Ridley Scott’sĀ AlienĀ turns 45 years old this year, and the theater closest to me was showing the film for Alien Day on April 26. So, I decided I needed to seeĀ AlienĀ in the theater for the first time, and it was even better than I was expecting.Ā
Alien Is a Survival Horror Classic
Fans of sci-fi and horror likely hold theĀ AlienĀ series in high regard. One of the best things about the franchise is that the different filmsĀ in itĀ fit intoĀ differentĀ genres. While James Cameron’sĀ AliensĀ is much more a sci-fi action movie, Scott’sĀ AlienĀ films embrace the horror aspects of science fiction. The upcomingĀ Alien: RomulusĀ looks to continue that trend, as director FedĆ© Alvarez has a distinguished horror background. His prior work includesĀ Evil Dead (2013)Ā andĀ Don’t Breathe.
Alien’s plot sees the crew of the Nostromo, a commercial spacecraft, making an unplanned stop at the behest of their parent company. They bring an unwanted visitor back to the ship, which proves to be one of the most advanced killing machines in existence. Ellen Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver, attempts to help the crew survive.
Alien relies heavily on a feeling of claustrophobia to create tension, and Scott accomplishes this effect masterfully. On the big screen, it’s even better. The opening credits of Alien take us on a tour of the Nostromo, the ship that Ripley and the rest of the crew are traveling on. Right away, the audience can feel the isolation and confined nature of the ship. Before we meet a single character, the environment is established as a star of the film.
The Theater Experience
![The inside of the ship in Alien.](https://www.escapistmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Alien-1979-Mother.jpg?w=1024&resize=1024%2C437)
April 26 is Alien Day because the planet where the crew of the Nostromo encounters the Xenomorph is LV-426. I love it when days or eventsĀ happen thatĀ allow a fandom to celebrate.Ā There’sĀ so much negativityĀ in public discourseĀ that having an excuse to seeĀ AlienĀ in theaters was such a breath of fresh air.Ā A lot of people where I live apparently think the same way. In a late afternoon showing, the theater was about three-quarters full.
I’m not old enough to have seenĀ AlienĀ when it premiered, so this was the first time I’ve seen the film in the theater. So many of my favorite movies are from the 1980s or early ’90s, and I didn’tĀ get toĀ see them on the big screen.Ā I feel likeĀ these re-releasesĀ are madeĀ with people like me in mind, and it’s great. When the grainy 20th Century Fox logo hit the screen, there wasĀ actuallyĀ applause in the theater.Ā I had only seen thatĀ beforeĀ when a newĀ Star WarsĀ movie premiered orĀ whenĀ I sawĀ Avengers: EndgameĀ on opening day.
Related: How Do Xenomorphs See in the Alien Movies?
There were even a few chuckles in the crowd when the captain visited the computer, which is called Mother. I always enjoy revisiting movies that try to predict future technology decades after their release. Needless to say, Alien’s vision of future technology is pretty far off. So is half the crew lighting up cigarettes at the dinner table on the ship. Alien doesn’t get everything wrong, though. The depiction of corporate greed and the powerful seeing the working class as expendable still resonates 45 years later.
Classic moments from the film still got good reactions from the audience. The iconic scene where the Xenomorph emerges from Kane’s chest cavity drew gasps. So did the moments of high tension where the crew attempts to find and kill the alien before it can eliminate them all. At the climax of the film, when the alien is almost blending into the decor of the shuttle, I could tell that a few people were seeing Alien for the first time.
An Enduring Franchise
![Ripley and the crew in Alien.](https://www.escapistmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Alien-1979-Cast.jpg?w=1024&resize=1200%2C675)
Not many movie franchises stay relevant for 45 years.Ā AlienĀ joins heavyweights likeĀ Star Wars,Ā Star Trek, and James BondĀ in that club.Ā Movie fans know that Hollywood is home to a copycat industry.Ā AlienĀ was madeĀ in the years when studios scrambled to capitalize on the success ofĀ Star Wars. Paramount resurrectedĀ Star TrekĀ in 1979 to capitalize on it. Even James Bond went to space in 1979 in the unfortunateĀ Moonraker.Ā Star TrekĀ and James Bond were established franchises that could recover from their 1979 missteps, butĀ AlienĀ was new. It had to stand on its own and engage audiences.
It did exactly that. Yes, it was horror in space. In 1979, producers could attract an audience to a film because it has elements Star Wars has. For people to still go to the theater to watch that movie in 2024, it had to have actually delivered. And with strong performances by Sigourney Weaver and the rest of the cast and an outstanding environment that inspired tension, Alien delivered in a big way.
Before you see Alien: Romulus this year, you should watch the original Alien again. If you get a chance to see it on the big screen, take advantage of it. The claustrophobia and tension are only amplified by the theater experience, and it is Scott at his best. You’ll be glad you did it. I certainly was.
Alien: Romulus hits theaters Aug 16.
Published: Apr 30, 2024 09:00 am