In the dead of space, fear buries itself deep inside us. When there's nothing to hold onto, rational thought takes a back seat to instinct and sickness rears its ugly head from within. Why are we so afraid of the unexplained, the hidden, the invisible? Is it the realisation that a void is still a thing that exists? Even nothing is something, as my 7-year-old often reminds me, And therein lies the key to that arcane horror - for when we give it a name, we want to give it purpose; because our obsession is defining it.
On the surface, 'Alien' is about a space crew unwittingly diverted from their destination to answer a distress call. And although I can't tackle the more subvert undertones of symbolism here, I can say that Director Ridley Scott's earnest approach to the material really pushed the envelope, This picture oozes atmosphere in every sense of the word, nurturing the very core elements that make it terrifying. Sigourney Weaver gives us a believable protagonist and the epitome of a strong heroine, unlike any to come before her in the genre. That's just one small detail in the never-ending pit of discoveries in this classic gem.
This film speaks to me on so many levels - artistic inspiration through the designs of H.R. Gieger, psychological curiosity in its depiction of horror and musical motivation from Jerry Goldsmith's expressive score. I suppose the scientifically inclined part of my psyche also awakens when I think about what's presented. The consideration for new organisms plays at the heart of what piques my analytical nature and reminds me of how instrumental this film was in redefining that part of Horror.
Before any of the sequels began to answer our lingering questions about the events that unfolded in 'Alien', it's allure was in its ambiguity. The absence of lore was all the more power to it, and the vastness of space was something to be afraid of. Our desperate attempts to define everything about the world and the monsters in it give us closure. But I so badly want to leave that door open. I need the darkness to stare back at me. And it's why I still narrow my focus to experience this film as a standalone. Believe me - I love all the sequels, even the quirks of the later ones. But there's nothing quite as atmospheric and hauntingly calming as the original that taught us - in space no one can hear you scream.
On the surface, 'Alien' is about a space crew unwittingly diverted from their destination to answer a distress call. And although I can't tackle the more subvert undertones of symbolism here, I can say that Director Ridley Scott's earnest approach to the material really pushed the envelope, This picture oozes atmosphere in every sense of the word, nurturing the very core elements that make it terrifying. Sigourney Weaver gives us a believable protagonist and the epitome of a strong heroine, unlike any to come before her in the genre. That's just one small detail in the never-ending pit of discoveries in this classic gem.
This film speaks to me on so many levels - artistic inspiration through the designs of H.R. Gieger, psychological curiosity in its depiction of horror and musical motivation from Jerry Goldsmith's expressive score. I suppose the scientifically inclined part of my psyche also awakens when I think about what's presented. The consideration for new organisms plays at the heart of what piques my analytical nature and reminds me of how instrumental this film was in redefining that part of Horror.
Before any of the sequels began to answer our lingering questions about the events that unfolded in 'Alien', it's allure was in its ambiguity. The absence of lore was all the more power to it, and the vastness of space was something to be afraid of. Our desperate attempts to define everything about the world and the monsters in it give us closure. But I so badly want to leave that door open. I need the darkness to stare back at me. And it's why I still narrow my focus to experience this film as a standalone. Believe me - I love all the sequels, even the quirks of the later ones. But there's nothing quite as atmospheric and hauntingly calming as the original that taught us - in space no one can hear you scream.
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