Halloween Movie Countdown #5: Alien

In space, no one can hear you scream

             Ridley Scott’s iconic blend of science fiction and horror, Alien, is most aptly summarized by this statement: In space, no one can hear you scream.  Alien, is a perfect mixture, a deep, psychological horror movie hidden underneath a façade of science fiction.  This is not to downplay the sci-fi elements or the sort of propositions that they entail but to explain how these elements enhance the horror movie that is at the core of this film.  A reflection of the situation in the film reveals that although Alien may not at first seem like a straightforward horror film, it works as a completely frightening movie because of all the different forms of fear found within it.  This is where the aspects of science fiction meet the more traditional horror aspects,

            The genre of science fiction, especially that which involves space and space travel, presents its own set of horrors and fears.  Space is not a hospitable place, and traveling through this vacuum, devoid of oxygen is, to put it very mildly, an extremely risky business.  Voyaging millions, even hundreds of millions of miles away from home and anyone that can offer aid in very much-uncharted expanses is spine tingling.  Should a vital piece of equipment malfunction, you are alone.  If foodstuffs run out, there is nowhere to go for food.  Isolation from loved ones and from news of loved ones is mentally taxing and breeds fear of their safety. 

The fear of the unknown is ever-present, and the possibilities of things that can go wrong are endless.  Even if such catastrophes do not occur and everyone back on Earth is safe and sound, the raw provocation that these events can occur is terrifying.  The fear of technology is very prevalent in science fiction, and in space travel one is entirely dependent on technology.  This plays a part in the film, with regards to the character Ash.  In space, you are essentially alone, save for your fellow crew.  The most underpinning of these fears is that fear of the unknown, of being completely ignorant of what exactly is out there.  This fear is very much realized by the crew of the Nostromo, as the nightmarish unknown becomes a lethal reality, segueing into the more conventional horror aspect of the movie: the alien.

The ghastly, murderous alien is the bridge into the underlying horror film within Alien.  This is also where Alien’s antagonist distinguishes itself from the usual suspects within horror.  When the creature bursts out of crew member Kane’s stomach, the movie takes a turn; this is the tipping point.  Up until this point, it was a brooding, psychological piece about these people, these workers whose routine journey had been delayed.  When looking at it that way, though, it does appear as though the movie sets up like a horror film.  Once the monster is loose, there is no question, as the movie descends into nightmarish, futuristic terror.  

The creature, itself, is an incredibly horrifying monster.  Strength, speed, and an aggressive intelligence combine to form a villain far more ghastly than Jason Vorhees chasing after scared teenagers in a hockey mask. This foe is very much invincible, and Ash describes him in a sick sort of way, “Pure.”  Ripley does not even directly kill it, only shoot it out into space, where it dies. 

            The technical aspects of the film lend it greatly to the horror realm.  The spaceship is dark, tight, and full of mystery.  Its vastness and little lighting present a perfect atmosphere for the creature to navigate and strike.  The noises of the machinery act as a second soundtrack, highlighting the cold, unforgiving nature of space and technology.  The soundtrack, proper, adds a great deal to this film.  At times brooding, dark, and ambient, and at other times full of sharp cacophony, it is the perfect soundtrack for a science fiction horror film.  All of these technical details peak perfectly during the climax of the movie, as Ripley combats the alien herself.

            Alien is such a perfectly crafted movie, and it works so well, accomplishing all of its goals.  Through the sci-fi elements of deep space travel and the concept of extra-terrestrial life, especially the mysterious imagery of the derelict spaceship and its skeleton pilot, the movie raises all those deep-seeded fears and philosophical questions.  Along with these aspects comes the pure horror driven plot involving the alien.  Throw in excellent effects, music, and emphatic performances, especially from Sigourney Weaver, and Alien is one of the most provocative horror movies of all time.  The actors and effects make the futuristic terror seem very real.  The prospect of a near perfect monster sealed on board my spaceship, hundreds upon hundreds of million miles away from home in the unforgiving vacuum of space not be the most immediate terrifying prospect out there, but in my opinion it is probably the most completely terrifying one that I have ever heard of, next to spiders.