imagine this: in 1977, Star Wars had been released and made film making history. just 2 years later, in 1979, people begin seeing trailers for another sci-fi film, with nothing but an egg with a crack in it with eerie green light spilling out of it, the title, "ALIEN" slowly spelled out, and the phrase, "In space, no one can hear you scream..." there were NO spoilers. no one knew what it was about, who was playing in it, no ship shots, no clips from the movie at all. everyone went to the theater completely blind to the story. imagine the effect it had on the viewers, seeing on the big screen...
It was a great decade for movie goers. I remember seeing Alien in 1979 in a traditional single-screen theater packed to the rafters, including the balcony. People lined up around the block at the box office to see it when it opened, as they previously had for another ground-breaking scary '70s film--The Exorcist. Although these films remain masterpieces, it IS hard to convey the visceral impact these movies originally had on the public, in large crowded theaters, before audiences had become jaded by the countless derivative films that came after. You really did have to be there!
You are the FIRST person I've seen reacting to this movie who was able to figure out that Ash was a robot before Parker says it out loud. Pretty impressive.
I really like it when a reactor is really invested and paying attention in a movie. And not overacting. He asks the right questions, says the right things at the right time, and gets the genre. It's really fun watching him. I mean, it's really fun. I laugh at him that he's so excited to watch a movie. That's just cool. Nice work!
@@johnmonk66it's not that surprising that lots of people haven't seen these movies. It's not within the realm of possibility that he could have never seen it before now?
@@mitsukitai2713 I don't think so, he never saw any popular movie in his life but now sees them all? It's a money grab. All these reactors are doing this for money.
@@johnmonk66 I'm pretty cynical myself but I really do think he just hasn't seen these movies. It's more common than you think. I know a LOT of people personally my age (30s)who haven't seen even a few of the Marvel movies and who are just now watching them.
Great reaction, great film! To answer your question at 18:56 he didn’t burn it because she was standing in the line of fire, and would’ve gotten burned alive, too. That’s why he keeps yelling for her to “get out of the way!” But she’s frozen in terror, so instead of burning both her and the alien, he tries to attack it by hand in an effort to save her life. So the fact that they both die anyway is extra tragic.
The jaw within the jaw is a real thing to be seen in nature: Moray Eels have a secondary jaw at the back of their mouths which grabs onto prey once it's in the jaws, and pulls it back towards the throat; then they swallow the prey.
This feature is called a "pharyngeal jaw". There are a few animals that have it, though they're mostly fish (in fact, I think the only extant species with it are fish).
Hum...I once spotted a moray eel off of a small island in the Virgin Islands while free diving. I had enough sense to give it a wide berth. But, it wasn't aggressive even when I stumbled upon it. It was just chillin'. It did open it's mouth while looking at me. Enough of a warning for me.
He couldn't burn it. Lambert was in front of it, and they had a lot of canisters around. Good reaction to Sigourney's first real starring role (imagine seeing this for the first time in 1979 and having no idea who she was...)
@Tom Leander Tom Skerritt was a well known actor at the time, so killing him off early on was kind of a shock to people who assumed he was playing the hero.
A few tips to Seb. John Hurt and the Producer were the only ones to know EXACTLY what was going to happen, they kept the cast out of the loop. The Cast knew of the alien, they had seen it a few days prior, but no clue of the extent. At the time of filming, a few of the cast suspected, given the barrels of pigs blood and smells of Formaldehyde. The Chest burster scene, as I said, the crew didnt know EXACTLY what was going to happen, most of the crew reactions are *REAL* not acted. Veronica Cartright (Lambert) copped a stream of pigs blood to the face, her "OH MY GOD !!!!!!!!!" reaction was the actress, not acted, she slipped on some blood and ended up on the floor. Welcome to Cinema history.
Keep in mind, we had to wait from 1979 until 1986 to see if Ripley made it home... Suggest the directors cut for Aliens because it fills in more of the story..
Classic suspense. Loved this film. Ripley is a badass. The reason he didn’t fire the flamethrower is that Lambert was in the way. He would have torched her too. He said, move out of the way Lambert, but she was frozen so he moved and consequently got killed by it. Lambert was too scared to move and it killed her too. The robot was Ian Holm who played Bilbo Baggins. Such a good movie and a great cast. Watch Aliens, another classic.
Considering this movie was made in 1979, the special effects are incredible, and still hold up very well today. The absence of music for some scenes was a brilliant touch.
This was technically Sigourney Weaver’s second film. Her debut was in Annie Hall (1977), but it was a non-speaking role that only shown her from behind. She was 29 when alien was filmed.
Right on Seb. Although I'm still shocked to discover that some people haven't seen this, I'm confident such an astute observer as yourself will enjoy this. And remember the date: no CGI...
"Prometheus" is the prequel to this. Seb being suspicious of Ash was pretty perceptive. When the alien burst out of the chest, the director sprayed the actors with blood from a local slaughterhouse, without warning them it was going to happen, so their reactions were real. I kept expecting the cat to be carrying an alien.
Actually, the entire chest burster thing was a surprise to the cast. They were only supposed to hold him down, and the director didn't let them see what was going to happen, so the fact that his chest burst open was a genuine shock to everyone. I remember thinking the cat might have an alien in him too. That was in 1979 for me!
There's nothing better than watching reactions from the younger generations on amazing classic movies like Alien. It shows the Masterclass of filmmaking in comparison to today's standards.
Trivia about the chestburster scene: The actors knew, in theory, what was about to happen but had not been told any specifics. So, when Veronica Cartwright (Lambert) got splattered with blood in that scene, that was her _genuine_ reaction; plus, the blood was _not_ fake. In fact, a _lot_ of the most impactful moments in the film were the direct result in an enforcement of method acting; Cartwright actually _did_ slap Sigourney Weaver in the film. 13:57 Also, the cat's hiss was genuine. What the camera angle doesn't show is that after "action" was shouted, the covering on a cage with a German Shepherd in it was lifted, getting Jones to hiss.
I almost forgot to mention, out of the excellent cast, I think Lambert/Veronica Cartwright gave the best performance. She was the most realistic at conveying utter terrified near-hysteria. Like the scene where she was shrieking at Dallas, "It's coming towards you! MOVE! MOVE! GET OUT OF THERE!!!" Not to mention her beyond-horrified reaction during she and Parker's death scene. She felt so damned realistic!
An absolute masterclass in suspense, excellent camerawork, editing, sounds effects and music, fantastic Special Effects for the time (won the Movie an Academy Award in 1980) and the Production Design of both the _Nostromo_ and the Alien Vessel is one of the best ever concieved. One of those rare movies where just *everything* works to perfection. Now you just need to check out the Sequel, "Aliens". There is no alternative. :) Sad but kind of creepy sidenote: Most of the Actors who were in this Film have already passed away... in the exact order their Characters were killed in the Directors Cut of this Movie: John Hurt (Kane) died in January 2017, Harry Dean Stanton (Brett) in September 2017, Ian Holm (Ash) in 2020 and Yaphet Kotto (Parker) in 2021.
