The Fantasy Review’s review of Alien (1979).
A kid at school who was older than me bought me DVDs of Alien (1979) and Saw (2004). I must have been about fifteen when I first watched Alien and I fell in love with it immediately – and then I continued to rewatch it more times than I can count.
Spoiler-Free Review of Alien (1979)
Alien (1979) is the movie that spawned a franchise, and while it might not be my favourite film in the series, it’s certainly the best, objectively. Everything from the story to the plot to the characters and performances, to the set and monster design, the horror… it’s just perfect.
Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is one of the greatest characters in all of horror – all of science fiction. She begins here as part of a crew on a ship, but evolves into so much more through her experiences.
Sigourney Weaver’s performance is astounding. She plays the badass hero/survivor incredibly well. Ripley has little time for cowards and is fiercely protective of her crewmates – something that gets explored more in Aliens (1986).
With a cast that also includes John Hurt, Ian Holm, and Tom Skerritt, we are spoiled with great performances all round. The writing is excellent, so we have great dialogue, and strong characterisation. Without this, the movie wouldn’t work as well – you actually care when these people are in danger, unlike some other slashers out there.
The plot of Alien (1979) is the best this franchise does when it comes to the horror aspects. There is an intense mystery – the first time meeting these alien creatures – so we learn everything along with the characters.
Like other horror movies of the 1970’s, Alien is a slow-burn for the first two acts. It’s a beautiful film, with incredible set design, so modern audiences don’t need to worry about getting bored. Just soak in the atmosphere and enjoy the dialogue and characterisation.
Watching this mystery unfold is unsettling and horrifying at points, but deeply enjoyable. It’s a satisfying tale that is well written and timeless. Compared to movies from the 80’s and even 90’s, Alien looks better than most and is better than most – despite its age.
There is a reason this franchise won’t die, and it’s the love people have for the first two movies in the franchise. We want to feel what we felt with Alien and Aliens again. Will we ever get that back? Maybe not, but just being in this universe, seeing new stories told in it, is enough for me.
Speaking of which, keep your eye out for the upcoming tv series, Alien: Earth, coming to FX and FX on Hulu August 12, 2025. The series is set two years before the events of Alien (1979) and looks like it has the potential to be incredible.
