MOVIE OF THE DAY: ALIEN
The
Film: Alien (1979) BUY IT
The Principals: The Good Scott Brother, Sigourney Weaver, Ian Holm, John Hurt, Giger’s Nightmare Cocks
The Premise: A group of scientists and ship operators awake from cryogenic sleep to find their hauling-vessel off course in the dark reaches of space. Obligated to investigate the strange signal that caused the ship to interrupt their hibernation, they stumble across an ancient ship, and an even more ancient creature. Also, everything looks like a dick.
TRIVIA: The first D.P. was fired for being unable to get Fossilized Alien Ancient and Massive Space Boner all into the same shot.
Is It Good: Alien is pantheon, there’s simply no argument. It is one of those films that has its place in horror and science fiction cinema sealed, and will remain there no matter what sequel/prequel/rapequel appropriates its imagery and characters. It’s also a film I didn’t completely appreciate until recently. A few viewings throughout the years always left me liking it, but wondering what the fuss is about. Since I never had the opportunity to see it as a kid and enjoy a more primitively frightening experience with it, I looked for the wrong things in the film when I did finally see it. It was until I viewed it as an adult (and in a theater with a group of people) that it’s intellectual and psycho-sexual terrors occurred to me, and that I appreciated the level of craftsmanship behind the film.
“Damn, I was going to study that blood-covered Mutant Penis-Beast!”
It is a film that operates on the most simple of plot structures, but is so rich in tone, imagery, character, and dread that it feels like a fully epic experience to watch it.
Is It Worth A Look: Of course, and if you haven’t seen it, you must make it happen for yourself. A dark place in which to watch it is imperative. Sit back and let the film wash over you, and let your mind reel from the layered terrors. Be frightened of the dark void of space- this isn’t Star Wars, which inhabits a cosmos of danger, but one of adventure and closeness as well. This is Alien, a film where space feels empty. Cold. Sterile, until you awaken a lost organism that attacks, suffocates, envelopes, and pollutes, forcing you to play host to its horrific progeny.
“Who the fuck bukkake’d Ian Holm into headlessness!?”
Every form of the alien is a terror- the violating facehugger, the violent chest-burster, and the final devouring Xenomorph. This creature is truly horror royalty. If it’s not the violence, the darkness, or the paranoia that gets you, then you’ll be put on edge by the blatant, defiled sexual imagery on display. DOS is also frightening. It’s easy to make jokes about the phallic tendencies of the production design, but there’s something about the boldness with which sexual imagery is appropriated into such a dark, murky setting that really puts you on edge. Watch it, and if you’ve seen it, watch it again. Remember why it’s a classic, and why no amount of sequels could ever tarnish it.
Dickhead
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