A new approach.

Rating: 10/10 (3 May 2001)

OK, so sound doesn't travel well in a vacuum, yet we still hear the sound of the ship's engines in space. But what the hey! Ridley Scott had realism in his mind when he made this classic - 99% of the gadgets in the film actually worked. The cast is second to none, and proved that using a mix of British and American actors was the way to go. His almost fly-on-the-wall approach paid off so well in setting up the characters. Suspicion and suspense were the keys; the mystery of the alien; the quirkiness of Ian Holm's acting. I first watched this film at the tender age of 10, on a friend's aunt's pirate video (she was one of the first people in our area to have a VCR!), around 1980. And it scared the hell out of me! Again, this film is superior to its great sequels. But it shouldn't really be compared, having a style all its own. Compared to more recent horror films, it may not have the same impact. If you haven't seen this film, rent it, turn the lights off, start the film, and feel the tension.