ALIEN (1979) | Ridley Scott's Horror Masterpiece 

I agree. Aliens is fun, but this is the masterpiece.

45 years, thats scary! Great movie, it's amazing to this day, but boy does time fly!

I saw it for the first time last weekend. HOLY MOLY. I was absolutely blown away! Couldn't agree more how powerful the movie is by using silence.

Absolutely one of my favorite horror or sci fi films . The 70’s may have been the pinnacle for each genre with the advancement of makeup and special effects and the new wave of auteur directors . The Exorcist , The Omen , Alien , Texas Chainsaw Massacre , Halloween, Jaws , Dawn of the Dead , Star Wars , Close Encounters of the Third Kind , …… even Superman , Star Trek , tv’s Salem’s Lot …….. all really set high bars . Traditional genres handled by more serious directors and cinematographers ….. Given the crew called the main computer “mother “ , I always thought the room the crew would commune (?) , communicate with mother to be both womb like and yet cold , clinical and computer like at the same time …… mother advising Sigourney Weaver of the true plans , and Tom Skerrit not getting a straight forward answer on his final question (which was basically could be construed as the cold honest truthful answer ……. Mother and her representative were not at all warm , fuzzy or motherly .) I remember this film was quite thought provoking when it was released snd was a topic of conversation for some time , in 1979, 80 81……. ITT spawned a number of rip offs , both in cinema and tv, snd was really groundbreaking . The sexual connotations in the film were really evident . It kind of gave a look at what a man being violated might be like . And it wasn’t pretty . My older cousin took me to see this , and it was quite shocking …,.. it helped cement my love for sci fi and horror (as did Jaws and Star Wars , both of which my parents took me to see .) I did see it on the big screen again last week , with one of my friends who also loves the series . It still holds an uncanny power to disturb , excite but also make you think . Sadly despite seeing on a Sunday afternoon not too many movie goers were present . I agree with missing the community spirit of going to the movies with others . Perhaps far more than Star Wars , I agree with you I’m not needing sequels . I loved Aliens , and Alien 3 . I enjoy the Ridley Scott prequels despite their flaws …….. but as time goes on I agree that the film series really didn’t need to be . Alien is a self contained masterpiece. I love the slow burn as you hint at . Similar to Caroenter’s The Fog . I’ve grown to drop my overall feeling of unconditional love of Aliens …….. with the story of James Cameron doing with Aliens what he did with Terminator ……… the beauty and purity of Alien shines thru . Also his arrogant comments about “our work “ (taking credit for the entire series with Ridley, really has become overbearing and annoying .) It was such a breath of fresh air for the reasons you point out. It’s kind of lost now but it really was so groundbreaking in 1979 and so much analysis and discussion occurred , that it is almost totally forgotten now . Partly due to the passage of time , partially due to us seeing more and more in the ray of effects of all kind . But don’t underestimate the power of this film . Thanks so much for focusing on this film . I totally agree - seeing it in the blackened theater on a big screen still holds so much power . A stunning film .

One of my all time favorites, top 10. I remember late 70's when the huge full page ads came out in newspapers with the classic and perfect caption, "In space no one can hear you scream." And the tv ads with similar impact. So glad I have the 4k disc. Agree with you that Aliens 2 is great also, but nothing beats this original.

I watched Alien again on streaming a couple of months ago and was blown away by how great it was in 2024. THEN I took my two teens, 15 and 16, to see it this past week for the 45th anniversary rerelease. It was fantastic on the big screen. And both kids loved it. Especially my daughter, who commented that it was hard to believe it came out in 1979, and about how everything looked so "real" in the movie. That's the masterful set design at work. It DOES look real because it looks dirty and lived in. And dialogue reflected that of blue collar workers. I'll probably never see it again in the theater, so I was thankful that I went.

I saw Alien in the theater for its 40th anniversary when they had just a couple of showings for it. I was glad to see it get a full re-release for 45 (I'm sure we've been getting these recent re-releases to try to help the overall box office). It's always been my favorite of the series, and I think it's a masterpiece

I saw it first run in a giant packed theater, hundreds of people - it was amazing!

I saw it on its premiere. Yes, I like what you said about being there with "an audience of willing participants." I've been saying this for years. You can watch a classic at home and have a fine enough experience but an audience picks up on things that you might not and nudges you toward subtleties of action and dialogue, and there's focus and no distraction. This was especially true watching the old classics of the cinema in an arthouse theater in the 70s, 80s and '90s. A mere wry smile of a woman making a flirt at Humphrey Bogart in The Big Sleep, or instance, would get a laugh from the audience. Nothing remotely like that with home viewing.

100% agree, my favorite of the franchise and endlessly rewatchable. Alien is permeated by a sense of dread and isolation that makes it uniquely horrifying.

One of my favorites movies. I saw the 4K recently and it looked phenomenal.

Heath!! I was in the US just recently and I saw Alien at the Alamo Draft House in Austin Texas about two Fridays ago. It was GLORIOUS! I saw it in the theatres back in 79 , I was 9 years old and my Mum took me to see it! ( it was an R16 here in NZ). But it was truly epic in the theatre again in 2024. The pacing is perfect, it draws you in. I feel like there was maybe 2 or so shots I hadnt seen before also. Absolute Masterpiece! performances, production design, cinematography, sound everything!

