Terrifying and Subtle
Rating: 9 of 10 
Ridley Scott's 'Alien' opened a series of films that combined sf and horror not just in a very frightening way, but that contributed to serious sf. This is not just another horror flick, we are being confronted with one of the peaks of dramatic presentation. This film belongs to the kind of sf started with '2001', but it is a much more interesting, suspensed-filled and chilling experience.
In addition to that, 'Alien' features a stunning female lead, something not quite usual for its time. And then there is the score by Jerry Goldsmith, who - again - makes us believe what we see. To the rise of sf and horror in the subsequent years, 'Alien' has contributed as much as 'Star Wars', having spawned not only sequels but also given a new direction to filmmaking.
With sublime imagery, terror and horror, the impact of slowness, ingenious production design and effects as well; the end result is a classic space horror movie with a concept of greatest simplicity; disturbing each time you watch it. In space, no one can hear you scream.
January 29th, 1998 / March 15th, 2000
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