The latest in the series of outer space shockers is hitting theaters – if you haven’t seen the latest trailer, feast your eyes on it now:
I can’t wait to see the new film, which clearly wants to ensure us that lots of monster stuff is on the way…so let’s take a quick trip down memory lane…
Meet The Crew Of The “Nostromo!”
Here they are: crew members on a transport freighter who are asked to make a detour in outer space.
In 1979, Director Ridley Scott shocked moviegoers with a futuristic sci-fi horror film that used that simple premise – and the film became an instant classic.
With the latest installment on the way, here are five reasons I love the original “Alien”.
5- The Who!
Yes, the seminal rock band had a role in creating the moody atmosphere of the film.
The blue laser lights that were used in the alien ship’s egg chamber were borrowed from the band, who were testing out the lasers for their stage show in the soundstage next door.
4 – The Face Hugger!
The first look at the “alien” takes place when unfortunate Astronaut Kane and the others visit The Who’s moody egg chamber – when he leans over an alien “egg” he gets a big surprise: the face hugger!
Here is why this baby alien looked so creepy. The dead face hugger that is autopsied after being pried off Kane’s face was made using fresh shellfish, four oysters and a sheep kidney to recreate the internal organs. Yum!
This all leads to the next reason I love this film:
3 – The Bursting Chest!
Yes, after Kane has the face hugger pried off, he is seemingly OK again. Well, at least until he attempts to eat a meal, and the crew discover that the alien was inside him!
Here’s a fun fact: the chest bursting scene was filmed in one take with four cameras.
This scene was voted the second most shocking moment in movie history, right before “The Exorcist”…and even before moviegoers made it to the theater, there was a palpable sense of dread, thanks to the next reason this film is a classic:
2 – The Poster!
As you can see from the one sheet, the poster offers haunting imagery with one of the greatest tag lines ever:
“In space no one can hear you scream.”
The egg with the green sizzling crack is such an unsettling image, it really sets the viewer up for the great horror film that awaits.
It’s one of the most iconic movie posters ever – here are some more:
Finally, there is one scene in “Alien” that all fanboys remember:
1- Sigourney Weaver In Her Underwear!
Yes, she looks great, but this scene is so great because it occurs after she thinks she has killed the alien creature, only to discover after waking up that she isn’t alone on the freighter. This raw vulnerability sets up another great action sequence, and cements Weaver as a classic Action Hero!
I can’t wait for the new “Alien” installment, but let’s remember the simple majesty of the first one – check out this classic trailer:
What a classic! In fact, I’m going to celebrate with THIS CAKE!
You can't take the Scotland out of a girl... Reel entertainment reviews and more from that Darlin Husband’s Scottish, square-eyed and film-mad wife living in Finland.
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