Everyone associated with this movie deserves a lot of credit, but I largely credit Jerry Goldsmith for his expert decision to use music very sparingly in this movie. Most of the film uses atmospheric noises and sounds, short sequences that really get the feeling of dread and loneliness flowing through you starting from the title sequence at the beginning. Of course Ridley Scott was at the top of his game here and the writing, acting and production quality was top notch all the way. The final 10 or 15 minutes of this movie from the self destruct activation onward is just perfect. Believe it or not, but an alternate ending that was briefly toyed around with was to have Ripley engage the alien like in this but the alien wins, killing her. He then climbs into the captain's chair, pushes some buttons on the console and calls out an SOS _in Captain Dallas' voice!_ This would have been a huge shocking ending, but memorable for sure. Both this and the direct sequel, Aliens, are 5 star movies but for different reasons. This one is an atmospheric slow-burn with suspense always lurking, whereas the sequel is a kick-ass action sci-fi movie with horror elements. If I had to give the edge to one over the other I'd have to go with the first one, but together they make one of the most satisfying pairs in all of cinema. None of the remaining sequels were ever able to hold a candle to these first two, IMO.
Perfect example of foreshadowing: around 3:52 when Dallas, Kane and Lambert are hiking to the alien ship, those rock formations in the background are roughly shaped like the alien. Your reaction was very funny & enthusiastic.
Great reaction. I predict the majority of subscribers will now hound you until you watch the sequel Aliens. Include me in that I guess because they’re not wrong, it’s rare that a sequel is as good,or better than the original especially since you’ve already seen the alien so you’d assume there are no scares or tension left but Aliens completely pulled it off. In fact it earned Sigpurney Weaver an Oscar nomination
From the Alien’s perspective, this movie is Die Hard. Although the crew acts gruffly towards each other, most of the deaths occur from their love for each other. They want to bring Kane onto the ship to the infirmary to help him. Dallas enters the vents to hunt the Alien to protect his crew. Parker leaves his hideout to try to save Lambert. Ripley puts her life in danger to save Jones.
I saw this in the theatre when I was 6. (I never had an issue with horror movies or nightmares as a kid, they’ve never bothered me) and all I wanted for Xmas that year was an Alien doll/figurine. I was so pissed when I didn’t get one.
Fantastic reaction! Looks like your next stop could be 'The Thing' (1982) - another completely terrifying classic filled with glorious practical effects.
Awww, I missed the premiere 😓 but this movie was so awesome with the practical effects! The cast and director did an amazing job and cemented this as one of the best horror films ever! Keep up the great work Seb! See you soon 😊
Let's not forget the rest of the stacked cast - Yaphet Kotto, John Hurt, Harry Dean Stanton... the cat... and of course the one-hit wonder, the man who played the titular Alien itself, Bolaji Badejo! Badejo's casting is a great story. A Lagosian student abroad, he was 'discovered' by a member of the Alien casting team in a London pub and cast for his unique proportions (6'10" / 2.08 m tall). This is his only film role.
Ayo bud, you mentioned in your Q&A that you're a gamer - there is a FANTASTIC game based on Alien called "Alien: Isolation" where you play as Ripley's daughter looking for evidence of the Nostromo, and you're stuck on a space station with the Alien. The Alien can't be killed, and will hunt you relentlessly, requiring you to hide under desks or in lockers and IT IS TERRIFYING but it's SOO good. It took me 3 attempts to work up the courage to finish it, you'd really like it. Cheers
I vote for Alien, for me it's the best survival horror of all time & to think no one fired a gun in this film, compared to Aliens which was a proper gun fest, the greatest Sequel ever maybe, it's a tough one, both classics, throw Terminator 1 & 2 into the mix. I just love sci fi.
The detail and realism put into the ship, especially the emergency destruct system is one of the reasons this movie is considered one of the best in its genre. It just seems realistic that they would make it not too easy but not too hard to activate it and require a lot of steps, like, ARE YOU _SURE_ you want to BLOW UP the ship?
Just found your channel about a month ago, and now I found your reaction to my favorite movie of all time - Awesome reaction! I love how invested you were. And honestly, this movie is simply a masterpiece. Everything from the set-design to the soundtrack and sound design is perfect. I would have loved to see this movie in the cinemas back when it came out, but I was born 16 too late for that xD Fun Fact: If you go back and watch the scene where Brett dies, when he's looking up in the "rain" and the camera pans up you can actually see the Alien hanging on a chain. I love how they put it there right in front of your eyes, but you don't notice the first time you watch it.
You're reactions were on point, even without the CGI effects you still were gripped by the environment and characters with the soundtrack keeping you on edge. Now, you did say " You like practical effects" ... well, I'd love to see your reaction to another classic, John Carpenters The Thing from 1982. The movie is without question one of the all time greats with great direction, cast, cinematography and an awesome score from Ennio Morricone. The creature design all practical were created by Rob Bottin and a small talented team, I can guarantee you is like nothing you've ever seen before. The 21 year old Rob Bottin worked so hard and was so dedicated to get the best creature design he would sleep on the set when he did sleep, and as a result he ended up in hospital with severe fatigue at the end of the shoot.
The bit where Ash does that running on the spot before sitting down to work the comms for the exploration team I have heard is his programming going wrong because he knows he is going against his own protocol/ethics. Not sure if that is true but I find it interesting nonetheless.
I say it is because most artificial persons do not go into the hypersleep cryopods, but Ash had to do so to pass as human. Thus, some of his joints may be stiff due to the low temperature of the pod and the months of inactivity. Thus, he does a little jog to try to get his joints working properly.
Oh hell yes - I was not anticipating this one! Been watching since Lord of the Rings and just realised I hadn't subscribed until now. Alien is one of my favourite films - a masterpiece in atmosphere and design - and I'm very hopeful you'll watch Aliens next. One of cinema's greatest sequels. (As a side note, did you realize that the actor who plays Ash, Sir Ian Holm, also played older Bilbo in the Hobbit & Lord of the Rings!)
Fun fact: Alien took inspiration from the 1975 Doctor Who story "Ark in Space." The director of Alien, Ridley Scott, was a massive Doctor Who fan and, at the start of his career, was even supposed to be the set designer for the 1963 episode "The Dead Planet" (ie The Daleks pt. 1). Since it was their first appearance, Scott was originally tasked with designing the Daleks but he ended up going to start his director training at a different studio instead. Yep- the Daleks were almost created by the director of Alien and the aliens in Alien were inspired by a Doctor Who alien!
