What a beautiful, engrossing nightmare! Not just a film about blue-collar space truckers trying to survive “the perfect organism” that can not be killed, but also a film about how large, multi-national corporations see the worker ants they employ as nothing less than “expendable”. The direction by Sir Ridley Scott is impeccable. The pacing throughout is deliberate, slow, and perfect. Alien takes great pains to flesh-out its world and does everything it can to fully immerse viewers in it.
The production design by Michael Seymour and set decoration by Ian Whittaker are elaborate, gorgeous, and exquisite. The sets and designs for both the Nostromo and the Derelict are cinematically perfect, beautiful, and unforgettable. The costume design by John Mollo is a quite great . The cinematography by Derek Vanlint aids in the rich, thick atmosphere produced.
The editing by Terry Rawlings and Peter Weatherley aids the film overall (especially in pacing). The screenplay by Dan O’Bannon is simple, but hides a good deal of depth within. The special effects by Nick Allder and Brian Johnson are terrifying, effective, and unforgettable. The score by Jerry Goldsmith is downright haunting and only adds to the atmosphere and mood of the film.
The cast is aces all around, from the secretly sinister Ash played by Ian Holm to the rugged bad-ass Parker played by Yaphet Kotto to the struggling Captain who manages to keep his cool Dallas played by Tom Skerritt to the determined take-no-shit survivor Ripley played by Sigourney Weaver. Even Helen Horton as the voice of MU-TH-UR 6000 (Mother for short) is perfect and unforgettable.
Alien could be described as a slow-paced, atmospheric, science-fiction horror film. The Nostromo could be described as a haunted house/ship in space. Alien continues to thrill, captivate, terrify, engulf, and immerse. 25 years later, Alien remains “the perfect organism”.
5 STARS
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