Deep in space, the earth-bound Nostromo intercepts a transmission from a nearby moon prompting the ship’s computer system “Mother” to awaken the crew that is currently in stasis. Once Mother awakens Warrant Officer Ripley and the rest of the crew they are instructed to investigate the possible distress signal per company policy and begin the landing process on the nearby moon. While landing the ship sustains some damage causing the engineers to remain onboard and repair the ship. Once discovering the signal is originating from a derelict alien ship Dallas, Kane, and Lambert venture inside the ship losing contact with the Nostromo before Ripley can relay that she has deciphered the signal and discovered it is a warning. Once inside the alien ship, the crew discovers a large chamber full of strange egg-like objects that they begin to investigate. Upon a closer look, Kane touches one of the eggs causing it to open and a strange creature to spring out and latch onto his face, attempting to save the now unconscious Kane Dallas and Lambert carry him back to the Nostromo. After running some tests Ash returns to the infirmary to find the creature detached from Kane and now dead on the ground, Kane later wakes up suffering from some memory loss but otherwise fine. As the crew continues their journey back to earth the crew meets for a meal before re-entering stasis for the journey home where Kane begins to collapse and convulse before a small creature bursts from his chest escaping into the ship. The now free creature roaming the Nostromo prompts the crew into a tense game of cat and mouse that lives up to the film’s promise that “in space, no one can hear you scream”.
The film opened to commercial success with an opening weekend gross of $3,527,881 which Daily Variety suggested may have been the biggest per-screen opening in history. Alien received mixed results from critics on the initial release, but would go on to be considered one of the greatest science fiction films of all time. The film features fantastical set and creature designs by H.R. Giger that capture a truly otherworldly feeling and experience throughout the film. While plenty of horror films succeed with cheap scares and fast-moving plots Alien excels with an air of tension and pacing allowing the viewer to take in the setting and situations, giving you time to sweat while it turns the heat up slowly. Alien would become a rocket platform that would propel Sigourney Weaver into stardom, she would go on to star in multiple sequels in the film series as well as popular works such as Ghostbusters, The Ice Storm, Galaxy Quest, Holes, WALL-E, Avatar, and The Cabin in the Woods.
As always, if you’ve seen the listed film, dislike the film, or just don’t believe you would like it we have provided a list of alternative choices for you to pick from: alternative-films-for-this-spooky-season
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