My parents went to see this is 1979. They said right after the chestburster scene, many people got up and headed for the exits holding their mouths and stomachs.
H. R. Gieger designed the set and he designed an Alien bar which unfortunately closed but remember this is 1979. I remember seeing this for the first time being scared more from what I couldn't see than I could and that was 1980. Never been a movie to scare me as much. Also the only one to know what was happening at the table was John Hurt the others thought it was real until the end so the footage is their real response.
When you opened with, "Maybe it's not too jump-scare-y." I thought, oh buddy, this movie is just one long suspense-filled jump scare!!! Better get ready!! --- It was really fun re-watching it with you!
One of the best things that can be said about Alien is that the suspense is jacked-up so high, IT NEVER GETS EASIER TO WATCH! Every time I've seen this movie it ALWAYS turns my nervous system into a complete train wreck. Kudos for being one of the scariest movies of all time. Thumbs up to your review sir, as if I had to tell ya!
I saw it as part of a double-bill with _Aliens: Director’s Cut_ in a local Vue Cinema on 31st October 2014. Both looked and sounded fantastic on the big screen, with an audience, just as originally intended, and it being a double-bill meant that everyone who attended saw two films for the price of one.
On the DVD release there was a icon you could click on that would help you change the color and light settings to match how the director wanted to the film to look in the cinema, it was to accent the blue lights pulsing during the movie. If you then turned off all the lights in the house you could nearly recreate the cinema experience.
"Why didn't he burn it?!" Because Lambert was in the line of fire. Hence telling Lambert to "get out of the way Lambert" (but she as too terrified, as most of us would be!)
I a lot of the scenes the actors didn’t know what they were going to be reacting to, so their reactions are them naturally being startled! It was in the documentary about this movie and Aliens.
Funny fact: in Alien: Isolation, famous videogame made to carry on the story of Ripley's daughter, there's a scene where you can clearly hear a cat calling from some hidden place. As soon as you move in, you can also hear the cat being grabbed and probably killed by "something". It was a reference for Jonesy cat from original Alien movie.
Before a bunch of commenters tell you that the cast had no idea that the alien was going to pop out of Kane's chest, let me point out that this is a half-truth. The scene was in the script, obviously the real actor wasn't used for the chestburster, so they did know. What they didn't know was how the director was going to hose them with blood and actual animal entrails when it happened. Totally good point by Parker about the cat, too. We got our cat Oliver because it had gotten into my wife's workplace and was setting off the motion sensor alarm all night long.
No crappy CGI, yes the stomach alien is suss. But the rest is UNREA, especially for 45 years ago! Also Lambert was wearing shoes and pants. When Ripley found her, she was strung up, with bare legs.
Great to see your reaction to this amazing movie - it's a favourite of mine! Also, extra bonus points go to you for being unaware of the 'chest burster' scene - it's been so heavily referenced in pop culture that the surprise has been mostly lost, even for those watching the movie for the first time. I hope you watch 'Aliens' which is, in my opinion, one of those rarest of movies - a sequel that surpasses the original. Again, glad you enjoyed it and I hope to see more soon! :D
Another reactor, Nox So Subtle did a great job reacting to Alien too. Check her out. Also Reelin With Asia and BJ, and Alanda Parker. They each did incredible jobs reacting to it.
this film is to date a massive influence on my art style. the Artist HR Giger's work is both creepy yet beautiful to look at and you can definitely see it in this film. Fun Fact: The Chest Burster scene, when the actors looked in shock, that was their genuine reaction to it
This film is based on 'Planet of the Vampires' an Italian SF film of the early 1970s, and a 1950s American 'Creature Feature' starring Ray 'Crash' Corrigan as a monster terrorising the crew of a spaceship.
100% agree. There are some really key moments cut from the theatrical release that remain in the Director's Cut (or Extended Cut) that provide crucial information or really add to the tension. Why they were even cut is honestly dumbfounding. Pacing, I guess?
Saw this at the cinema on release. Imagine 200+ people all screaming at the same time for the "chest-burster" scene. We were scaring people in the other cinemas at the multi-screen!!
2:34 Music by Academy Award Winner (and 18 prior nominations) Jerry Goldsmith. Leave it to my brother across the pond to acknowledge this musical masterpiece.
I dare say the reason the cat was there is the reason they are on all ships, rats. In the book they tell you the hunt was over a few days while they made the weapons and at one point, they discover it had been nesting in the food store which was how it grew so fast.
You say you didn't predict anything, but for someone that had no knowledge of the film or the franchise, you were remarkably insightful. You knew going into the ship was a bad idea, you clocked there being something off about Ash right away, within seconds of the chestburster scene you recalled the dead alien on the derelict ship seemed to've died of a similar injury...
There's a prevailing theory that the Xenomorphs are actually blind, since they have no eyes. That they hunt using a combination of temperature and a sort of echo location. But that's a fandom thing.
I love your reaction! I saw it when it originally came out in 1979 (I was 22 - yes I'm old). Back then there weren't like 10 movies out at the same time and we hadn't seen anything like this. You can see the original trailer that we saw on TV back then - it's really good. I went to see the movie with my boyfriend at the time and I was terrified as soon as the credits started rolling. There was some major screaming going on in that theater!
Yes! Great to see how much you picked up on with thinking Ash had an ulterior motive. I look forward to your reaction to Aliens - it's more of an action horror but it totally set the bar for fantastic sequels (along with Terminator 2). It will be interesting to see which one you like better though you will definitely enjoy them both.
You should watch some of the behind-the-scenes stuff that went into making this movie Like using kids in space suits to make some of the alien ship sets look BIGGER. Or the creators deciding how the alien could get on the ship during the writing of the script. Then one of them came up with the idea where he literally said, "What if the alien f**ked one of them." That idea gave birth to the chestburster. Ironically, the thing the worried them the most was filming the chestburster scene. The actors really didn't have an idea what was about to happen (their reactions were real) but the creators were scared that if this scene came across stupid or silly, then the movie was dead in the water.
I saw this on HBO back in 1980 and it scared me big time. I was afraid to go out in the dark for a while. Great practical effects and yes, the musical score was great. Composed by the legendary Jerry Goldsmith who scored the music for so many classic movies (over 250). John Williams (Star Wars, Indy Jones) was also legendary during that time period. Sigorney Weaver knocked it out of the ballpark in her debut performance. Yes, that alien ship is like the one you saw in Prometheus. CGI wasn't in full use until about 1997. Great reaction.😄😄👍👍💥
I’ve always been so curious as to how people back in ‘79, when they went into the theater to watch Alien for the very first time, reacted to the iconic chest burster scene. or even the film in general, I would say. absolutely haunted me when I first saw it as a kid 😆
I like this reaction a lot, particularly that you watched without knowing about the chest bursting aspect of the aliens. It funnest to watch a reaction from a viewer whose totally fresh to the material.
