36:19. "Why did they choose that cat?" It's Ripley's cat. It was there to entertain the crew, but mostly as a companion for Ripley. Part of the reason she's desperate to save it is she brought it along to keep her company. If you look really close, she has a picture of it at her station when it was younger. Even though she's terrified, she couldn't stand the thought of it dying when she's the reason it's there in the 1st place. I believe this has been re-imagined in other stories, but ORIGINAL, it was her cat.
I saw this in 1979. I was 13 and this was my first R-rated movie at the theater. The trailer revealed almost nothing and there had never been a movie like it before. We innocently walked into this movie and left traumatized. We f’n LOVED it! This movie builds the suspense to a point few others have ever matched. Ripley’s tiny underwear is genius: everyone is bust staring at her crack and misses the obvious Alien until it sticks its arm out.
Yep, back when trailers had an artsy angle instead of spoiling points, sometimes deaths/ending like the trailers today. I saw a documentary on Trailers, there was an intentional shift from the old ones to the new ones.
I can beat that -- I was 9 when I saw this in the theater! Also, in the theater near the end of the movie, this huge moth was flying around and landed on my friend's head and freaked him out.
I was 9 at the time, too. I have no idea why this movie wound up being a family event when I look back on it. But I remember parents, grandparents and a couple of cousins. But I was the youngest. Smh.😂
@@asian-americanwithanopinio8954 I've not seen that documentary but I think I can guess: the purpose of trailers used to just be to let everyone know the film exists and pique our interest. Now it's to compete with other trailers and generate hype. It needs to show the best the film has to offer (or better). Compounded by a perception of the target audeince being desensitized and having shorter attention spans. (I think that's exaggerated in the minds of producers and marketing but it is mostly true.) Further compounded by massive budgets that have to make money back fast. They'll pull any dirty trick to get people watching it and daren't take any chances, such as a subtle hint of a trailer. It's sad and indicative of why we don't get great films like this anymore.
You're thinking about "Spaceballs", that has a parody of The Chestburster scene set in a diner. They got John Hurt to reprise his role with the line "oh no, not AGAIN" 😀
42:50 you're thinking of Spaceballs lol Also the actor who played the alien was over seven feet tall. The director didn't let the other actors see him until they started filming so that they would be genuinely shocked at his stature
My dad was a truck driver for many years, and one thing that always gets me is how they feel so blue-collar. A company man, some just for a paycheck, etc. Often, space horror is so sterile. This was gritty in so many places. It's a great layer of character.
That was one of the big ideas in this movie, of a future where space travel is so common as to be mundane. In the novel, Dallas muses on the giant alien they found, wondering if it was just some Blue Collar Space-Jockey like himself.
Great Reaction/Commentary...... The "chest burst in a diner" you are remembering is from the scene in "Spaceballs" the same actor John Hurt played the same guy.....
"Somebody get this guy some Pepto-Bysmal!" Bursts out of his chest. "Oh, no. Not again." Barf gets waitress' attention. "He had the special." "That's what I ordered! Change my order to the soup."
Cam (gagging like crazy): “What is going ON?!? Why is there liquid in him?!?!? Zay: “He was a robot.” Cam: “THAT doesn’t answer my question!!!!!” 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Alien is truly a masterpiece. I know that word is bandied about a lot on these channels, but Alien really fits the bill. When you watch Aliens, ensure you watch the Special Edition.
The liquid in ash, is, presumably, like hydraulic fluid, meant to lubricate all the moving parts and cables inside of him, as well as give his body a softer, organic feel. And the alien was probably in the shuttle because it was the only quiet place on the ship, with the flashing lights and alarms blaring all over.
Not just that, the xenomorph also likes warm places, so that part of the ship with the radiators and stuff was the good spot for a nap. Ripley makes him get out by punching (probably) liquid oxygen through the tubes, which creates the (cold) "fumes"
always thought the white liquid was coolant, the mechanics within ash would heat when working, the robot would overheat quickly as the surface area of it's skin was covered in it's company uniform and not be able to cope with the operating temperatures, without an internal coolant. in engineering workshops lathes used a white coolant liquid when turning metal and this robot liquid resembled it.
@@XI7.exidium It's never stated how intelligent the creature is, it might be more intelligent than it appears. Figuring out, if not actually understanding, that the shuttle was the safest place to be. This is slightly expanded upon in the sequel, but they keep it vague.
It’s crazy that the death of a robot is more disturbing than some of the human beings 🤢. The color of Cam’s face during that part was concerning 😂 Great reaction guy’s 😊 I can’t wait to see you watch Aliens.
For me what's perhaps even more terrifying than just the alien is the claustrofobic feeling of the environment. They put alot of effort into the interior of the Nostromo. If someone build a Alien spooky house attraction designed after the Nostromo I would totally visit it, equipped with a couple of extra shorts ofc.
The issue you mentioned about Parker saying that the monster was huge, and you asking how he knew? Director's Cut restores a scene that has both Parker and Ripley entering the room and watching as the alien is carrying Brett up and away.
I’m a big fan of the DC, from the extended Brett kill scene to the nest scene being restored, and even cutting a line of dialogue that did more hinting at Ash
@@searchterminatorseed2301 there’s a conversation between Ripley and Dallas about Ash being a last minute add on - the DC cuts about 10 seconds. Alien Theory on TH-cam has a great video where he goes through every single change th-cam.com/video/YGO8QBwDn30/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ACmh9RcJkkCqR8lq
@@CarloisBuriedAlivedirectors cut is trash. Ridley Scott even thinks so. It’s nothing but a cash grab and Ridley has stated it isn’t a good representation of his vision. He stated what he decided to cut the first time around should’ve stayed cut.
Most horror movies use jump-scares to evoke an emotion from the audience without it really having any value in the story itself, whereas in _Alien_ the jump-scares are just part of the story or the pacing. They're _functional_ , which is why the jump-scares in this movie work so well, because everything is part of the story. This works really well especially when you create the claustrophobic atmosphere and suspense throughout the movie, which creates that "tense feeling in your chest" that Zay was talking about. Looking at one of the jump-scares Cam jumped at, which was at Dallas' death; Lambert tells him that the alien is the other way, so the audience _knows_ the alien will be there the moment he turns around. You consider it a jump-scare, but it's _functional_ because it implies that Dallas dies. The other characters even went in to check if he was really dead, to confirm what the audience believes has happened. Even Ripley getting startled by the cat when they try to get the shuttle ready is a functional jump-scare; her finding the cat creates a bit of a relief in the audience that she finds the cat rather than the alien. Following it up with the sequence where the alien finds Lambert and Parker then ramps up the suspense and anticipation because the previous scene was liberating. So it's implemented to make the pacing flow better. Her finding the cat also allows the scene where she leaves the box with the alien, which creates another nagging feeling about the future of the cat. So once again it has functional reasons for having that jump-scare. Looking forward to you watching the sequel :) Just make sure you watch the Director's Cut (Special Edition) for this. The Theatrical Cut removed most of the emotional connection with the characters and between the characters to fit it to the appropriate runtime. Don't worry about the DC for _Alien_ , because the scenes in that version actually spoil some of the scenes of _Aliens_ . Also, if you're looking for other sci-fi horror, there aren't that many good ones aside from the Alien-franchise. _Event Horizon_ , _The Thing (1980ish)_ , _Sunshine_ and perhaps _Pandorum_ are worth watching.
