Review – Alien

The cornerstone of the Alien series and a horror classic (probably a sci-fi classic as well, though I’m not sure I know enough about the genre to be able to say for sure). I can remember being completely blown away by the whole “grimy technology” futurism in the art direction, something that would be developed a lot further just a few years later in Blade Runner. And I think director Ridley Scott’s decision to interconnect all the sets (making the sound-stage into a partial spacecraft of sorts) really contributed to the actors’ sense of place (and paranoia). Though much of the film seems cliché now (particularly the deeply Freudian parts of the set design done by H.R. Gieger), it’s important to remember that this was the film, copied so frequently, that gave birth to the clichés. Fans of the movie will find the 20th anniversary edition DVD well worth the investment, because it includes several scenes cut from the theatrical release (as well as other fun bonus features). Buy the disc