H P Lovecraft goes to space in a monstrous gunmetal grey boat

Rating: 10/10 (16 June 2002)

Seven explorers pick up a hitcher in deep space. The hitcher proceeds to bump them off one by one.
A variation of a classic premise?
Undoubtedly!
Ever been done better?
NO!
With the genius triumvirate Ridley Scott, Dan O'Bannon and H R Giger driving this film with their unique visions so rock solid in design and concept, how could it be?
Ridley Scott demonstrates his unique cinematic view to the utmost here, paralleled only by "Blade Runner" and "Gladiator". Even the bright sets are relatively under-lit and diminish in frequency as the movie progresses; as it draws ever nearer its dark heart. You are always looking into the shadows to see if there is anything moving. And because of Scott's excellent pacing and character development - Ripley emerging as the strongest for one - you are always rooting for her, especially willing her to get the emergency cooling system to start up again. Shouting at her to get up that ladder quick before the boogeyman comes up behind her.
We see Dan O'Bannon finally get to deliver the horrendous monster he first thought up for John Carpenter's "Dark Star" (remember the beach ball that gets nasty in an elevator shaft? In an enclosed space?) And we also get to see his workable, lived-in view of the future.
And Mr Giger? The man who can make horrible, horrendous things look eerily beautiful? There is no doubt that without his perfectly spine chilling creation(s) this film would not have worked; this film would not still stand today as one of the all time great science fiction/horror movies.
#62 in the IMDb top 250? Behind "Star Wars"? Behind "2001"? I think not!
H P Lovecraft would have loved this story.
10 out of 10 (even if it is just a guy in a suit!).