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Movies / On DVD / Alien
Alien

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Alien (1979)

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Reviews Counted:75

Fresh:73

Rotten:2

Average Rating:8.6/10

Consensus: A modern classic, Alien blends science fiction, horror and bleak poetry into a seamless whole.

Runtime: 2 hrs 9 mins

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis: Director Ridley Scott's breakthough film, an immensely successful blend of horror and science fiction, is a classic in both genres and spawned a host of sequels and imitators. Starring Sigourney... Director Ridley Scott's breakthough film, an immensely successful blend of horror and science fiction, is a classic in both genres and spawned a host of sequels and imitators. Starring Sigourney Weaver as warrant officer Ellen Ripley, ALIEN focuses on the crew of the space cargo ship Nostromo, which lands on a moribund planet in response to a faint SOS. Inside a crashed ship, the crew members come upon strange pods, one of which spews forth a repellently fleshy insectile creature that locks on to the face of the unlucky Kane (John Hurt). Despite Ripley's advice, science officer Ash (Ian Holm) allows Kane to return to the ship, where the creature finally releases its grip. Soon, however, in one of the film's most infamous scenes, one of its offspring explodes horribly from Kane's stomach and scurries away. Dallas (Tom Skerritt), the vessel's captain, leads the others in a search for the rapidly growing, acid-dripping alien before it can cut them down--one by one. A triumph of art direction, set design, and special effects, ALIEN gains much of its impact from the contrast between the bleak, antiseptic beauty of the space vessel's interior and the primordial horror of the alien, a brilliantly original fusion of insect, man, and machine designed by Swiss surrealist painter H.R. Giger. The top-notch cast also includes Veronica Cartwright, Yaphet Kotto, and Harry Dean Stanton. [More]

Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Ian Holm

Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Harry Dean Stanton, Veronica Cartwright, Yaphet Kotto

Director: Ridley Scott

Director: Ridley Scott
Screenwriter: Dan O'Bannon
Story: Dan O'Bannon
Producer: Gordon Carroll, David Giler, Walter Hill
Composer: Jerry Goldsmith

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Alien

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
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The limited strengths of its staple sci-fi horrors always derived from either the offhand organic/ Freudian resonances of its design or the purely (brilliantly) manipulative editing and pacing of its above-average shock quota.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
08/16/07
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A movie masterpiece. And on the big screen, the chestburster scene just kills.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment 1 Comment
12/30/06
Kim Newman
Kim Newman
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Superbly paced, imaginatively designed, consistently suspenseful and never attracts an unintentional laugh.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
01/15/04
Philip French
Philip French
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever made.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
11/05/03
Jamie Russell
Jamie Russell
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A welcome re-release for Scott’s classic sci-fi horror, with a couple of directorial tweaks for good measure.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
10/28/03
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

It still has the power to scare the life out of us.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
10/03/03
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

Science fiction horror doesn't get any better than this.

Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | comment Comment
07/15/09
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

It's a chilling, slow-paced, space horror movie using the same formula as the B-films of the 1950s.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
06/19/09
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Alien proved that material derided as B-movie fodder could be handled with finesse and glossy production values, without diminishing the thrills or polishing over the hard-edged horror.

Full Review Source: Cinefantastique | comment Comment
03/09/09
Steve Biodrowski
Steve Biodrowski
Cinefantastique
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

An old-fashioned scary movie set in a highly realistic sci-fi future, made all the more believable by expert technical craftmanship.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
06/04/07
Variety Staff
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

There's nothing terribly complex or original about the movie, but it is distinguished by its clever and innovative use of B-movie staples in a hi-tech setting.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
06/04/07
Michael Scheinfeld
Michael Scheinfeld
TV Guide's Movie Guide

An empty-headed horror movie with nothing to recommend it beyond the disco-inspired art direction and some handsome, if gimmicky, cinematography.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment 41 Comments
06/04/07
Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader

This scary feature breathed new life into the horror genre, launching a length film franchise and introducing to audiences a major actress, Sigourney Weaver, in a tough role typically allotted to men.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
03/15/07
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
10/30/06
Garth Franklin
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons

A wondrous reminder of how imagination can triumph over budget.

Full Review Source: FilmJerk.com | comment Comment
06/01/06
Edward Havens
Edward Havens
FilmJerk.com

The limited strengths of its staple sci-fi horrors always derived from either the offhand organic/ Freudian resonances of its design or the purely (brilliantly) manipulative editing and pacing of its above-average shock quota.

Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
02/09/06
Keith Uhlich
Keith Uhlich
Time Out New York

A genuine fright classic.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
07/21/05
Bruce Westbrook
Bruce Westbrook
Houston Chronicle

These things no longer surprise or tantalize us as they once did. In a very short time, science-fiction films have developed their own jargon that's now become a part of the grammar.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment 35 Comments
05/09/05
Vincent Canby
Vincent Canby
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Alien

November 04, 2009: John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
John Hurt has been one of Britain's finest acting talents since his career began in the 60s, but it's his roles in films like Alien, Midnight Express and The Elephant Man -- to... More...

October 30, 2009: Ridley Scott Talks Alien Prequel Opens in new window
Calling it a "brand new box of tricks," Ridley Scott discussed the "Alien" prequel with Empire in a recent interview -- and gave the impression that he might be going in a... More...

July 31, 2009: Ridley Scott Returning for Alien Prequel Opens in new window
That "Alien" prequel we've been hearing about just shifted into high gear: 20th Century Fox has hired Jon Spaihts to write the screenplay, and Ridley Scott is attached to direct. More...

June 10, 2009: Director Drama for Alien Prequel? Opens in new window
Could Fox be putting the kibosh on Ridley Scott's plans to have Carl Rinsch direct an "Alien" prequel? That's the word from Entertainment Weekly's sources, which say the studio... More...

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