Review of Alien (1979) by Deckard2 — 25 Jan 2022

A film I associate with the **** being scared out of me when I was 12 years old..........thank you Dad.

When a film has made a significant impact it leaves a mark. I remember where I was, who I was with and how I felt when I first digested Ridley Scotts masterpiece and is a film I routinely return to.

Alien was reportedly pitched as 'Jaws in space' and follows a rag tag and often disgruntled crew as they are rudely awakened from cryo-sleep to answer a mysterious distress call down on the unknown planet LV-426. Needless to say, things don't go according to plan.

Alien is an exceptionally well crafted, slow burning sci-fi horror that still manages to shock and keep you on the edge of your seat today. The creature design by Giger is still horrifying and the subtle lore that is established serves to build intrigue without detracting from the main 'problem' the crew are facing. Little did 12 year old me know that these questions would be explored in the later made 'Prometheus'.

Notable mentions should go to Jerry Goldsmiths score who's eerily sweeping horns and strings have become synonymous with getting stalked by a xenomorph and to Ian Holm who turns in an excellent performance playing 'Ash' the ships science officer.

Although a slow burner to start (the action doesn't really kick off until the hour mark), the atmosphere and the journey you are taken on is worth the investment. This is Ridley Scott on top form and he has arguably rarely been better.