I don't think it's been mentioned or theorized in your comments yet, so: what I always believed to be the reason Alien didn't kill the cat when Ripley left it on the floor in the carrier was that she was previously/obviously going through and around the entrance to the shuttle, and though the Alien wouldn't know what a shuttle is, it might understand an instinct to hole up/bunker/find a den or cave to block the entrance to in order to keep it out. It's also seen the crew look for/be distracted by the cat before. Thus, the cat is bait. The Alien knew she would return for the kennel if it left the cat alone. Ripley left the door to the shuttle open behind her while she went to get it, giving the Alien the opportunity to slip into the shuttle to hide.
Not sure you still read comments on old reactions considering the size of the channel, but as an avid sci-fi horror aficionado, I’d like to offer some interesting trivia about the film, which I hadn’t seen mentioned here. Apologies if this has been said already This film is a masterclass of cinematography, as well as directing. Despite coming out nearly half a century ago now, it is still studied meticulously by film students due to the nearly perfect production. For example, the breakfast scene with the first chestburster is one of the most iconic scenes in sci fi. Why? Because it’s organic. Ridley Scott had kept the cameras rolling all night. They had been shooting for nearly 24 hours straight, and that scene wasn’t a spit take. The actors were really eating, in character, on set, because they hadn’t eaten all night. That was breakfast, and the chemistry that perforated the atmosphere between them was the kind you can only get from slaving tirelessly together without sleep, and eating together at a new sunrise. Or the alien. You may already know the alien ships and Xenomorph were designed by the famous artist H.R. Geiger, and his iconic art style proceeded to echo throughout pop culture for decades, and through other mediums. You can see it in the likes of games like Metroid and Contra, even. What you may not know is that the cast wasn’t allowed to see the alien suit or the actor who was in it before the shoot. Scott wanted a genuine, candid response, again, so he hired an actor who was freakishly large (around 7 feet tall if memory serves) and hid the suit from them until the reveal scene. So that scene in the room with the chains and the water, where he turns around and sees the alien, that look of shock and awe is a real one. That was his first time seeing what he was meant to fear The result is one of the most iconic films in the history of the industry, etched into the minds of the populace for posterity. All this is to say nothing about the impeccable sound design, or now infamous tagline from the supremely vague trailer, “in space, no one can hear you scream” Not to be cliche, but the truth is, films truly aren’t made like this anymore. It’s all flash, no substance. We can rely on things like production value, CG, and makeup, and so many classic elements such as practical effects have fallen to the wayside. Many people rely on streaming platforms as well, whereas older films made much of their revenue on physical sales, like dvds and VHS tapes. This has altered the formula for what modern filmmakers prioritize colossally. If you want to see another film which utilizes practical effects to nearly as superb a degree as this one, check out Event Horizon if you haven’t already. More sci fi horror, this time from the 90s, about the first deep space warp drive ship gone missing Glad you enjoyed this film. It’s one of my all-time favorites, a genuine timeless classic, and one I will never tire of rewatching. Your excellent and honest reactions only serve to elevate the experience. Definitely earned a sub from me
How I wish I could put you in a time machine and take you back to opening day 1979. I was at the last showing on opening day with no idea what this movie was about other than it was a Sci Fi movie. When the BIG SCENE happened 55 minutes into the film, nobody in the theater knew it was coming. I don't remember screaming as much as many yelps, but I DO know my eyes were as wide as saucers and my jaw had hit the floor. I still think this is one of the biggest shocks I ever got in a movie. Keep in mind that except for Tom Skeritt, nobody else in the cast were particularly well known - this was Sigourney Weaver's first movie, so nobody knew she would end up being the hero of the piece. BTW, I'm so glad I saw the movie on opening day - which was a Friday of course - but by Sunday, it seemed like EVERYBODY knew about the BIG SCENE, thereby missing out on the shock value. But hey, I didn't. Hehehe. Anyways, it was fun to watch you react.
I was 9. I was ALLLL about STAR WARS at the time so the sci-fi had me interested, but I was too young to see it. My older sister (14) went and saw it on July 4th. She hated crowds and the movie was constantly selling out, so her and a couple older friends saw it that night knowing most people would be enjoying fireworks. After seeing it I wanted to know all about it! She told me there was almost no one in the theater (as they hoped) and that the movie was sooo scary and intense. I saw it on VHS years later. It remains one of my all time favorite movies!!
I just stumbled onto your channel. Wonderful reaction to one of my favorite movies. I saw this in the theater because a guy in school said it was like Star Wars. I nearly shit myself. I’d never seen a scary movie before and it is decidedly NOTHING like Star Wars. Ever since, the Nostromo is my go to nightmare. I can’t count how many times I’ve woke up in a cold sweat all these years later. {grin}. I really wish you had seen the directors cut. There’s one particularly gruesome scene where she finds what the alien was doing with the crew.
Only the first two Alien movies have guys in suits playing the aliens. Alien 3 had a full size head for closeups, but the full body shots were done with a puppet keyed into the shot. From Alien Resurrection on, they used a mix of CGI and animatronic aliens.
imagine this: in 1977, Star Wars had been released and made film making history. just 2 years later, in 1979, people begin seeing trailers for another sci-fi film, with nothing but an egg with a crack in it with eerie green light spilling out of it, the title, "ALIEN" slowly spelled out, and the phrase, "In space, no one can hear you scream..."
there were NO spoilers. no one knew what it was about, who was playing in it, no ship shots, no clips from the movie at all. everyone went to the theater completely blind to the story.
imagine the effect it had on the viewers, seeing on the big screen...
It was a great decade for movie goers. I remember seeing Alien in 1979 in a traditional single-screen theater packed to the rafters, including the balcony. People lined up around the block at the box office to see it when it opened, as they previously had for another ground-breaking scary '70s film--The Exorcist. Although these films remain masterpieces, it IS hard to convey the visceral impact these movies originally had on the public, in large crowded theaters, before audiences had become jaded by the countless derivative films that came after. You really did have to be there!
@@jaysverrisson1536 that's amazing :) I'm younger but I hope to tell people in 20 years what it was like to watch Bladerunner 2049 at the cinemas.
It was the first movie I saw, as a 17 year old and stoned..... emotional damage
You are the FIRST person I've seen reacting to this movie who was able to figure out that Ash was a robot before Parker says it out loud. Pretty impressive.
I really like it when a reactor is really invested and paying attention in a movie. And not overacting. He asks the right questions, says the right things at the right time, and gets the genre. It's really fun watching him. I mean, it's really fun. I laugh at him that he's so excited to watch a movie. That's just cool. Nice work!
Bilbo is mean in this movie.
he is fake, you think he lived under a rock and had no idea what the movie was about?