Went to a midnight showing of this in the theater, and i was so freaked out coming home, as i was constantly looking over my shoulder. It's the scariest movie I've ever seen, and it still holds up 45 years later...
This movie is simultaneously a genre-defining sci-fi horror, the birth of one of the greatest franchises in that genre, Bilbo Baggins' second scariest moment, and the greatest adaptation of HP Lovecraft's "At The Mountains Of Madness" ever to exist.
@@AlexanderTripiten I like the first one for dumb-spectacle cinema, but the second one just went with shock value as a substitute for basic narrative glue.
@@Geth-Who I like the first one because it has a pyramid and more info about the predator species. Interestingly, there are claims of a pyramid or pyramids really being in the Antarctic, which is where AvP takes place. I got to see AvP with a free movie ticket that came with purchase of a dvd.
Wait what was his scariest? Is it the moment in LOTR when he turns into Gollum? Because I was thinking (okay, facetiously, but it’s startling) that’s one of the scariest moments in movie history 😂
42:45 Perhaps you were thinking of SPACEBALLS? In that spoof of scifi, John Hurt reprised his role after eating the special at a space diner, an alien creature bursts out of his chest. The creature then sings a Tin Pan Alley song -- "Hello my baby, hello my honey, hello my ragtime gal!" -- just like Michigan J. Frog! lol
One thing to keep in mind is while nowadays everyone knows who Ripley is due to pop culture, when the movie was made Tom Skerritt was the big star, which meant logically Dallas was going to be the hero. To kill him off halfway through meant all bets were off and nobody knew who was going to survive, if anyone.
I do find it interesting that the first four to get bumped off (Hurt, Stanton, Skerritt, then Holm) also happen to be the cast who would be the most recognizable at that time.
I might get some crap for this, but I think Ridley Scott should have went with the original ending, where the alien offs Ripley and mimics her voice over the radio. He could have saved the world from a completely unnecessary franchise. And no. Aliens does not get a pass. I've watched that movie once and hated it. It respects none of the primal fear or mystery surrounding the alien in the first movie. It just explains them as space bees protecting a queen and throws a bunch of nothing action characters in there to up the body count. Gene Siskel, to his credit, SHREDDED Aliens! He called it "pretty much wall-to-wall the-monsters-are-on-the-attack", which is exactly why it fails in comparison.
My parents said the same thing. They also said that at the time, letting the *infected* crew member in seemed like the “right” thing to do. In stories, certain characters er have main character syndrome and plot armor and are protected. And whatever choice you make, it’ll work out somehow in the end. Even now people expect that, and get downright angry when stories “make them feel bad” in ways that aren’t cathartic or expected. (Not talking about bigotry or highly disturbing stuff, just things not being predictable enough.) Of course, people are like that in real life too. I’m not saying being compassionate is bad!! People often aren’t compassionate enough. But people struggle with foresight and seeing the bigger picture.
@@casesoutherland4175 wait maybe I should check out that review because you’re like the first person I’ve seen who also doesn’t like Aliens lol. Honestly, if I had watched it on its own, I might have enjoyed it. Just seeing it after Alien, and continuing to hear about how it’s as good or better than Alien… it has its merit as an action movie, but it wasn’t anywhere near the level of Alien, in any way. It’s very different! So it’s fine to enjoy both or give Aliens 5/5 for what it is. But in terms of acting, writing, cinematography… it has its moments, but the heck?!
People ask why a cat is on board. He’s a member of the crew. He has two jobs: provide emotional support to the humans and catch any rodents that may accompany cargo.
I mean to be fair! This company does not give an eff about emotional support and more. But your comment makes me think of it as a neat nod to boats, so that’s fun. I remember briefly wondering if it was some kind of a “canary” in a coal mine.
Seen this movie well over 20 times and I’ve never noticed til this reaction that Ash locked Ripley and Dallas in the med room because he knew about the anatomy of the facehugger and probably thought it’d latch onto one of them. Notice how shocked he was that it was actually dead when it fell behind Ripley.
Good catch! I've seen the film as many or more times and didn't notice it that way. Makes sense. Especially since all of Ash's actions have been to protect the Alien.
@@DocMicrowaveI agree, good catch. Since we don't really know Ash's intentions this early, the audience thinks that he locks the door so the Facehugger doesn't escape into the ship.
@@charlesedward5047 That's what I always thought. That he didn't want it getting away. Loosing control of it. Instead he wanted to give it the best chance of infecting another person, while in containment.
Cam: the movie you saw with the diner scenes was “SpaceBalls”. Zay: if you had watched the directors cut, all your questions would have answered. Strongly recommend that you watch the extended version for “Aliens”.
This reaction is definitely one for the books, guys. I don't think I've seen Zay jump so many times in a single reaction. And poor Cam. I thought he was going to lose his lunch. But like Cam said, this is (sci-fi/gothic) horror done right. The sequel is sci-fi/action/horror. Can't wait to see your reaction to that movie. Veronica Cartwright (Lambert, bad directions lady) also was in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds". Hope you get to watch that. It would be a good introduction to Hitchcock. Rock on.
Now you definitely have to watch Aliens (extended cut) next! Aliens is one of my favorite movies. It is one of the best sequels of all time and IMO, it's better than Alien. I love it so much. I know y'all will love it.
"In space, no one can hear you scream"..........that was the tagline in the tv commercials. Masterpiece of a movie all around. I was a preteen when I saw this, and I was traumatized for many years afterward. Interestingly enough, Ash freaked me out way more than the alien. 😂🤣😂
So many amazing practical effects in this movie that out do any modern cgi! The inside of the egg, for example, was cow stomach lining and sheep intestines inflated and made to move with pressurized air!
