| Alien (1979) | |
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Rating: 8.5/10 (949,277 votes) Director: Ridley Scott Writer: Dan O'Bannon, Ronald Shusett Stars: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt Runtime: 117 min Rated: R Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi Released: 22 Jun 1979 |
| Plot: The crew of a commercial spacecraft encounters a deadly lifeform after investigating a mysterious transmission of unknown origin. | |
When Ridley Scott went back to re-edit the film that is, perhaps, his most beloved of fans, he promised to add in a few scenes that had become notoriously hunted through the years. When he had finished, no-one could have predicted that he would deliver a film which adds scenes in, but is actually shorter in run time than the original cut. The result was a recut version of a classic that actually surpassed the excellence of the original cut.
The plot of the film is well known, thanks to a franchise that followed, and spun off comic books, novels, and game franchises. A mining vessel, the Nostromo, is returning from deep space when the crew are brought out of hyper sleep. The have been awoken early to investigate a signal from a nearby planet. Investigation reveals a ship, one which appears to have crashed hundreds of years before. The pilot is of unknown origin, and the cargo hold is filled with egg-like objects. One of the crew is attacked by something from one of the eggs, and soon after another creature bursts from his stomach. Pretty soon the crew find themselves hunted by an alien creature.
Out of all the Alien films to date, this ranks as my personal favourite. Scott’s handling of tension and claustrophobia make this tense tale of a crew versus one perfect killing machine such a gripping watch. The characters are portrayed in such a real manner, with real personalities, that lift the film above many sci-fi films of the time. They bicker, they joke, they feel like a crew that have been stuck together working for years, whether they like it or not. It is in how Scott handles the cast that makes it all feel so real. Simple tricks such as not telling them that something would erupt from Jon Hurt’s chest, making the reaction when it happens look so real, or not letting Sigourney know that she was about to be slapped…simple tricks which garnered real responses.
However, it is not just in the manipulation of the actors that Scott excels, but his handling of the alien itself is a masterclass in audience manipulation. Slow reveals, quick edits, and shadowy movements gradually introduce us to the creature and it’s menace. We know as much about the creature as the characters do, and it is only towards the end that we see the whole beautiful menace of it.
Pacing, and tension are spot on in this director’s cut. Scott trimmed down some lingering shots and turned an already great masterpiece into something even better.
