Alien (1979) Review Ridley Scott

Alien (1979) Review Ridley Scott

                                                                          Figure 1


Alien is a Science-Fiction/ Horror film directed by Ridley Scott. The film has gone on to become one of the most famous in its genre and proceeded to have 3 sequels, two crossover films with Predator and a prequel. 

Alien is a classic horror due to its endless use of suspense and scenes with all sorts jumping out at the audience to really get them off they're feet. One way this suspense is created is the slow paced and long duration scenes that seem to go on for a lifetime. You find yourself following a character around the environment expecting something to jump out at any second, but nothing happens. As you carry on watching the scene unfold, the more the audience becomes on edge and finally Scott hits with the terrifying creature at the most unexpected moment. The director also uses audio to enhance this technique. You often find yourself in silent corridors and rooms with nothing but the occasional drip or the clinking of metal, this therefore heightens the terror when something does finally jumps out. Roger Ebert describes it that "One of the great strengths of "Alien" is its pacing. It takes its time. It waits. It allows silences." (Ebert, 2003)

                                                                           Figure 2

Lighting is also used very well in this film to create atmospheres. One scene in particular uses lighting very well and this is the scene when Ripley is racing to get to the escape shuttle as seen in Figure 3. In this scene we experience pipes smoking, alarms, count down to self destruction and flickering lights. The strobe lighting in this scene creates a very unstable and uncomfortable atmosphere for the audience. It also creates a sense of panic and makes the scene very fast paced due to ongoing flashes of light. "The scene is completely exhausting and frightening." (Milo, 2012)

                                                                          Figure 3

 Alien produces an added sense of terror by they way it makes you feel as though you are in the film. One example of this would be the One Point Perspective used in the scene with Dallas crawling through Nostromo's air shafts, seen in Figure 4. The perspective draws the eye only to Dallas who is confined to this tight space with nothing but dim lights to highlight the character; this really makes the audience feel claustrophobic and uncomfortable. It has been said that Scott created "a sweaty little world on its own that responds ideally to his obsessive close-ups and restless, magnifying style." (Malcolm, 2009)
Scott also uses first person perspective in his film to really put the audience in the heat of the action; this can be seen in the Nostromo meltdown sequence again. The shaking camera puts you in the eyes of Ripley as she runs through the ship making every turn incredibly tense because of what could be lurking around the corner.

                                                                            Figure 4




Bilbliography

Ebert, R (2003)
Alien Film Review
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-alien-1979
(Accessed on 23/10/2013)

Milo, S (2012)
Alien Film Review
http://basedonnothing.net/2012/10/12/scene-discussion-alien/
(Accessed on 23/10/2013)

Malcolm, D (2009)
Alien Film Review
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/oct/13/derek-malcolm-alien-review
(Accessed on 23/10/2013)


Illustrations

Figure 1, 1979, Alien, Ridley Scott, Film Poster, United States/United Kingdom, Brandywine Productions
http://theshootening.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/alien-poster.jpeg
(Accessed on 23/10/2013)

Figure 2, 1979, Alien, Ridley Scott, Film Still, United States/United Kingdom, Brandywine Productions
http://www.avpuniverse.com/images/articles/1/114_brett.jpg
(Accessed on 23/10/2013)

Figure 3, 1979, Alien, Ridley Scott, Film Still, United States/United Kingdom, Brandywine Productions
http://basedonnothing.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/alienscene-610x250.jpg
(Accessed on 23/10/2013)

Figure 4, 1979, Alien, Ridley Scott, Film Still, United States/United Kingdom, Brandywine Productions
http://cinetropolis.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Alien-Dallas-1024x576.png
(Accessed on 23/10/2013)