"One of the greatest horror films ever made."

Rating: Null/10 (17 January 2002)

What can you say about "Alien"? It's remained one of my all time favourite films for the past twenty years. It is so visually sophisticated and stunning that I still find it hard to believe that it was made in 1979.

I love Ridley Scott's direction and the sheer atmosphere that the movie creates - especially through its fantastic design and terrifying storyline. The acting is superb too - such strong characters developed in such a short time (i.e. before the cast is eaten!!).
Much has been written about the primeval nature of Giger's design - the alien planet with its eggs, and the creature itself with its strong sexual overtones. "Alien" lends itself well to a feminist, as well as a Freudian reading, both of which are plausible and enhance the enjoyment of the film.

I saw it, on a hot summer's afternoon, about three years after its general release, at the Northfield Odeon cinema in West London. This was in the days when cinemas still had BIG screens. To add to the atmosphere, I was one of only four or five others in the audience. After the show I accidentally exited though the wrong door and found myself in a curving corridor behind the screen! This was dimly lit, painted in matt black and had pipes running along the wall. It felt like I had done a "Last Action Hero" and entered the spaceship!
I must have watched "Alien" twenty times over the years and never get tired of it. I also always feel a sense of foreboding at what is about to happen. In my opinion, it's one of the greatest horror films ever made.