Alien: Breathtaking story of fear and isolation

Rating: 10/10 (22 August 2014)

Twelve years before I entered this world this movie came to be. 35 years later I watched this movie yet again, and yet again I am left breathless.
This is one of my top five movies. I have always enjoyed sci-fi, and I have always enjoyed a good chill down my spine. The tag line for this film says enough about the atmosphere "In Space No One Can Hear You Scream".
The story is simple, yet effective. A cargo crew trapped on their own ship being the prey of an alien, which was brought unto the ship.
The cast is well rounded and there is a natural feeling that they are bored and annoyed about being on the ship. They have only one wish; to get home to earth. The tension is easy to see between them, all hissing at each other. The alien itself is beautifully made for the time, and it is pretty scary. The setting is amazing. Everything is thought off. The alien spaceship is mysterious and if you haven't watched Prometheus then you will still wonder what it is. The cargo ship is a great set filled with loads of details.
The whole concept of fear is so elegantly used. Fear of the unknown - what is this alien. The fear within the crew, who can you trust, is someone against you? And then Ridley Scott put the setting down on the fear. Narrow corridors, great camera work and a dark lighting.
This movie is so simple to me: fear and isolation. How do you cope with that?