In Space..No One Can Hear You Scream!

Rating: 8/10 (11 September 2003)

"Alien" was the first (and best) of the four films released to date starring Sigourney Weaver as Ripley the hard assed alien fighter.
Briefly the story centers on a space freighter of the future on its way back to earth towing its cargo of rare minerals and staffed by a crew of seven. When we meet them, they are just awakening from a deep sleep and think that they are nearing earth. However, the on board computer (called "Mother") has awakened them for a different reason. An apparent distress signal is coming from an unknown source on an unknown planet. When they investigate they discover a bed of egg like growths in an underground cave. One of the "eggs" hatches and a creature attaches itself to the face of crewman Kane (John Hurt). After a short time Kane appears to recover but then a creature suddenly emerges from his chest. The creature grows into a monster and begins to stalk the crew until.....
Director Ridley Scott gives us what amounts to a haunted house in outer space horror story. We just barely get a glimpse of the creature as it attacks. The crew moves about long, dark and damp cavernous passageways from where the creature could emerge at any moment. Scott creates an atmosphere of claustrophobia as the crew is trapped where in space..no one can hear you scream. He also utilizes Ripley's cat, Jones to great effect.
The cast is first rate. In addition to Weaver as Ripley and John Hurt as Kane, there is Tom Skerritt as Dallas the commander of the ship, Veronica Cartright as Lambert, Yahfet Kotto as Parker, Harry Dean Stanton as Brett and Ian Holm as Ash the Science officer who has secrets of his own. All turn in excellent performances as Ridley Scott keeps the suspense building.
For a perceived horror picture there is surprisingly little on screen violence involving the creature, as this is largely left to the imagination of the viewer. Two scenes involving the Ash and Kane characters are the exception.
An excellent well directed sci-fi horror film.