The premise of a small crew on an average mission in space working for a large corporation but then making a sudden detour when they receive a distress call from a near by planet, is now an opening that predicts something bad will happen. The already ominous tone of the film sets up characters but without stereotypes and without anticipation of what is their fates is, these days in film, rare. No one would have guessed that the last crew members standing would be the two women and the only black guy on board. BUT that’s not even the best part, its only after that you actually think about it that its unusual, while in the film, all you can think about it, oh my gad I hope they make it.
The evolution of Ripley as the unlikely heroine and survivor of the infamous ship, Nostromo, is that she never stands out as the leader, she’s the crew member who makes sense and wants to do things by the book. She clashes with the science officer, suspecting his creepy alternative motives early on. But she only achieves the title that so many bestow on her, ‘strong female character’, by the end of the film and technically into the next film. In ‘Alien’ she is the sole survivor and for me, that’s who she really is, just happens to be female. Casting the then unknown Weaver in the role was a bold move and one that really paid off. If the film, the story, setting and characters can absorb you into the film, it doesn’t matter who is playing them, that’s what I take away from Ridley Scott’s masterpiece.
The fact that science fiction and horror can easily go hand in hand means that more film exploring both these genres can cross over but these days so few have the same quality and patience of ‘Alien’. With such a simple title, straightforward forward plot and close quarters setting means the characters are the ones the audience is left with to engage with. The real horror in the story is obviously the alien but more deeply, fear of the unknown.
The tag line ‘In Space no on can hear you scream’ evoked terror and intrigue, something resonates throughout the film as well. The film lived up to this promise and I’m glad I finally watched the film and not just the infamous chest bursting scene, which was awful to watch by the way.
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