@@johnmonk66it's not that surprising that lots of people haven't seen these movies. It's not within the realm of possibility that he could have never seen it before now?
@@mitsukitai2713 I don't think so, he never saw any popular movie in his life but now sees them all? It's a money grab. All these reactors are doing this for money.
@@johnmonk66 I'm pretty cynical myself but I really do think he just hasn't seen these movies. It's more common than you think. I know a LOT of people personally my age (30s)who haven't seen even a few of the Marvel movies and who are just now watching them.
This film still slaps so hard 40 years later. It looks and sounds fantastic.
Great reaction, great film! To answer your question at 18:56 he didn’t burn it because she was standing in the line of fire, and would’ve gotten burned alive, too. That’s why he keeps yelling for her to “get out of the way!” But she’s frozen in terror, so instead of burning both her and the alien, he tries to attack it by hand in an effort to save her life. So the fact that they both die anyway is extra tragic.
"This is WAR Peacock! Casualties are inevitable. You cannot make an omelet without breaking eggs."
@@Aeroldoth3another great movie with a phenomenal cast!
The jaw within the jaw is a real thing to be seen in nature: Moray Eels have a secondary jaw at the back of their mouths which grabs onto prey once it's in the jaws, and pulls it back towards the throat; then they swallow the prey.
😫😫😫
This feature is called a "pharyngeal jaw". There are a few animals that have it, though they're mostly fish (in fact, I think the only extant species with it are fish).
Nature be freaky!
I did not know that until reading your comment + a quick Google search
Hum...I once spotted a moray eel off of a small island in the Virgin Islands while free diving. I had enough sense to give it a wide berth. But, it wasn't aggressive even when I stumbled upon it. It was just chillin'. It did open it's mouth while looking at me. Enough of a warning for me.
He couldn't burn it. Lambert was in front of it, and they had a lot of canisters around.
Good reaction to Sigourney's first real starring role (imagine seeing this for the first time in 1979 and having no idea who she was...)
@Tom Leander Tom Skerritt was a well known actor at the time, so killing him off early on was kind of a shock to people who assumed he was playing the hero.
A few tips to Seb.
John Hurt and the Producer were the only ones to know EXACTLY what was going to happen, they kept the cast out of the loop. The Cast knew of the alien, they had seen it a few days prior, but no clue of the extent. At the time of filming, a few of the cast suspected, given the barrels of pigs blood and smells of Formaldehyde.
The Chest burster scene, as I said, the crew didnt know EXACTLY what was going to happen, most of the crew reactions are *REAL* not acted.
Veronica Cartright (Lambert) copped a stream of pigs blood to the face, her "OH MY GOD !!!!!!!!!" reaction was the actress, not acted, she slipped on some blood and ended up on the floor.
Welcome to Cinema history.
Keep in mind, we had to wait from 1979 until 1986 to see if Ripley made it home... Suggest the directors cut for Aliens because it fills in more of the story..
The alien jazz hands gets people every time. The self destruct audio makes for a great alarm tone on phone. You get up real quick.
Classic suspense. Loved this film. Ripley is a badass. The reason he didn’t fire the flamethrower is that Lambert was in the way. He would have torched her too. He said, move out of the way Lambert, but she was frozen so he moved and consequently got killed by it. Lambert was too scared to move and it killed her too. The robot was Ian Holm who played Bilbo Baggins. Such a good movie and a great cast. Watch Aliens, another classic.
Considering this movie was made in 1979, the special effects are incredible, and still hold up very well today. The absence of music for some scenes was a brilliant touch.
One of the best reactions I’ve seen. No unnecessary yelling or interrupting. Logical questions! Keep it up!
Your reaction to the chest burster was amazing! Imagine a sold out movie theater in the late 1970's the audience went insane!!
This was technically Sigourney Weaver’s second film. Her debut was in Annie Hall (1977), but it was a non-speaking role that only shown her from behind. She was 29 when alien was filmed.
"Did I miss a step? Why is he huge?"
I thought the same thing when I first saw this movie.
Right on Seb. Although I'm still shocked to discover that some people haven't seen this, I'm confident such an astute observer as yourself will enjoy this. And remember the date: no CGI...
Some people STILL haven't watched Jaws.
"Prometheus" is the prequel to this.
Seb being suspicious of Ash was pretty perceptive.
When the alien burst out of the chest, the director sprayed the actors with blood from a local slaughterhouse, without warning them it was going to happen, so their reactions were real.
I kept expecting the cat to be carrying an alien.
Cat: OH HAI I BROT YOU A PRESSINT! 😸
Prometheus is rubbish. Don't bother.
Actually, the entire chest burster thing was a surprise to the cast. They were only supposed to hold him down, and the director didn't let them see what was going to happen, so the fact that his chest burst open was a genuine shock to everyone.
I remember thinking the cat might have an alien in him too. That was in 1979 for me!
There's nothing better than watching reactions from the younger generations on amazing classic movies like Alien. It shows the Masterclass of filmmaking in comparison to today's standards.
Trivia about the chestburster scene: The actors knew, in theory, what was about to happen but had not been told any specifics. So, when Veronica Cartwright (Lambert) got splattered with blood in that scene, that was her _genuine_ reaction; plus, the blood was _not_ fake.
In fact, a _lot_ of the most impactful moments in the film were the direct result in an enforcement of method acting; Cartwright actually _did_ slap Sigourney Weaver in the film.
13:57 Also, the cat's hiss was genuine. What the camera angle doesn't show is that after "action" was shouted, the covering on a cage with a German Shepherd in it was lifted, getting Jones to hiss.
I almost forgot to mention, out of the excellent cast, I think Lambert/Veronica Cartwright gave the best performance. She was the most realistic at conveying utter terrified near-hysteria. Like the scene where she was shrieking at Dallas, "It's coming towards you! MOVE! MOVE! GET OUT OF THERE!!!" Not to mention her beyond-horrified reaction during she and Parker's death scene. She felt so damned realistic!
An absolute masterclass in suspense, excellent camerawork, editing, sounds effects and music, fantastic Special Effects for the time (won the Movie an Academy Award in 1980) and the Production Design of both the _Nostromo_ and the Alien Vessel is one of the best ever concieved. One of those rare movies where just *everything* works to perfection.
Now you just need to check out the Sequel, "Aliens". There is no alternative. :)
Sad but kind of creepy sidenote: Most of the Actors who were in this Film have already passed away... in the exact order their Characters were killed in the Directors Cut of this Movie: John Hurt (Kane) died in January 2017, Harry Dean Stanton (Brett) in September 2017, Ian Holm (Ash) in 2020 and Yaphet Kotto (Parker) in 2021.
Oh damn. That’s just ☹️
If the curse of the film is true, I guess Sigourney is going to live forever.