In one original draft, the alien kills Ripley on the shuttle. Then, we hear her voice, she's making her "final transmission" to Earth. The camera pans over and we see it's the ALIEN, it has the ability to mimic humans and it's doing just that. This insinuates that it eventually makes it to Earth after all. Thank GOD they changed it!!!👽👽
"I thought it happened at the end" "I thought it happened in a diner" Are you perhaps thinking of the scene at the end of Space Balls? They actually brought John Hurt on to recreate a comedic version of the chest burster scene which *did* take place in a space diner. As for the reason you felt like you were missing some things, there were actually several cut scenes. One such scene shows Ripley and Parker running into the room just as Brett was being pulled up into the vents. That's how they knew the alien was huge. So glad you guys loved it, I hope you get to Aliens soon!
My best friend and I went to see this. She normally doesn't like horror movies. After the movie began, she started sinking down in the seat. During the chest burster scene, her soda flew up in the air and came down on ME! Then she walked out of the theater. I stayed and watched until the end....even though I was sticky with Dr Pepper.
First time I saw this was at a friend’s house. There were three of us and at was pitch dark except for the movie screen. So scary! And yes, watch the sequel as soon as possible. That also stars Michael Biehn, who was Kyle Reese in Terminator 1 and in Tombstone.
An absolute classic. I feel like more people prefer Aliens but Alien has plenty of fans too. One of the greatest pair of films in all of cinema (the others are fine but the first two are miles ahead of them). Aliens is more of a sci fi action film (and one of the best of all time) whereas this is a perfect sci fi horror - it's often mentioned that it is structured like a classic haunted house film.
Discovered you guys a few days ago, & you've rapidly become one of my top 3 film reaction/review channels. I grew up in the 80s, and I LOVE watching younger generations discovering & appreciating all the amazing films from that era. You guys do an incredible job...keep up the great work👍
42:48 You're thinking of the movie Spaceballs. John Hurt, playing the same character, is in a diner and the same thing happens. His line is "Oh no, not again!" That's possibly what you're thinking of
Great reaction! Alien will always be my favorite, it's a masterpiece in tension and atmosphere, and the reveals. Aliens is top tier as well and you may actually like that better because of the intensity. I enjoy all the movies in the series, especially Prometheus
LMAO great react as always from you two knuckleheads, hehe. That jumpscare, tho, lol. Imagine seeing this film in a dark theater full of 200 other terrified people, haha. I remember girls and kids actually crying and fleeing the theater after little' chester' made his appearance, haha. I saw this at the movies when I was eighteen. Haha yeah that air duct jumpscare sent everyone's soda and popcorn flying lol. -Oh, and, 'Why bring a 🐱 into space?' 🤔 ..To catch space-🐁, of course! 🤣 Hehe you guys are gonna LOVE _Aliens_ - just you wait...
Actually I believe "Jones or Jonsey" the cat was brought on board as purely a pet that would act as emotional support animal to help the crew stay mentally stable. When stressed out, holding and petting/stroking an animal can provide not only mental stability by helping stabilize emotions, it can also lower heart rate and blood pressure. So, the cat would provide a service in that regard.
One of the really strong points of Alien is that it looks timeless, not dated at all. If I didn't know its release year, I would never believe this film is 44 years old. Because its production values are still better & more atmospheric than most movies released to this day! Did you know that when I was only 7 years old, my aunt let me watch Alien with her when it was on HBO? Seeing a movie like that as a small child, my nightmares/trauma are probably better imagined than described.
Not attacked dearie unless you meant when the face hugger grabbed his face to implant the embryo, it was more horrific in the "birth" of a new alien in the "chest buster" scene for Kane (the character that Hurt played) I feel personally.
If you watch closely in one scene "Ripley" was holding and stroking Jones, it may have even been her own personal pet. She obviously had an emotional attachment to him, and since every other human was dead she probably didn't want to be in the shuttle alone. Besides, at the end of the movie we see her putting Jones in the cryo-bed, and then holding him up to her chest while in cryo-sleep with him.
One of the reasons why Alien Isolation was based after this movie was because it still holds up after all this time. The horror aspects of this film are because of how well it was written and how well the characters are written. Also; you two forgot the Spaceballs reference. John Hurt played both roles and was happy to recreate the it for Mel Brooks
Dunno if you guys are interested in screenwriting but the screenplay is quite sparse and poetic compared to others at the time. Really stands out. Wouldn’t expect it for a horror film but part of why it’s a masterpiece.
The lady with the short blonde hair is Veronica Cartwright.. who played the little girl in the movie “The Birds”, by Alfred Hitchcock.. a VERY classic horror movie. Love Grandma Debbie
I was 12 when I saw this in a theater with a balloon in my hand. During the scene when Kane's attacked, I screamed and let the balloon go, which floated into the air and across the screen, freaking out the audience even more. I was, and still is, embarrassed by that. And to think that this was the casts actually reaction to the chestburster. Priceless!
I can’t believe you lads reacted to The Thing (excellent reaction BTW) before this. Usually ALIEN is the gateway to The Thing for many reactors. On a purely visual and production design level this is a superior film to The Thing, but the creature in The Thing is infinitely more frightening and the creature effects so much more impressive.
This movie is getting on for half a century old and it still holds up now. It was probably a 9.5 when it came out, totally ground breaking and I think between 8.5 and 9 still today for the sheer quality of the movie making. Other classic horror like the Exorcist suffer a little more with ageing, not because they weren't masterfully made, but because they have been so parodied and become part mainstream culture.
BTW, the scene you remember in the diner is actually a scene from Spaceballs. They spoofed the chest burst scene, and had the original actor in this movie come back to do that scene. That was awesome!
06:20 "That's crazy" - no, it's maritime law. Any ship that hears the distress from another MUST attend, under international laws. This is just extending that into space. "Who can even prove..." The computer - it's registered as received, it's woken them up and sent the reports back. You can't "not" do it.
This is a bit of a misconception: of course they knew what was going to happen - there were special effects operators under the table and John Hurt was set up with a fake lower body - they just didn't know the extent of how gruesome and bloody it was going to be.
@@stobe187 right that is what he said… they knew “something” was gonna happen but what exactly was gonna happen was kept from them to ensure a genuine response.
@@entropygizmo2880 While they knew the alien would appear in the scene, the script only read, "This thing emerges." Actor Tom Skerritt (who played Dallas) mentioned the moment during the DVD making-of documentary, saying, "What you saw on camera was the real response... All of a sudden this thing just came up."
