lives for a measly paycheck. What about their lives? Do they matter to the company that sends them out here? Simple answer: No. I love this factor because it can relate to us in the real world. So many lives are expendable in society and when it comes to war, especially wars started on false pretenses for money and oil, officials send human lives out there as canon fodder if you will.

All in all, Alien is my favorite of the series of movies and that being said, would you agree with me? Is so, please explain in the comments below. If not, please let me know in the comments below! Thanks for reading and until next time...

 

 -sources

•  Alien Logo courtesy of  Fanart.tv

•  YouTube channel everyone needs titles for opening credits 

• -Nostromo landing on planet courtesy of Wikipedia

• -Ellen Ripley courtesy of Wikipedia

•  -Image of interior of Nostromo courtesy of Movie-Screencaps.com