“In space no one can hear you scream for ice cream” I’m glad they ultimately shortened the tag line… I consider Alien the greatest horror movie. It’s also top notch Sci fi & Noir. Aliens like Terminator 2 may be more popular for being primarily action movies but Alien like Terminator 1 was the superior work of art.

Totally with you on this Heath. I love ALIENS, but the 1979 film is something unto itself, a masterpiece of mounting terror. You point out everything great about it. I saw it three times in one week, back in 1979....many times again since.

I saw this last weekend; it was great to be able to see it on the big screen again. I was 9 in June, 1979 when my father and I went to see it in 70 mm Dolby 6-track. I was a bit too young for some of the content; I made it until the chest-bursting scene and just about lost my mind. Really a classic.

The first one is perfect. It will never be topped. You can't re terrify audiences in same way in the way that first reveal of the xenomorph. But it's a masterclass in filmmaking in terms of atmosphere, audio and acting and cinematography.

I love this film. All the things you mention plus the travel to/from and exploration of the moon Acheron, and all the suspense and action on board the Nostromo… Perfection.

I think people who are HORROR buffs actually prefer the FIRST movie, because it has strong atmosphere, suspense, and gross-out shocks - the things THEY value and admire in THAT kind of flick. Where's that SEQUEL is more popular with those who like ACTION SHOOT"EM UP type movies (the same audiences that like Rambo, Schwarzenegar, The Rock, and Vin Deisel movies basically) and who'd call the original "booring". THAT is the impression that I've always gotten.

I never compare ALIEN and ALIENS, because they are actually two different genres. ALIEN is a sci-fi horror, and ALIENS is a sci-fi action film. Both Masterpieces.

I saw Alien in theaters with my dad and was blown away by how realistic everything looks. Then there's the monster himself it was awesome. Did you know H.R. Giger won an Oscar for his Alien? Good discussion and cool video Heath!👉🙂👈

The story around when the film was released was that the Ripley part was originally written as a male. Is that why she was such a well-formed character - because Ripley was written as a person, not a collection of "female characteristics"? Also, that film is 45 years old, and Ripley is still referred to as an outstanding female character because there have been so few since. Shame on the film industry for that. Like Predator, when you first saw the film, you didn't "know" the monster. Part of the terror was the characters (and audience) didn't really understand what was happening. Now they're right out on the posters and DVD covers! Its interesting that Ridley Scott was responsible for Alien and Blade Runner in 3 years. Not necessarily successful on release, but so influential since.

Of my top 7 films, three of them are by Ridley Scott, and he is the best at pacing.

I just caught the 1958 sci Fi horror film IT, which was practically scene-for-scene the movie Alien told over 50 years ago. A small group of people trapped in a starship with an angry alien that is nearly unstoppable. It's a terrific film in it's own way, and amazing how history always repeats itself, especially in the film world. Hey Heath - do a video comparing the films! Kino Lorber has a terrific copy now available!

I would even argue that everything leading up to the xenomorph is just as exciting. The mystery of the space jockey has u saying out loud: "what the hell am I looking at?" I'm telling u, the world that was built to prop up the xenomorph via the space jockey has got to b one of the best incidentals of all time. It's what directors/producers wish they could pull off when they hope the world will expand beyond the first movie.

If Alien was a painting it would be hanging in the Louvre

still the best horror film of all time. fav scene is the jumpscare. i love predator overall but this is more scary

Great discussion on the film Heath. I really enjoy talking more about the movie more than how it is presented. The movie is the reason I am watching it. Thank you for these type of discussions.

The original has the surprise factor that none will ever have. They introduced the Xenomorph to the world....insane! They covered so much of the lore, details, biology, and sheer suspense dread. 1979 is a cinematic masterpiece. no doubt there.

I watched it thanks to my dad when i was about 14, i just fell in love

I'm not sure if any other of Scott's work could be considered better. Alien is a masterpiece.

So you did the 25th anniversary of 'Episode I' and the 45th of 'Alien' in a short time span. Are we going to see a video celebrating the 35 year anniversary of Tim Burton's 'Batman' soon?

100% Masterpiece Horror w/ Sci-Fi.........My mom took me to the theaters in 1979 I was 5 years old LOL. I was terrified she took me immediately to Toys "R" Us and bought me the 12" Big Chap Kenner action figure.........it helped a bit LOL> To this day I watch at least once a year. Rumor is original showing was just shy of 4 hours. There are key elements which was later added which makes it even scarier especially when Ripley runs across Dallas and Parker cocooned to me that is much SCARIER than requiring a QUEEN to ensure the brood lives on.

Great synopsis! More please...

cats can get into a lot of trouble on a spaceship

Enjoyed!

I was at the opening of ALIEN at the MIdland Theatre in Kansas City where it was presented in 70mm with 6-track stereophonic sound. The portrayal of a working class crew on an industrial spaceship created an atmosphere of tension and dread long before their real nemesis ever appeared, building up to a classic shock sequence that equaled the likes of PSYCHO and THE EXORCIST when they premiered. Sadly, Ridley Scott and his editor Terry Rawlins undermined Jerry Goldsmith's score by replacing some of his original cues with Goldsmith library cues from his score for FREUD and Howard Hanson's Symphony No.2 (The Romantic). Ridley Scott would later double-cross Goldsmith by replacing his score for the box-office bomb LEGEND with synth-muzak by Tangerine Dream.

Andrew Murchie converted the trailers into 3D.