"Alien" is still remembered with merit not only of the film that started a billion-dollar franchise, but also as one of the most modern and tasteful examples of sci-fi horror. The plot is nothing revolutionary, and most of the characters are a little more than meat for the monster. It's the fortunate combination H.R. Giger's modern design and Ridley Scott's taut and precise direction that could elevate the Xenomorph to one of the most iconic monsters in history. Unlike its action-packed sequels, "Alien" focuses exclusively on slowly building up the tension with its dark and claustrophobic atmosphere, with endless silences and only measured appearances of the Xenomorph. Its appearances are sporadic and incredibly brief, but manage to create an increasing sense of anticipation and, at the same time, mask the limits of the special effects. A lot of the tensest moments actually happen when the Xenomorph is still off-screen. It's a Lovecraftian horror movie that plays on the psychological side, and that will not satisfy the ones looking for high-paced slasher carnages.
The innovative art direction was one of the first examples of "gothic" sci-fi in cinema, with gritty and slimy sets opposed to the colorful and monumental fantasy of films like "Star Wars" or "Planet of the Apes". The meticulous work on the special effects to recreate Giger's design stood the test of time incredibly well, the Xenomorph is a bit stiff but still, everything looks way more elegant and tasteful than any of the sequels. Cinematography and artwork are just on a whole different level.
Review by manicureVIP 4BlockedParent2021-05-01T14:36:48Z
"Alien" is still remembered with merit not only of the film that started a billion-dollar franchise, but also as one of the most modern and tasteful examples of sci-fi horror. The plot is nothing revolutionary, and most of the characters are a little more than meat for the monster. It's the fortunate combination H.R. Giger's modern design and Ridley Scott's taut and precise direction that could elevate the Xenomorph to one of the most iconic monsters in history. Unlike its action-packed sequels, "Alien" focuses exclusively on slowly building up the tension with its dark and claustrophobic atmosphere, with endless silences and only measured appearances of the Xenomorph. Its appearances are sporadic and incredibly brief, but manage to create an increasing sense of anticipation and, at the same time, mask the limits of the special effects. A lot of the tensest moments actually happen when the Xenomorph is still off-screen. It's a Lovecraftian horror movie that plays on the psychological side, and that will not satisfy the ones looking for high-paced slasher carnages.
The innovative art direction was one of the first examples of "gothic" sci-fi in cinema, with gritty and slimy sets opposed to the colorful and monumental fantasy of films like "Star Wars" or "Planet of the Apes". The meticulous work on the special effects to recreate Giger's design stood the test of time incredibly well, the Xenomorph is a bit stiff but still, everything looks way more elegant and tasteful than any of the sequels. Cinematography and artwork are just on a whole different level.