Also add composer Jerry Goldsmith who did the music for the film, passed away in 2004 too.
“He’s fine now”😀
Followed by one of the greatest scenes in movie making!
Everyone associated with this movie deserves a lot of credit, but I largely credit Jerry Goldsmith for his expert decision to use music very sparingly in this movie. Most of the film uses atmospheric noises and sounds, short sequences that really get the feeling of dread and loneliness flowing through you starting from the title sequence at the beginning. Of course Ridley Scott was at the top of his game here and the writing, acting and production quality was top notch all the way. The final 10 or 15 minutes of this movie from the self destruct activation onward is just perfect. Believe it or not, but an alternate ending that was briefly toyed around with was to have Ripley engage the alien like in this but the alien wins, killing her. He then climbs into the captain's chair, pushes some buttons on the console and calls out an SOS _in Captain Dallas' voice!_ This would have been a huge shocking ending, but memorable for sure.
Both this and the direct sequel, Aliens, are 5 star movies but for different reasons. This one is an atmospheric slow-burn with suspense always lurking, whereas the sequel is a kick-ass action sci-fi movie with horror elements. If I had to give the edge to one over the other I'd have to go with the first one, but together they make one of the most satisfying pairs in all of cinema. None of the remaining sequels were ever able to hold a candle to these first two, IMO.
Perfect example of foreshadowing: around 3:52 when Dallas, Kane and Lambert are hiking to the alien ship, those rock formations in the background are roughly shaped like the alien. Your reaction was very funny & enthusiastic.
Great reaction. I predict the majority of subscribers will now hound you until you watch the sequel Aliens. Include me in that I guess because they’re not wrong, it’s rare that a sequel is as good,or better than the original especially since you’ve already seen the alien so you’d assume there are no scares or tension left but Aliens completely pulled it off. In fact it earned Sigpurney Weaver an Oscar nomination
In a way, Aliens is not a sequel. It's a genre switch. Action movie goes hella wrong.
From the Alien’s perspective, this movie is Die Hard. Although the crew acts gruffly towards each other, most of the deaths occur from their love for each other. They want to bring Kane onto the ship to the infirmary to help him. Dallas enters the vents to hunt the Alien to protect his crew. Parker leaves his hideout to try to save Lambert. Ripley puts her life in danger to save Jones.
Errrrrr, no.
A 70s film and it’s still hailed as one of the scariest
Can’t wait for you to see Aliens. Greatest sequel besides terminator 2
I saw this in the theatre when I was 6. (I never had an issue with horror movies or nightmares as a kid, they’ve never bothered me) and all I wanted for Xmas that year was an Alien doll/figurine. I was so pissed when I didn’t get one.
Fantastic reaction!
Looks like your next stop could be 'The Thing' (1982) - another completely terrifying classic filled with glorious practical effects.
Very weird seeing Bilbo Baggins as a robot… in space! Loved the reaction, that one jump scare nearly gave me a heart attack 😂
I grew up with Alien so it was weird for me to see Ash as a hobbit.
@@emilywilhite5807and as the priest in 5th element :)
All practical FX, all real sets. Real movie making
Awww, I missed the premiere 😓 but this movie was so awesome with the practical effects! The cast and director did an amazing job and cemented this as one of the best horror films ever! Keep up the great work Seb! See you soon 😊
Yeah they really did! Makes modern horrors look very lazy. Thanks Flare see you soon too :)
This is a jump scare fest from one of the masters of jump scares. Iam Holm, Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt deliver.
Let's not forget the rest of the stacked cast - Yaphet Kotto, John Hurt, Harry Dean Stanton... the cat... and of course the one-hit wonder, the man who played the titular Alien itself, Bolaji Badejo!
Badejo's casting is a great story. A Lagosian student abroad, he was 'discovered' by a member of the Alien casting team in a London pub and cast for his unique proportions (6'10" / 2.08 m tall). This is his only film role.
The perfect organism would mature insanely quickly. It's also great that they showed Ash fighting against the classic laws of robotics.
Ayo bud, you mentioned in your Q&A that you're a gamer - there is a FANTASTIC game based on Alien called "Alien: Isolation" where you play as Ripley's daughter looking for evidence of the Nostromo, and you're stuck on a space station with the Alien. The Alien can't be killed, and will hunt you relentlessly, requiring you to hide under desks or in lockers and IT IS TERRIFYING but it's SOO good. It took me 3 attempts to work up the courage to finish it, you'd really like it. Cheers
There’s an ongoing debate about whether or not the sequel is even better if you can believe that. ‘Aliens’ must be next! 👏👏👏
One of my favorite horror movies
@@the-NightStar It's not better - it's different.
Sequel is better at what it is (as they're very different movies, as in, different categories altogether).
Aliens is a must!!!!!!
I vote for Alien, for me it's the best survival horror of all time & to think no one fired a gun in this film, compared to Aliens which was a proper gun fest, the greatest Sequel ever maybe, it's a tough one, both classics, throw Terminator 1 & 2 into the mix. I just love sci fi.
The detail and realism put into the ship, especially the emergency destruct system is one of the reasons this movie is considered one of the best in its genre. It just seems realistic that they would make it not too easy but not too hard to activate it and require a lot of steps, like, ARE YOU _SURE_ you want to BLOW UP the ship?
Just found your channel about a month ago, and now I found your reaction to my favorite movie of all time - Awesome reaction! I love how invested you were.
And honestly, this movie is simply a masterpiece. Everything from the set-design to the soundtrack and sound design is perfect. I would have loved to see this movie in the cinemas back when it came out, but I was born 16 too late for that xD
Fun Fact: If you go back and watch the scene where Brett dies, when he's looking up in the "rain" and the camera pans up you can actually see the Alien hanging on a chain. I love how they put it there right in front of your eyes, but you don't notice the first time you watch it.
You're reactions were on point, even without the CGI effects you still were gripped by the environment and characters with the soundtrack keeping you on edge.
Now, you did say " You like practical effects" ... well, I'd love to see your reaction to another classic, John Carpenters The Thing from 1982. The movie is without question one of the all time greats with great direction, cast, cinematography and an awesome score from Ennio Morricone. The creature design all practical were created by Rob Bottin and a small talented team, I can guarantee you is like nothing you've ever seen before. The 21 year old Rob Bottin worked so hard and was so dedicated to get the best creature design he would sleep on the set when he did sleep, and as a result he ended up in hospital with severe fatigue at the end of the shoot.
The bit where Ash does that running on the spot before sitting down to work the comms for the exploration team I have heard is his programming going wrong because he knows he is going against his own protocol/ethics. Not sure if that is true but I find it interesting nonetheless.
