Year: 1979
Director: Ridley Scott
Country: US
Language: English
"In space no one can hear you scream" Alien's chilling tagline is still commonly quoted amongst the film community 35 years after its original theatrical debut. The picture has become a franchise; inspiring 3 movie sequels, many spinoffs and a terrible Alien vs Predator crossover. Building on the seminal opening shot of George Lucas' Star Wars it was a direct defying response to the science fiction craze at that time. Ridley Scott wished to resurrect the cheeky genre of scary monsters in space, introducing high budget visuals and adult orientated horror in the process.
In Alien, the commercial vessel Nostromo receives a distress call from an unexplored planet. After searching for survivors, the crew heads home only to realize that a deadly bioform has joined them.
At heart, Alien is a feminist film because of its representation of the workplace as an egalitarian place where traditional roles have been extinguished. Made during a time where women in America were constantly overshadowed by men - in 1979 they were earning annual wages that amounted to just sixty percent of the earnings of their male counterparts- the character of Ripley (played by Sigourney Weaver) is a refreshing step forward. Certainly she is one of the strongest female characters to ever grace the silver screen.
Alien is also terrifying because the gender roles are reversed and now men are the most vulnerable of the sexes. Haunting sexual imagery is abound throughout Alien. When Kane explores the cavern- a stand in for the female reproductive system- he becomes impregnated by a scorpion-like monster that attaches itself to his face. It is a textbook Freudian scene of his symbolic castration. Later he gives birth to a phallic Alien- the symbol of the male's anxiety towards feminism. With Alien Director Ridley Scott suggests that the ultimate unconscious male fear is that he will be equal with women. The penis is no longer the object of male power and men will have equal distribution of reproductive duties, including the burden of childbirth.
In conclusion, Alien is a remarkable horror flick that is interesting to dissect. It is well paced, remembering to rely on atmosphere and symbolism rather than cheesy jump scares and cheap effects. It is enthralling and memorable, influencing current horror movies which unfortunately are rarely ever as intelligent as this picture is. Taking us back to the pinnacle of late 70's second wave feminism, Ridley Scott's masterpiece is far greater than any review can give it credit for. Praise it! 5/5
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