@@entropygizmo2880 During an interview with Empire Magazine, director Ridley Scott said, "The reactions were going to be the most difficult thing. If an actor is just acting terrified, you can't get the genuine look of raw, animal fear." And so, none of the cast were told about the level of gruesomeness. Although, much of the crew wore raincoats for the blood, which was a hint of what was about to come. The screenwriter (Dan O'Bannon) even mentioned that "Veronica Cartwright -- when the blood hit her, she passed out. I heard from Yaphet Kotto's wife that after that scene he went to his room and wouldn't talk to anybody."
It's my favorite movie, it still feels fresh but you have to consider that most of the scifi horror tropes were done for the first time in this movie. It was truly innovative. The diner scene was a parody from the movie Space Balls lol..
Oh yeah. Alien franchise could fill a library with its lore. There are films, comics, toylines, and video games spanned over decades to indulge yourself with. In 1989, Alien also had a major crossover with the other sci-fi franchise, 'Predator' (called Aliens vs Predators or AvP) and their lore expanded even more from there. They made movies about it too 👍
46:42 Off-screen in the final cut, Parker entered the landing leg bay, just in time to see Brett's body being hauled up - that's how he knew how big it was. I believe there was an alternate staging or take of that scene that had Brett screaming out Parker's name as he was getting his skull crushed, and that's what drew Parker into the room.
About that - the guy said that it's huge. In extended version you see, that when alien kill the guy he move his body to the ceiling to the vents, and Ripley and second guy run just at this moment in, and see the glimpse of the alien, and even have the blood of his victim on their faces. So, in theatrical version it's just cut, presumable you should guess that they see something a little.
Imagine seeing this on a giant movie screen in Dolby in the dark. It's a masterpiece of suspense and horror. Cam mentioned Aliens, the sequel. Most people consider Aliens better than the original. I love both, one is more horror than sci-fi.
Cam mentions the absence of humor in Alien compared to, presumably, to what audiences are more accustomed to in some modern horror films. Alien is almost totally free of tension-deflating humor and snark and instead builds and maintains anxiety and dread continuously. The Exorcist (1973) is similarly humorless and is all the more effective because of it.
I'm dying laughing when Cam said the alien popping outta the chest scene happened in a dinner. Need to watch the end of Space Balls again. Can't believe Mel Brookes actually got John Hurt, the same actor, for that scene.
Guys...when someone falls into a nest of leathery eggs and says.."I'm OK". Really...red flags are flashing for me. And why put your face into anything opened and quivering??? You guys are the BEST...your overviews and reactions are just stellar...thanks!!! This has to be one of my most revered films, for suspense. Refreshing to see a younger fan's appreciation.
The set design and modelling for the ship was amazing to me. I read up on a few things and if you look around in certain scenes you can see these square markers here and there that the crew came up with as hazard symbology. You can clearly see them as flashing squares above the airlock when they're returning to the ship, they're really interesting and you can find a list online. When it comes to the ship, they put up a technical brief on the basic design of the Nostromo, and I found it really interesting. When they're detaching from the refinery part to go down to the planet you can see that the engines fit into corridors on the refinery, this was a design choice that would allow the small ship to pull the much larger load of the refinery with its engine thrust mass going through the refinery rather than impacting it, which would be pretty bad needless to say. I've always loved it when the designers of a movie put actual love and care into creating a believable universe and setting for their work and these films certainly succeeded in that.
36:19. "Why did they choose that cat?"
It's Ripley's cat. It was there to entertain the crew, but mostly as a companion for Ripley. Part of the reason she's desperate to save it is she brought it along to keep her company. If you look really close, she has a picture of it at her station when it was younger. Even though she's terrified, she couldn't stand the thought of it dying when she's the reason it's there in the 1st place.
I believe this has been re-imagined in other stories, but ORIGINAL, it was her cat.
I saw this in 1979. I was 13 and this was my first R-rated movie at the theater. The trailer revealed almost nothing and there had never been a movie like it before. We innocently walked into this movie and left traumatized. We f’n LOVED it!
This movie builds the suspense to a point few others have ever matched. Ripley’s tiny underwear is genius: everyone is bust staring at her crack and misses the obvious Alien until it sticks its arm out.
Yep, back when trailers had an artsy angle instead of spoiling points, sometimes deaths/ending like the trailers today. I saw a documentary on Trailers, there was an intentional shift from the old ones to the new ones.
I can beat that -- I was 9 when I saw this in the theater! Also, in the theater near the end of the movie, this huge moth was flying around and landed on my friend's head and freaked him out.
Poor Cam. With all the spooky reactions this month will he blow chunks or not?
I was 9 at the time, too. I have no idea why this movie wound up being a family event when I look back on it. But I remember parents, grandparents and a couple of cousins. But I was the youngest. Smh.😂
@@asian-americanwithanopinio8954 I've not seen that documentary but I think I can guess: the purpose of trailers used to just be to let everyone know the film exists and pique our interest. Now it's to compete with other trailers and generate hype. It needs to show the best the film has to offer (or better).
Compounded by a perception of the target audeince being desensitized and having shorter attention spans. (I think that's exaggerated in the minds of producers and marketing but it is mostly true.)
Further compounded by massive budgets that have to make money back fast. They'll pull any dirty trick to get people watching it and daren't take any chances, such as a subtle hint of a trailer.
It's sad and indicative of why we don't get great films like this anymore.
You're thinking about "Spaceballs", that has a parody of The Chestburster scene set in a diner. They got John Hurt to reprise his role with the line "oh no, not AGAIN" 😀
42:50 you're thinking of Spaceballs lol
Also the actor who played the alien was over seven feet tall. The director didn't let the other actors see him until they started filming so that they would be genuinely shocked at his stature
*6 feet ten inches, not over seven feet. My bad
My dad was a truck driver for many years, and one thing that always gets me is how they feel so blue-collar. A company man, some just for a paycheck, etc. Often, space horror is so sterile. This was gritty in so many places. It's a great layer of character.
That was one of the big ideas in this movie, of a future where space travel is so common as to be mundane. In the novel, Dallas muses on the giant alien they found, wondering if it was just some Blue Collar Space-Jockey like himself.
Great Reaction/Commentary......
The "chest burst in a diner" you are remembering is from the scene in "Spaceballs" the same actor John Hurt played the same guy.....
"Somebody get this guy some Pepto-Bysmal!" Bursts out of his chest. "Oh, no. Not again." Barf gets waitress' attention. "He had the special." "That's what I ordered! Change my order to the soup."
Cam (gagging like crazy): “What is going ON?!? Why is there liquid in him?!?!?
Zay: “He was a robot.”
Cam: “THAT doesn’t answer my question!!!!!”
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I was rolling on that !!😂😂😂😂😂
😂😂😂😂
It’s battery fluid.
