This one spawned the genre

Rating: Null/10 (18 October 1999)

Alien is the first movie that really presents us with a small group of people in a claustrophobic environment where there really is no place to run (such as a spaceship, boat or submarine) being stalked by an unseen person/beast to the last survivor. Sounds pretty general I know but this came first and they did it right. Ridley Scott creates a perfect environment with shadow and steel turning the Nostromo into a floating coffin in space with an emphasis on the crews position as fish in a barrel.
The suspense is unrelenting and the viewer is brought to the POV of the hunted.
**SPOILERS**
The alien effects are at times excellent and other times lame. The alien bursting out of the chest looks great. But as it scampers away it looks like its being pulled by a string. When the alien jumps out at the captain in the ducts it spreads its arms and scowls as if he's saying "BOO!" However the alien appearing out of the camouflage of the wall in the escape shuttle, and lowering himself from the ceiling looked fantastic. My only other complaint is the cat. Ripley goes back for the cat. I don't think that is a realistic decision for a character like her. After the death of the captain (and even before that) Ripley is a strong leader and is concerned primarily with three things 1) Her own survival 2) the safety of her remaining crew, and 3) destroying that thing. The cat was good for some false scares, and atmosphere (I love the scene where the cat is hissing at the alien) but it is a dumb precursor to the Newt character that bogged down Cameron's horrendous sequal that Ripley goes back for the cat. No one would do that.
**SPOILER END**
I recommend this movie to anyone who hasn't seen it yet but be warned that moments of suspense become tedious on fourth or fifth viewing. I love Geiger's alien especially the enigmatic aspect of its metamorphosis and life cycle. Their is great talent in this movie all around, superb acting, skilled directing, and an intense story and script by Dan O'Banion, whom I suggest fans check out in the director's chair of "RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD" his send up of Romero's Dead trilogy.
On my five star rating this gets all five stars, but only three if you've already seen it more the twice, as suspense gives way to boredom.