I say it is because most artificial persons do not go into the hypersleep cryopods, but Ash had to do so to pass as human. Thus, some of his joints may be stiff due to the low temperature of the pod and the months of inactivity. Thus, he does a little jog to try to get his joints working properly.
For how old this one is it really holds up well. Even the effects are good
I wish they'd use more of these effects these days.
"The egg chooses the crew member, Mr Potter"
Why did Ash open the door for the alien? Because it is Precious.. to the corporation 🎥 💓 🍿
Why was Ripley blocking their entry? Because she is the gate-keeper
Oh hell yes - I was not anticipating this one! Been watching since Lord of the Rings and just realised I hadn't subscribed until now.
Alien is one of my favourite films - a masterpiece in atmosphere and design - and I'm very hopeful you'll watch Aliens next. One of cinema's greatest sequels.
(As a side note, did you realize that the actor who plays Ash, Sir Ian Holm, also played older Bilbo in the Hobbit & Lord of the Rings!)
Fun fact: Alien took inspiration from the 1975 Doctor Who story "Ark in Space." The director of Alien, Ridley Scott, was a massive Doctor Who fan and, at the start of his career, was even supposed to be the set designer for the 1963 episode "The Dead Planet" (ie The Daleks pt. 1). Since it was their first appearance, Scott was originally tasked with designing the Daleks but he ended up going to start his director training at a different studio instead. Yep- the Daleks were almost created by the director of Alien and the aliens in Alien were inspired by a Doctor Who alien!
My parents went to see this is 1979. They said right after the chestburster scene, many people got up and headed for the exits holding their mouths and stomachs.
0:04 he wants a hug
It has been forever since I seen Alien. Brings back memories of seeing it in the early to mid 90's at home. Thanks man for movie reaction!
H. R. Gieger designed the set and he designed an Alien bar which unfortunately closed but remember this is 1979. I remember seeing this for the first time being scared more from what I couldn't see than I could and that was 1980. Never been a movie to scare me as much. Also the only one to know what was happening at the table was John Hurt the others thought it was real until the end so the footage is their real response.
First video of yours I've seen, such a great reaction! And 100% agree with you about preferring live-action and prosthetics to CGI
When you opened with, "Maybe it's not too jump-scare-y." I thought, oh buddy, this movie is just one long suspense-filled jump scare!!! Better get ready!! --- It was really fun re-watching it with you!
One of the best things that can be said about Alien is that the suspense is jacked-up so high, IT NEVER GETS EASIER TO WATCH! Every time I've seen this movie it ALWAYS turns my nervous system into a complete train wreck. Kudos for being one of the scariest movies of all time. Thumbs up to your review sir, as if I had to tell ya!
The sequel, Aliens, is fantastic, as well. It’s more of an action film, but has excellent acting, a tight plot, and an incredible ending.
Seeing this in theater for the 40th anniversary was one of the highlights of 2019 for me. Great reaction!
I saw it as part of a double-bill with _Aliens: Director’s Cut_ in a local Vue Cinema on 31st October 2014. Both looked and sounded fantastic on the big screen, with an audience, just as originally intended, and it being a double-bill meant that everyone who attended saw two films for the price of one.
On the DVD release there was a icon you could click on that would help you change the color and light settings to match how the director wanted to the film to look in the cinema, it was to accent the blue lights pulsing during the movie. If you then turned off all the lights in the house you could nearly recreate the cinema experience.
"Why didn't he burn it?!"
Because Lambert was in the line of fire. Hence telling Lambert to "get out of the way Lambert" (but she as too terrified, as most of us would be!)
I loved watching this reaction. Seb + Horror = great content 😂😂
😂😱
I a lot of the scenes the actors didn’t know what they were going to be reacting to, so their reactions are them naturally being startled! It was in the documentary about this movie and Aliens.
Funny fact: in Alien: Isolation, famous videogame made to carry on the story of Ripley's daughter, there's a scene where you can clearly hear a cat calling from some hidden place.
As soon as you move in, you can also hear the cat being grabbed and probably killed by "something".
It was a reference for Jonesy cat from original Alien movie.
Before a bunch of commenters tell you that the cast had no idea that the alien was going to pop out of Kane's chest, let me point out that this is a half-truth. The scene was in the script, obviously the real actor wasn't used for the chestburster, so they did know. What they didn't know was how the director was going to hose them with blood and actual animal entrails when it happened.
Totally good point by Parker about the cat, too. We got our cat Oliver because it had gotten into my wife's workplace and was setting off the motion sensor alarm all night long.
No crappy CGI, yes the stomach alien is suss. But the rest is UNREA, especially for 45 years ago! Also Lambert was wearing shoes and pants. When Ripley found her, she was strung up, with bare legs.
I've been watching these movies since I was 6 years old and the Xenomorph has to be my all time favourite alien species.
What’s it say about us subscribers when we love to either see you cry or see you scared …..? 😂🤣
You are all EVIL!
@@SebScreen mwhahahahaha (that’s my evil laugh) 😉
@@SebScreen *Voldemort laugh*
@@glennvp7 damn it! Why didn’t I think of that. 🙈🤣😂
Great to see your reaction to this amazing movie - it's a favourite of mine! Also, extra bonus points go to you for being unaware of the 'chest burster' scene - it's been so heavily referenced in pop culture that the surprise has been mostly lost, even for those watching the movie for the first time.
I hope you watch 'Aliens' which is, in my opinion, one of those rarest of movies - a sequel that surpasses the original.
Again, glad you enjoyed it and I hope to see more soon! :D
Another reactor, Nox So Subtle did a great job reacting to Alien too. Check her out. Also Reelin With Asia and BJ, and Alanda Parker. They each did incredible jobs reacting to it.
this film is to date a massive influence on my art style. the Artist HR Giger's work is both creepy yet beautiful to look at and you can definitely see it in this film.
Fun Fact: The Chest Burster scene, when the actors looked in shock, that was their genuine reaction to it
22:08 As she's running onto the shuttle, if you look carefully, the camera passes right over it- and it's there, all right.
the jump scares in this were ICONIC !!!!
This film is based on 'Planet of the Vampires' an Italian SF film of the early 1970s, and a 1950s American 'Creature Feature' starring Ray 'Crash' Corrigan as a monster terrorising the crew of a spaceship.
Don't forget to watch the "extented cut" for ALIENS ^^
Nah. Watch the theatrical release. The extended cut ruins all the suspense with unnecessary exposition.
100% agree. There are some really key moments cut from the theatrical release that remain in the Director's Cut (or Extended Cut) that provide crucial information or really add to the tension. Why they were even cut is honestly dumbfounding. Pacing, I guess?
Oh, in that last scene, Xenomorph just lay because he knew the shuttle is too tiny and Ripley can't hide. So he just takes his time.
Saw this at the cinema on release. Imagine 200+ people all screaming at the same time for the "chest-burster" scene. We were scaring people in the other cinemas at the multi-screen!!