Lol
"They were eating in a Diner"......... Space Balls, you're talking about Space Balls, Haha they did a parody of it at the end
It was the same actor too! "Oh no, not again," always makes me laugh
don't order the soup! lol
And that, kids, is why we NEVER stick our faces in things, EVER!
Cam brings a whole new meaning to bucket list movies
Definitely 😂😂😂
If they ever watch "Starship Troopers", Cam will definitely need a bucket next to him.
The way Zay knows EXACTLY what's going to make Cam have a gagging fit is so funny to me 😆
Alien is truly a masterpiece. I know that word is bandied about a lot on these channels, but Alien really fits the bill. When you watch Aliens, ensure you watch the Special Edition.
The liquid in ash, is, presumably, like hydraulic fluid, meant to lubricate all the moving parts and cables inside of him, as well as give his body a softer, organic feel. And the alien was probably in the shuttle because it was the only quiet place on the ship, with the flashing lights and alarms blaring all over.
Not just that, the xenomorph also likes warm places, so that part of the ship with the radiators and stuff was the good spot for a nap. Ripley makes him get out by punching (probably) liquid oxygen through the tubes, which creates the (cold) "fumes"
always thought the white liquid was coolant, the mechanics within ash would heat when working, the robot would overheat quickly as the surface area of it's skin was covered in it's company uniform and not be able to cope with the operating temperatures, without an internal coolant. in engineering workshops lathes used a white coolant liquid when turning metal and this robot liquid resembled it.
Or, as he seems to be a mostly organic robot, the liquid could have been his artificial blood.
@@XI7.exidium It's never stated how intelligent the creature is, it might be more intelligent than it appears. Figuring out, if not actually understanding, that the shuttle was the safest place to be. This is slightly expanded upon in the sequel, but they keep it vague.
@@onastick2411 I usually take it as a kind of combination lubricant, coolant etc. much like we use now for things like hybrid cars etc...
It’s crazy that the death of a robot is more disturbing than some of the human beings 🤢.
The color of Cam’s face during that part was concerning 😂
Great reaction guy’s 😊 I can’t wait to see you watch Aliens.
I think it's partly because it takes time for many to realize it's robot bits and pieces they see.
You guys aren't ready for how sick Aliens is. I'm jealous of people's first time watching that film. 🤘
OMG, me, too! I often say I wish I could see it for the first time, again!
For me what's perhaps even more terrifying than just the alien is the claustrofobic feeling of the environment. They put alot of effort into the interior of the Nostromo.
If someone build a Alien spooky house attraction designed after the Nostromo I would totally visit it, equipped with a couple of extra shorts ofc.
The issue you mentioned about Parker saying that the monster was huge, and you asking how he knew? Director's Cut restores a scene that has both Parker and Ripley entering the room and watching as the alien is carrying Brett up and away.
I’m a big fan of the DC, from the extended Brett kill scene to the nest scene being restored, and even cutting a line of dialogue that did more hinting at Ash
@@CarloisBuriedAlivewhich Ash line was cut?
@@searchterminatorseed2301 there’s a conversation between Ripley and Dallas about Ash being a last minute add on - the DC cuts about 10 seconds. Alien Theory on TH-cam has a great video where he goes through every single change th-cam.com/video/YGO8QBwDn30/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ACmh9RcJkkCqR8lq
@@CarloisBuriedAlivedirectors cut is trash. Ridley Scott even thinks so. It’s nothing but a cash grab and Ridley has stated it isn’t a good representation of his vision. He stated what he decided to cut the first time around should’ve stayed cut.
@@mrdavman13 the DC is almost always included as a home media bonus, so how is it a cash grab? And tell me why it’s trash lol
Most horror movies use jump-scares to evoke an emotion from the audience without it really having any value in the story itself, whereas in _Alien_ the jump-scares are just part of the story or the pacing. They're _functional_ , which is why the jump-scares in this movie work so well, because everything is part of the story. This works really well especially when you create the claustrophobic atmosphere and suspense throughout the movie, which creates that "tense feeling in your chest" that Zay was talking about.
Looking at one of the jump-scares Cam jumped at, which was at Dallas' death; Lambert tells him that the alien is the other way, so the audience _knows_ the alien will be there the moment he turns around. You consider it a jump-scare, but it's _functional_ because it implies that Dallas dies. The other characters even went in to check if he was really dead, to confirm what the audience believes has happened.
Even Ripley getting startled by the cat when they try to get the shuttle ready is a functional jump-scare; her finding the cat creates a bit of a relief in the audience that she finds the cat rather than the alien. Following it up with the sequence where the alien finds Lambert and Parker then ramps up the suspense and anticipation because the previous scene was liberating. So it's implemented to make the pacing flow better. Her finding the cat also allows the scene where she leaves the box with the alien, which creates another nagging feeling about the future of the cat. So once again it has functional reasons for having that jump-scare.
Looking forward to you watching the sequel :)
Just make sure you watch the Director's Cut (Special Edition) for this. The Theatrical Cut removed most of the emotional connection with the characters and between the characters to fit it to the appropriate runtime. Don't worry about the DC for _Alien_ , because the scenes in that version actually spoil some of the scenes of _Aliens_ .
Also, if you're looking for other sci-fi horror, there aren't that many good ones aside from the Alien-franchise. _Event Horizon_ , _The Thing (1980ish)_ , _Sunshine_ and perhaps _Pandorum_ are worth watching.
"oh, that's where all the KY jelly went" lol
Ridley Scott didn't want a typical robot, no wires or circuits, so white fluid and glass globes. Loved Cam's reaction to Ash! 😅
Went to a midnight showing of this in the theater, and i was so freaked out coming home, as i was constantly looking over my shoulder. It's the scariest movie I've ever seen, and it still holds up 45 years later...
Gotta get into the sequel ASAP.
Like, immediately.
I would highly recommend waiting a few months before watching Aliens.
Watch the Special Edition though NOT the Theatrical Cut!
if not sooner!
@@evilervcowart6234
Definitely do it right away. Definitely Director's Cut!
The science guy, Ian Holm, played Bilbo Baggins in Lord of the Rings.
Really??? Ash? I didn’t recognize him.
This movie is simultaneously a genre-defining sci-fi horror, the birth of one of the greatest franchises in that genre, Bilbo Baggins' second scariest moment, and the greatest adaptation of HP Lovecraft's "At The Mountains Of Madness" ever to exist.
Yeah and they started killing it with aliens vs predator. On paper maybe it's looks cool, but reality hits hard😅
Fuk LOTR
@@AlexanderTripiten I like the first one for dumb-spectacle cinema, but the second one just went with shock value as a substitute for basic narrative glue.
