One of the Scariest Movies Ever Made

Rating: Null/10 (12 November 2003)

The late, great Pauline Kael said it best when she wrote about "Alien" (actually, she was reviewing "Aliens" but I digress). She wrote "Alien turned your insides into knots. It made you dread the scenes to come." Exactly. When I saw this movie at the age of 14, I nearly couldn't breathe. I both wanted it to end and keep on going all at the same time. Everything about it works: the cast, the effects and mostly, Ridley Scott's amazing direction. By now his "look" has been copied so many times (and by his brother, Tony, as well) that to new viewers, the movie might seem old hat. But back in '79, this was a new, dark vision that was terrifying. The Alien is truly a shocking, gruesome monster. He/She's(?) your worst nightmare: a creature with no remorse, no soul. Just a killing machine with no other agenda. And you're trapped. If you look at the film, there's actually very little gore (yes, except for the famous stomach bursting scene). There is one complaint I have about "Aliens". Once you have seen it, experienced it, it's done. You will never feel the same sense of terror and doom that you feel the first time you see it. You can marvel at how skillfully it's made and such but you'll never get that awful, nauseating feeling that it gave you upon the initial viewing. I wish there was a way that I could have my brain wiped out of this movie (and a few others like "The Godfather") so I could experience them fresh all over again. There's nothing like it. That is what makes great film. In this regard, "Aliens" is somewhat better. You can enjoy the action in the film over and over again and pretty much feel the same way and catch even more that you might've missed the first time. BOTH films are excellent compliments to the other. They're a complete set. Forget the other Alien movies. They are not in the same league as the first two.