A spider-like, face-hugging creature leaping out of a leathery egg. A phallic, razor-jawed monstrosity ripping through John Hurt's chest amid a geyser of blood. A tube-headed, gangly extra-terrestrial who spits acid and stalks dark tunnels as it preys on a desperate band of humans.
These images are the stuff of nightmares -- and now Alien is back for another theatrical run, out today, just in time for Halloween. This 1979 horror-sci-fi masterpiece still holds up remarkably well on the big screen, a testament to the skill of director Ridley Scott, who was then working on his first film, and the acting by the talented ensemble cast, which included then-novice Sigourney Weaver, and Jerry Goldsmith's wonderful musical score and the excellent production values.
It was Alien's gritty realism, relentless horror and gradual pacing that made the film such an unforgettable experience. And while the film still packs a strong punch -- thanks in part to the addition of some new scenes -- the question remains: Is it worth shelling out $13 to see a movie that's widely available on home video?
Although it's an enormous treat to see Alien on the big screen, it's probably not worth paying full price to see it, even with the promise of "new" footage.
Indeed, the film's 20th anniversary DVD edition features many of the deleted scenes that appear in the theatrical Director's Cut -- including a longer version of a horrifying sequence that finds one crew member cocooned in the alien's nest.
But if you're a newcomer to the film, which spawned one superb sequel (1986's Aliens) and two execrable ones (1992's Alien 3 and 1997's Alien: Resurrection), what better way to get acquainted than by seeing it in all its restored glory at a theatre. For the Alien neophyte, the movie tells a simple story: The crew of a commercial towing vessel on its way home to Earth intercepts what it believes to be a distress signal. They land on a barren planet and discover a huge, derelict space craft where one of the crew becomes "impregnated" by a parasite. He soon "gives birth" to a horrible creature that rapidly evolves into a full-grown, acid-blooded killer that begins picking off the crew one by one.
Sound sort of familiar? That's because this visionary film has been ripped off so much over the years by so many lesser imitators that, sadly, Alien has lost some of its terrifying lustre. And the timing of this release appears to tie in conveniently with that of the upcoming, nine-disc DVD set, the Alien Quadrilogy, which is scheduled to be out early December.
Another entry in the series has started production -- the long-rumoured Alien Vs. Predator, which sees the hideous antagonists from both franchises squaring off. With noted hack Paul W.S. Anderson (Mortal Kombat, Event Horizon) directing, and the cheesy Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man feeling to this project, we haven't high hopes.
So maybe that's the best reason to see the original on the big screen again -- to see genuine talent in front of and behind the camera working together for a single goal: To scare the pants off you. And maybe fans should see it before cynical marketing ploys and umpteenth disappointing sequels tarnish their love of it forever.
(This film is rated PG)
More Movie Reviews