@@Geth-Who I like the first one because it has a pyramid and more info about the predator species. Interestingly, there are claims of a pyramid or pyramids really being in the Antarctic, which is where AvP takes place.
I got to see AvP with a free movie ticket that came with purchase of a dvd.
Wait what was his scariest? Is it the moment in LOTR when he turns into Gollum? Because I was thinking (okay, facetiously, but it’s startling) that’s one of the scariest moments in movie history 😂
42:45
Perhaps you were thinking of SPACEBALLS? In that spoof of scifi, John Hurt reprised his role after eating the special at a space diner, an alien creature bursts out of his chest. The creature then sings a Tin Pan Alley song -- "Hello my baby, hello my honey, hello my ragtime gal!" -- just like Michigan J. Frog! lol
That was the funniest reaction to "Alien" I've ever seen, lol. I almost choked on my drink at one point.
One thing to keep in mind is while nowadays everyone knows who Ripley is due to pop culture, when the movie was made Tom Skerritt was the big star, which meant logically Dallas was going to be the hero. To kill him off halfway through meant all bets were off and nobody knew who was going to survive, if anyone.
I do find it interesting that the first four to get bumped off (Hurt, Stanton, Skerritt, then Holm) also happen to be the cast who would be the most recognizable at that time.
I might get some crap for this, but I think Ridley Scott should have went with the original ending, where the alien offs Ripley and mimics her voice over the radio. He could have saved the world from a completely unnecessary franchise.
And no. Aliens does not get a pass. I've watched that movie once and hated it. It respects none of the primal fear or mystery surrounding the alien in the first movie. It just explains them as space bees protecting a queen and throws a bunch of nothing action characters in there to up the body count.
Gene Siskel, to his credit, SHREDDED Aliens! He called it "pretty much wall-to-wall the-monsters-are-on-the-attack", which is exactly why it fails in comparison.
My parents said the same thing. They also said that at the time, letting the *infected* crew member in seemed like the “right” thing to do. In stories, certain characters er have main character syndrome and plot armor and are protected. And whatever choice you make, it’ll work out somehow in the end.
Even now people expect that, and get downright angry when stories “make them feel bad” in ways that aren’t cathartic or expected. (Not talking about bigotry or highly disturbing stuff, just things not being predictable enough.) Of course, people are like that in real life too.
I’m not saying being compassionate is bad!! People often aren’t compassionate enough. But people struggle with foresight and seeing the bigger picture.
@@casesoutherland4175 wait maybe I should check out that review because you’re like the first person I’ve seen who also doesn’t like Aliens lol. Honestly, if I had watched it on its own, I might have enjoyed it. Just seeing it after Alien, and continuing to hear about how it’s as good or better than Alien… it has its merit as an action movie, but it wasn’t anywhere near the level of Alien, in any way. It’s very different! So it’s fine to enjoy both or give Aliens 5/5 for what it is. But in terms of acting, writing, cinematography… it has its moments, but the heck?!
People ask why a cat is on board. He’s a member of the crew. He has two jobs: provide emotional support to the humans and catch any rodents that may accompany cargo.
I mean to be fair! This company does not give an eff about emotional support and more. But your comment makes me think of it as a neat nod to boats, so that’s fun. I remember briefly wondering if it was some kind of a “canary” in a coal mine.
Seen this movie well over 20 times and I’ve never noticed til this reaction that Ash locked Ripley and Dallas in the med room because he knew about the anatomy of the facehugger and probably thought it’d latch onto one of them. Notice how shocked he was that it was actually dead when it fell behind Ripley.
Good catch! I've seen the film as many or more times and didn't notice it that way. Makes sense.
Especially since all of Ash's actions have been to protect the Alien.
@@DocMicrowaveI agree, good catch. Since we don't really know Ash's intentions this early, the audience thinks that he locks the door so the Facehugger doesn't escape into the ship.
@@charlesedward5047 That's what I always thought. That he didn't want it getting away. Loosing control of it.
Instead he wanted to give it the best chance of infecting another person, while in containment.
Lambert got on my last nerves crying all the damn time
Cam: the movie you saw with the diner scenes was “SpaceBalls”. Zay: if you had watched the directors cut, all your questions would have answered. Strongly recommend that you watch the extended version for “Aliens”.
This reaction is definitely one for the books, guys. I don't think I've seen Zay jump so many times in a single reaction. And poor Cam. I thought he was going to lose his lunch. But like Cam said, this is (sci-fi/gothic) horror done right. The sequel is sci-fi/action/horror. Can't wait to see your reaction to that movie. Veronica Cartwright (Lambert, bad directions lady) also was in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds". Hope you get to watch that. It would be a good introduction to Hitchcock. Rock on.
Now you definitely have to watch Aliens (extended cut) next! Aliens is one of my favorite movies. It is one of the best sequels of all time and IMO, it's better than Alien. I love it so much. I know y'all will love it.
The whole "Ash is a robot scene" reaction from you two, had me laughing...
"In space, no one can hear you scream"..........that was the tagline in the tv commercials. Masterpiece of a movie all around. I was a preteen when I saw this, and I was traumatized for many years afterward. Interestingly enough, Ash freaked me out way more than the alien. 😂🤣😂
I was still too young to see it when it was released, but by all accounts “In the theater, everyone will hear you scream.” 😉
@@0okamino 🤣😂🤣
When they filmed that Alien coming out of John Hurt’s body, they DIDN’T tell the cast.. so that was REAL shock on their faces!🤣🤣🤣🤣
Love Grandma Debbie
They knew it would happen. Just not that they'd be hit with all that fake blood.
Jones is the smartest character in this movie.
So many amazing practical effects in this movie that out do any modern cgi! The inside of the egg, for example, was cow stomach lining and sheep intestines inflated and made to move with pressurized air!
The Alien blocked her exit to the shuttle so she went back to delay the self-destruct.
I have not seen ONE reactor on here understand that. Idgi
@@SubterrelProspector One did, don't remember who. Maybe Media Knights.
23:58 on repeat 😂😂😂
Props Cam, you stuck it out like a champ when Ash got dismembered! 💪
Can't wait for you two to see Aliens
In one original draft, the alien kills Ripley on the shuttle.
Then, we hear her voice, she's making her "final transmission" to Earth. The camera pans over and we see it's the ALIEN, it has the ability to mimic humans and it's doing just that. This insinuates that it eventually makes it to Earth after all.
Thank GOD they changed it!!!👽👽
"I thought it happened at the end"
"I thought it happened in a diner"
Are you perhaps thinking of the scene at the end of Space Balls? They actually brought John Hurt on to recreate a comedic version of the chest burster scene which *did* take place in a space diner.
