Apologies for lack of posting lately - I have been distracted by a larger writing project that is (hopefully) almost finished.
My original plan was to review new releases I manage to see, but people have suggested I look at older movies as well; why not? What better film to start with than an absolute classic, and one of my all-time favourite films.
Alien (1979)
Picture the time. Two years before, the first Star Wars crash-landed and changed film-making, and film fanaticism, forever. Science Fiction cinema had become an extremely profitable market (leading to numerable Star Wars clones, such as The Black Hole). At the same time, Horror was also taking huge stalking strides with the start of the slasher genre, through films such as Black Christmas (1974) and Halloween (1978). The genre would pick up relentlessly throughout the 1980s.
This time seemed to be perfect for Ridley Scott's Alien, a film that succeeds both in Science Fiction and Horror, creating harsh debates on which genre it actually belonged to (Why can't it be both?).
"In space, no one can hear you scream."
Imagine seeing this poster for the first time in 1979.
The story is simple, apparently similar to the slasher film formula, but without any irritating and stupid characters, and with many interesting turns. The Nostromo, a hulking mining ship with a crew of seven, is on a return trip to Earth when it is disturbed by a distress beacon from a nearby planet. The beacon wakes the crew, and after much debate, they decide to visit the source of the message to investigate. While exploring the planet an unfortunate member gets attached with an alien parasite, leading to a bit of bother on board the ship. The crew have to use their wits to survive, and the rest is history.
The key component that makes this film incredible is its tension. All through the running time is an underlying sense of dread, isolation, imminent danger, which is created by Scott via every potential avenue. There are no moments of creatures jumping out unexpected to the camera - every death, every alien encounter, is pre-warned with long shots or drawn-out sequences, often with a lot of shouting, creepy music and decent acting.
The title font appears in obscure pieces, slowly coming together. The camera shakes, chasing running victims down smoke-filled corridors. The astronauts walk warily through alien architecture resembling a giant ribcage or the inside of an insect hive. The ship's cat gets caught up in some kind of shedded skin. While we hardly see the alien itself, the film is constantly unnerved by its underlying presence. The music itself, composed by frequent sci-fi contributor Jerry Goldsmith, glides between classical romantic cues and obscure warbling and percussion. It matches the sequences perfectly. Some of the most frightening scenes are actually music-less, making any screams and echoes ring louder in our gut.
No, it's not reaching for the cap.
Enormous kudos has to go to Swiss surrealist artist H.R.Giger, who designed the main antagonist (in all its forms), making it one of the most iconic extra-terrestrials in film. Think of any movie alien, and you'll soon realize it looks like an Earth creature, or at least a mixture of Earth creatures. Giger's creature looks like nothing of this world; like a surreal nightmare. The six-fingered hands, acid blood, eyeless head and mouth-within-a mouth. How can you fight something that is nothing like anything you've experienced before? Even the way it moves is disconcerting, either gliding slowly across the floor or uncurling from the ceiling. It is little wonder it has appeared in around eight movies and various video games.
Naturally the cast works well, all diverse and interesting without any filler characters that plague so many horror or sci-fi films these days (Prometheus, also by Scott, is a sad example of this). No sex-crazed teenagers. No awkward relationships. These are mature professions doing a job. A close-knit crew. Sigourney Weaver's beloved Ripley doesn't even dominate the set. John Hurt is pensive. Ian Holm is mysterious. Tom Skerrit is a cautious captain. Veronica Cartwright is cynical. The two ship engineers are jovial yet hard-nosed. Everyone's banter feels completely natural, as though we are observing a real-life crew rather than watching something scripted (some of it, including the more frightening scenes, was barely scripted at all).
Hindsight is a beautiful thing, when you're thinking of exploring weird looking holes in the floor.
To find faults would be to merely nit-pick. The alien and space effects have aged slightly, however it is a blessing that 20th Century Fox has not re-released the film, Star Wars style, with all new CGI. Perhaps also the lone survivor of the Nostromo is not the most likable of characters, but we can't help but admire the intense struggle to survive. This is ultimately a beautifully executed film by all involved.
Ridley Scott's Alien is a masterpiece is both Science Fiction and Horror, working on all kinds of levels, and inspired countless filmmakers. It is a masterclass in atmosphere. You'll think twice before ignoring any strange chest-pains in future.
Note: The more recent Director's Cut is improved on the original and easier to follow. Also google Giger for some of the strangest pictures on the web. Perhaps the man is actually an alien himself.
