As close to perfection as humanly possible

Rating: 10/10 (15 June 2007)

Horror movies are one of my favorite genres, being a teenager, I love the rush of suspense and the sight of gore. In general, however, there has never been a horror movie that can match the beauty of the 1979 flick, Alien.
Story- 10 The plot is not very exciting from the get go. Simply put, the crew of a transport spaceship goes to investigate an SOS signal from a remote planet. While searching, the crew finds an organic lifeform that attach itself to one members face. The crew member is brought back onto the ship, after which all hell breaks loose. Unlike most modern horror movies, Alien uses an enticing and strangely addictive plot to draw the audience into the movie. This in turn increases the scare factor, since the audience is able to feel as though they are on board the ship. The remote location was also revolutionary at the time, as it gives a feeling of no escape. Overall the plot was just executed perfectly.
Purpose- 10 Horror movies are meant to scare people and this movie, at least on first viewing, dos just that. For one, we are introduced to a horrifying creature that seems invincible. Byond that, this movie uses the perfect balance of blood and gore that I have ever seen in a horror movie. We cringe during the chesburster scene but we also experience shocking moments such as Dallas' death. At the end of the day, we walk away with a fear of the unknown, a fear of an all powerful creature that is impossible to stop.
Acting- 8 The acting wasn't quite perfect, but was able to get the job done and is above average for a horror movie. All of the actors seemed to fit the role of their character. Sigourney Weaver, in my opinion, is a little overrated and she seemed much too tough and determined for her character. At the same time, Veronica Cartwright was a little too emotional, effectively ruining her death scene. The acting didn't need to be great here, it did enough to get the job done.
Visuals- 10 They certainly aren't modern, but I love the design of the alien and also the vastness of the massive Nostromo. Once again, the blood wasn't overdone in this movie, even by 70's standards I'm sure for the time the spaceship was very realistic looking. The most important part, however, was the camera angles chosen, for example during the scene in which Brett looks for Jones the cat, and the depiction of isolation that set this movie apart from others.
Audio- 10 The soundtrack here is WAY underrated, it sets off just the right mood for the film. It also makes me smile to see how sound plays a large role in this film. It gives a cold feeling, for example, to hear the facehugger organism's slimy movements, or Lambert's death scene. It is a technique underutilized in horror films and should be rethought.
Overall 10/10 I wrote this review first because this is the model I will base other reviews off of. Everything done in this movie is to perfection and it is rare to see this type of execution on the big screen today. Today's directors really need to take a look back to this movie, hopefully they will be able to pull ideas out to create a solid horror film.