As for the reason you felt like you were missing some things, there were actually several cut scenes. One such scene shows Ripley and Parker running into the room just as Brett was being pulled up into the vents. That's how they knew the alien was huge.
So glad you guys loved it, I hope you get to Aliens soon!
The sound in the movie is phenomenal as well. The constant "ooooooohhhhh" like a ghost throughout the film is crazy...
My best friend and I went to see this. She normally doesn't like horror movies. After the movie began, she started sinking down in the seat. During the chest burster scene, her soda flew up in the air and came down on ME! Then she walked out of the theater. I stayed and watched until the end....even though I was sticky with Dr Pepper.
Jonesy, the most famous cat in movies.
You won't be disappointed with the sequel. I'm already looking forward to it. Cheers guys.
First time I saw this was at a friend’s house. There were three of us and at was pitch dark except for the movie screen. So scary! And yes, watch the sequel as soon as possible. That also stars Michael Biehn, who was Kyle Reese in Terminator 1 and in Tombstone.
Bruh, your scream reaction to the ultimate jump scare scene was THE funniest shit I've seen in a while. So good.
Y'all just said "F#ck Billy" huh?! 🤣🤣🤣
That intro. Holy smokes that was just….wow. What was that?????😂
An absolute classic. I feel like more people prefer Aliens but Alien has plenty of fans too. One of the greatest pair of films in all of cinema (the others are fine but the first two are miles ahead of them). Aliens is more of a sci fi action film (and one of the best of all time) whereas this is a perfect sci fi horror - it's often mentioned that it is structured like a classic haunted house film.
Ha! Your intro clip is the same one I almost put my eyes out trying to cover my face in the movie theater. 😅
Discovered you guys a few days ago, & you've rapidly become one of my top 3 film reaction/review channels. I grew up in the 80s, and I LOVE watching younger generations discovering & appreciating all the amazing films from that era. You guys do an incredible job...keep up the great work👍
When they found the shed skin they realized how massive it had grown
42:48 You're thinking of the movie Spaceballs. John Hurt, playing the same character, is in a diner and the same thing happens. His line is "Oh no, not again!" That's possibly what you're thinking of
When Cam jumped the first time it scared the shit out of me, and I’ve seen the movie before. 😮
Great reaction! Alien will always be my favorite, it's a masterpiece in tension and atmosphere, and the reveals. Aliens is top tier as well and you may actually like that better because of the intensity. I enjoy all the movies in the series, especially Prometheus
LMAO great react as always from you two knuckleheads, hehe. That jumpscare, tho, lol. Imagine seeing this film in a dark theater full of 200 other terrified people, haha. I remember girls and kids actually crying and fleeing the theater after little' chester' made his appearance, haha. I saw this at the movies when I was eighteen. Haha yeah that air duct jumpscare sent everyone's soda and popcorn flying lol.
-Oh, and, 'Why bring a 🐱 into space?' 🤔
..To catch space-🐁, of course! 🤣
Hehe you guys are gonna LOVE _Aliens_ - just you wait...
Actually I believe "Jones or Jonsey" the cat was brought on board as purely a pet that would act as emotional support animal to help the crew stay mentally stable. When stressed out, holding and petting/stroking an animal can provide not only mental stability by helping stabilize emotions, it can also lower heart rate and blood pressure. So, the cat would provide a service in that regard.
There is a chestburster scene in a diner at the end of the movie.... in Spaceballs
"Oh, no. Not again."
One of the really strong points of Alien is that it looks timeless, not dated at all. If I didn't know its release year, I would never believe this film is 44 years old. Because its production values are still better & more atmospheric than most movies released to this day! Did you know that when I was only 7 years old, my aunt let me watch Alien with her when it was on HBO? Seeing a movie like that as a small child, my nightmares/trauma are probably better imagined than described.
Saw at the drive in! Great movie holds up beautifully! And the sequel is still the most exciting movie I saw in a theater, thanks guys!
The man who was attacked by the Alien is John Hurt, who played the “Elephant Man”, in the movie with Sir Anthony Hopkins.
Love Grandma Debbie
Not attacked dearie unless you meant when the face hugger grabbed his face to implant the embryo, it was more horrific in the "birth" of a new alien in the "chest buster" scene for Kane (the character that Hurt played) I feel personally.
Maybe the alien bursting out scene that Cam remembers is from Spaceballs; they parodied the chestbursting scene in a diner with the original actor.
That’s what I was thinking when he mentioned a diner.
The tag line on the posters for this movie was good too " NOBODY CAN HEAR YOUR SCREAMS IN SPACE" or something very similar.
I remember seeing this when it first came out at the theater. Everyone I know said "sorry, forget the cat and LEAVE!!"
If you watch closely in one scene "Ripley" was holding and stroking Jones, it may have even been her own personal pet. She obviously had an emotional attachment to him, and since every other human was dead she probably didn't want to be in the shuttle alone. Besides, at the end of the movie we see her putting Jones in the cryo-bed, and then holding him up to her chest while in cryo-sleep with him.
One of the reasons why Alien Isolation was based after this movie was because it still holds up after all this time. The horror aspects of this film are because of how well it was written and how well the characters are written.
Also; you two forgot the Spaceballs reference. John Hurt played both roles and was happy to recreate the it for Mel Brooks
By way, John Hurt also played Olivander in the Harry Potter series...Olivander is the Wand maker in Harry Potter that sold Harry his wand.
Alien vs Aliens: they're just very different movies. You'll know how when you watch Aliens.
Saw this movie at the drive-in theater when I was eight, had nightmares for a while lol
Dunno if you guys are interested in screenwriting but the screenplay is quite sparse and poetic compared to others at the time. Really stands out. Wouldn’t expect it for a horror film but part of why it’s a masterpiece.
You guys have GOTTA see the sequel. Different tone and just as awesome!
I think it was a wise choice as well. I doubt they could have gone with too much of the same tone again, and still have it so well received.
The lady with the short blonde hair is Veronica Cartwright.. who played the little girl in the movie “The Birds”, by Alfred Hitchcock.. a VERY classic horror movie.
Love Grandma Debbie
I was 12 when I saw this in a theater with a balloon in my hand. During the scene when Kane's attacked, I screamed and let the balloon go, which floated into the air and across the screen, freaking out the audience even more. I was, and still is, embarrassed by that. And to think that this was the casts actually reaction to the chestburster. Priceless!
The tagline of this movie in TV and radio ads at the time was, "In space, no one can hear you scream."
It lived up to that....
I can’t believe you lads reacted to The Thing (excellent reaction BTW) before this. Usually ALIEN is the gateway to The Thing for many reactors.
