Alien (1979) Review

Written by: Gardenofstone10   

Alien and its three sequels (I'm ignoring the AVP movies) are some of the best in scifi horror.  The first two, specifically are the best. 

First and foremost, the plot. 

Alien starts with a group of 7 aboard a space ship transporting 20, 000 tons of some kind of soil back to Earth.  After getting an SOS from a strange planet, they find a ship with a strange giant operating it.  Dead, of course.  So the crew investigates farther to find a room full of eggs.  John Hurt is the luck SOB to see one of these eggs hatching and finds out the hard way what a facesucker is. 

To me, one of the greatest death scenes in movie history is John Hurt's character when the alien pops out of his stomach.  From there, it's a hunt the alien/run from the alien movie.  Up until Ripley is the only one left.  After she thinks she got away, she is again attacked by the alien, only to prevail and live to see another day. 

Before I read up on this movie to get all my facts straight, three movies come to mind on what it is similar to.  Jaws, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Star Wars.  When reading where he got the inspiration for the movie, Ripley Scott said Star Wars and TCM (and 2001).  An early reviewer for the movie said it was like Jaws in space. 

This movie is as intense as any alien movie can ever get.  It's full of jumps and just a looming suspense. 

A big thing for me about the movie that added to the suspense was the music.  It was a very secluded feeling music without any hope.  In space, no one can hear you scream and the music puts us in that feeling that there is no hope.  Same goes for the lighting of the movie.  It's these 7 crew members vs one badass alien with little to no chance of survival.  Perfectly done movie, which is expected of Ridley Scott (BLADE RUNNER IS THE BEST).  If you guys haven't seen this movie, move the rock you are hiding under and buy this.  Don't rent it, buy it.  Peace.