"sci-fi masterpiece"

Rating: 8/10 (28 May 2014)

Thrilling, mysterious and gripping throughout, Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi masterpiece Alien is undoubtedly deserving of its cult status, as the film's stunning visual effects set the standard for the genre, inspiring many to follow its footsteps. Remarkably well-directed and designed, the film's outstanding feature is its ability to successfully maintain the tone of suspense and fear, as the audience follows the space crew in their struggles, trying to combat the alien that invades their ship. Although Alien offers few dynamic action scenes, it is the constant fear of the unknown and the lurking presence of the deadly creature that ultimately defines the film. Many have tried, but few have succeeded in recapturing the riveting style of Alien, both in terms of the film's groundbreaking cinematic techniques and its exhilarating storytelling approach.