On a purely visual and production design level this is a superior film to The Thing, but the creature in The Thing is infinitely more frightening and the creature effects so much more impressive.
Cam turned whiter than the liquid fuel that powered Ash when he gagged! I'm in stitches! 😂
This movie is getting on for half a century old and it still holds up now.
It was probably a 9.5 when it came out, totally ground breaking and I think between 8.5 and 9 still today for the sheer quality of the movie making.
Other classic horror like the Exorcist suffer a little more with ageing, not because they weren't masterfully made, but because they have been so parodied and become part mainstream culture.
When (not if) you watch the sequel "Aliens", watch the extended/directors/special edition. It's worth it.
Agreed, the special edition adds so much more to the story
Special edition of this first movie is way better as well. Shame that's not what they watched.
@@LeadStarDude the nest scene does break up the tension and pacing of the escape sequence so I understand why it was cut
The alien scene when it pops out in that pipe ladder area, it's like the alien is doing jazz hands
-"Why do we bring a cat to space"? Exactly, I would bring a dog, man's best friend and all!! 😋🤗
BTW, the scene you remember in the diner is actually a scene from Spaceballs. They spoofed the chest burst scene, and had the original actor in this movie come back to do that scene. That was awesome!
06:20 "That's crazy" - no, it's maritime law. Any ship that hears the distress from another MUST attend, under international laws. This is just extending that into space.
"Who can even prove..."
The computer - it's registered as received, it's woken them up and sent the reports back. You can't "not" do it.
If you remember a chest bursting scene in a diner, you may be remembering the scene from Spacballs which spoofed that scene in hilarious fashion.
Just found you guys and Cam's reaction during the Ash reveal scene is internet gold! OMG, you guys are great, checking out your other videos now.
The cast were not told what was going to happen when the alien bursts out of John Hurt...their reactions are genuine🎩
This is a bit of a misconception: of course they knew what was going to happen - there were special effects operators under the table and John Hurt was set up with a fake lower body - they just didn't know the extent of how gruesome and bloody it was going to be.
@@stobe187 right that is what he said… they knew “something” was gonna happen but what exactly was gonna happen was kept from them to ensure a genuine response.
Lies. They knew the script. It was the amount of fake blood spraying everywhere that freaked them out.
@@entropygizmo2880 While they knew the alien would appear in the scene, the script only read, "This thing emerges." Actor Tom Skerritt (who played Dallas) mentioned the moment during the DVD making-of documentary, saying, "What you saw on camera was the real response... All of a sudden this thing just came up."
@@entropygizmo2880 During an interview with Empire Magazine, director Ridley Scott said, "The reactions were going to be the most difficult thing. If an actor is just acting terrified, you can't get the genuine look of raw, animal fear." And so, none of the cast were told about the level of gruesomeness. Although, much of the crew wore raincoats for the blood, which was a hint of what was about to come. The screenwriter (Dan O'Bannon) even mentioned that "Veronica Cartwright -- when the blood hit her, she passed out. I heard from Yaphet Kotto's wife that after that scene he went to his room and wouldn't talk to anybody."
It's my favorite movie, it still feels fresh but you have to consider that most of the scifi horror tropes were done for the first time in this movie. It was truly innovative. The diner scene was a parody from the movie Space Balls lol..
If you're referring to the game "Alien: Isolation", that one is set between "Alien" and "Aliens".
Oh yeah. Alien franchise could fill a library with its lore. There are films, comics, toylines, and video games spanned over decades to indulge yourself with. In 1989, Alien also had a major crossover with the other sci-fi franchise, 'Predator' (called Aliens vs Predators or AvP) and their lore expanded even more from there. They made movies about it too 👍
46:42 Off-screen in the final cut, Parker entered the landing leg bay, just in time to see Brett's body being hauled up - that's how he knew how big it was.
I believe there was an alternate staging or take of that scene that had Brett screaming out Parker's name as he was getting his skull crushed, and that's what drew Parker into the room.
Yeah, the scene in the diner is a sci-fi parody called Spaceballs. That scene also features John Hurt as Kane, saying, "Oh, no, not again!"
Thanks for the reaction
It was my top movie for you guys to watch 👍
The chest bursting scene in a diner that you're remembering is from Mel Brooks' "Spaceballs" parody movie, which had the same actor reprise his role.
About that - the guy said that it's huge. In extended version you see, that when alien kill the guy he move his body to the ceiling to the vents, and Ripley and second guy run just at this moment in, and see the glimpse of the alien, and even have the blood of his victim on their faces. So, in theatrical version it's just cut, presumable you should guess that they see something a little.
Imagine seeing this on a giant movie screen in Dolby in the dark. It's a masterpiece of suspense and horror. Cam mentioned Aliens, the sequel. Most people consider Aliens better than the original. I love both, one is more horror than sci-fi.
Cam mentions the absence of humor in Alien compared to, presumably, to what audiences are more accustomed to in some modern horror films. Alien is almost totally free of tension-deflating humor and snark and instead builds and maintains anxiety and dread continuously. The Exorcist (1973) is similarly humorless and is all the more effective because of it.
Alien directors cut, shows Parker and Ripley arriving just as Brett is being pulled up by the Alien. Hence how he knew the size of it.
I'm dying laughing when Cam said the alien popping outta the chest scene happened in a dinner. Need to watch the end of Space Balls again. Can't believe Mel Brookes actually got John Hurt, the same actor, for that scene.
Guys...when someone falls into a nest of leathery eggs and says.."I'm OK". Really...red flags are flashing for me. And why put your face into anything opened and quivering??? You guys are the BEST...your overviews and reactions are just stellar...thanks!!! This has to be one of my most revered films, for suspense. Refreshing to see a younger fan's appreciation.
"Happened in a dinner..." Dude, that was Space Balls, lol.
I can't wait for you guys to see the sequel Aliens.
The set design and modelling for the ship was amazing to me. I read up on a few things and if you look around in certain scenes you can see these square markers here and there that the crew came up with as hazard symbology. You can clearly see them as flashing squares above the airlock when they're returning to the ship, they're really interesting and you can find a list online.
When it comes to the ship, they put up a technical brief on the basic design of the Nostromo, and I found it really interesting. When they're detaching from the refinery part to go down to the planet you can see that the engines fit into corridors on the refinery, this was a design choice that would allow the small ship to pull the much larger load of the refinery with its engine thrust mass going through the refinery rather than impacting it, which would be pretty bad needless to say.
I've always loved it when the designers of a movie put actual love and care into creating a believable universe and setting for their work and these films certainly succeeded in that.