As with most of these amazing CineTV Contests I have already written about the movie that would fit the contest perfectly. In this instance, I previously chronicled my all-time favorite scary movie, The Shining, and so I will have to share with you all my second favorite scary movie, Alien, directed by Ridley Scott.
Few scenes have stayed with me as vividly as the infamous alien/chest scene. That coupled with the cold, calculating nature of Ash, the iconic android portrayed so perfectly by Ian Holm would be immortalized with his violent scenes of "blood" that splattered white instead of red made for quite the memorable fright fest!
Ridley Scott is responsible for bringing so many of my favorite films to life (Legend, Blade Runner, Gladiator) and he did not disappoint with his chilling vision of the ultimate horror movie set in the tight confines of a spaceship. And although this was not Sigourney Weaver's first role, it was instrumental in launching her career into supersonic star orbit. She would also go on to reprise the main character, Ellen Ripley, in sequels.
There are so many thematic elements that lend a hand to making this such a suspenseful scary movie and one would be hard pressed to put their finger on the "one" thing that made the movie great. This is a rare film where the culmination of great actors, a fantastic story, and a brilliant director with a true vision for the screenplay come together in near perfect unison and greatness is born!
The scenes are so perfectly woven together that almost instantly one begins to really understand the confines of space and life aboard a space craft and how intimately that will affect the traditional elements of the horror movie genre. With life support systems being the only few seconds between life and freezing death, the film evolves in a way to fully capitalize on that reality and the deep, deep fear it can generate.
This is not only an amazing scary movie, it is a classic movie in it's own right in just about any genre. Although it does not rise to the great heights as The Shining, this movie can hold its own against many of the greatest films made and THAT is why it is my #2 favorite scary movie!
How do you feel about Alien? Love it, hate it? Let me know in the comments and thank you so much for taking the time to read my post. Remember that I love you all and you all grasp greatness!
All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter,
Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
-Tolkien