An Absolute MASTERPIECE....So is James Cameron's Sequal. Your in for a treat bro.
2:34 Music by Academy Award Winner (and 18 prior nominations) Jerry Goldsmith. Leave it to my brother across the pond to acknowledge this musical masterpiece.
I love the alien franchise and the predator franchise
I haven't seen this movie in awhile.
It's definitely a horror classic!
Looking forward to watching this reaction. 😊
I dare say the reason the cat was there is the reason they are on all ships, rats. In the book they tell you the hunt was over a few days while they made the weapons and at one point, they discover it had been nesting in the food store which was how it grew so fast.
You say you didn't predict anything, but for someone that had no knowledge of the film or the franchise, you were remarkably insightful. You knew going into the ship was a bad idea, you clocked there being something off about Ash right away, within seconds of the chestburster scene you recalled the dead alien on the derelict ship seemed to've died of a similar injury...
There's a prevailing theory that the Xenomorphs are actually blind, since they have no eyes. That they hunt using a combination of temperature and a sort of echo location. But that's a fandom thing.
One of my favorite thriller/horror films. Great reaction and I’m sending you positive vibes from Florida.
I love your reaction! I saw it when it originally came out in 1979 (I was 22 - yes I'm old). Back then there weren't like 10 movies out at the same time and we hadn't seen anything like this. You can see the original trailer that we saw on TV back then - it's really good. I went to see the movie with my boyfriend at the time and I was terrified as soon as the credits started rolling. There was some major screaming going on in that theater!
Yes! Great to see how much you picked up on with thinking Ash had an ulterior motive. I look forward to your reaction to Aliens - it's more of an action horror but it totally set the bar for fantastic sequels (along with Terminator 2). It will be interesting to see which one you like better though you will definitely enjoy them both.
I saw this in the theater when I was 13, in 1979. I didn't know what Horror really was before this.
You should watch some of the behind-the-scenes stuff that went into making this movie Like using kids in space suits to make some of the alien ship sets look BIGGER. Or the creators deciding how the alien could get on the ship during the writing of the script. Then one of them came up with the idea where he literally said, "What if the alien f**ked one of them." That idea gave birth to the chestburster. Ironically, the thing the worried them the most was filming the chestburster scene. The actors really didn't have an idea what was about to happen (their reactions were real) but the creators were scared that if this scene came across stupid or silly, then the movie was dead in the water.
I saw this in a large theatre when it was first out. I actually stood up and yelled "Piss on the cat, get outta there" Could not help myself
Loved your reaction to this classic. Can't wait for you to react to the sequel "Aliens".
I saw this on HBO back in 1980 and it scared me big time. I was afraid to go out in the dark for a while. Great practical effects and yes, the musical score was great. Composed by the legendary Jerry Goldsmith who scored the music for so many classic movies (over 250). John Williams (Star Wars, Indy Jones) was also legendary during that time period. Sigorney Weaver knocked it out of the ballpark in her debut performance. Yes, that alien ship is like the one you saw in Prometheus. CGI wasn't in full use until about 1997. Great reaction.😄😄👍👍💥
I’ve always been so curious as to how people back in ‘79, when they went into the theater to watch Alien for the very first time, reacted to the iconic chest burster scene. or even the film in general, I would say. absolutely haunted me when I first saw it as a kid 😆
I like this reaction a lot, particularly that you watched without knowing about the chest bursting aspect of the aliens. It funnest to watch a reaction from a viewer whose totally fresh to the material.
I don't think it's been mentioned or theorized in your comments yet, so: what I always believed to be the reason Alien didn't kill the cat when Ripley left it on the floor in the carrier was that she was previously/obviously going through and around the entrance to the shuttle, and though the Alien wouldn't know what a shuttle is, it might understand an instinct to hole up/bunker/find a den or cave to block the entrance to in order to keep it out. It's also seen the crew look for/be distracted by the cat before. Thus, the cat is bait. The Alien knew she would return for the kennel if it left the cat alone. Ripley left the door to the shuttle open behind her while she went to get it, giving the Alien the opportunity to slip into the shuttle to hide.
Not sure you still read comments on old reactions considering the size of the channel, but as an avid sci-fi horror aficionado, I’d like to offer some interesting trivia about the film, which I hadn’t seen mentioned here. Apologies if this has been said already
This film is a masterclass of cinematography, as well as directing. Despite coming out nearly half a century ago now, it is still studied meticulously by film students due to the nearly perfect production. For example, the breakfast scene with the first chestburster is one of the most iconic scenes in sci fi. Why? Because it’s organic. Ridley Scott had kept the cameras rolling all night. They had been shooting for nearly 24 hours straight, and that scene wasn’t a spit take. The actors were really eating, in character, on set, because they hadn’t eaten all night. That was breakfast, and the chemistry that perforated the atmosphere between them was the kind you can only get from slaving tirelessly together without sleep, and eating together at a new sunrise.
Or the alien. You may already know the alien ships and Xenomorph were designed by the famous artist H.R. Geiger, and his iconic art style proceeded to echo throughout pop culture for decades, and through other mediums. You can see it in the likes of games like Metroid and Contra, even. What you may not know is that the cast wasn’t allowed to see the alien suit or the actor who was in it before the shoot. Scott wanted a genuine, candid response, again, so he hired an actor who was freakishly large (around 7 feet tall if memory serves) and hid the suit from them until the reveal scene. So that scene in the room with the chains and the water, where he turns around and sees the alien, that look of shock and awe is a real one. That was his first time seeing what he was meant to fear
The result is one of the most iconic films in the history of the industry, etched into the minds of the populace for posterity. All this is to say nothing about the impeccable sound design, or now infamous tagline from the supremely vague trailer, “in space, no one can hear you scream”
Not to be cliche, but the truth is, films truly aren’t made like this anymore. It’s all flash, no substance. We can rely on things like production value, CG, and makeup, and so many classic elements such as practical effects have fallen to the wayside. Many people rely on streaming platforms as well, whereas older films made much of their revenue on physical sales, like dvds and VHS tapes. This has altered the formula for what modern filmmakers prioritize colossally. If you want to see another film which utilizes practical effects to nearly as superb a degree as this one, check out Event Horizon if you haven’t already. More sci fi horror, this time from the 90s, about the first deep space warp drive ship gone missing
Glad you enjoyed this film. It’s one of my all-time favorites, a genuine timeless classic, and one I will never tire of rewatching. Your excellent and honest reactions only serve to elevate the experience. Definitely earned a sub from me
How I wish I could put you in a time machine and take you back to opening day 1979. I was at the last showing on opening day with no idea what this movie was about other than it was a Sci Fi movie. When the BIG SCENE happened 55 minutes into the film, nobody in the theater knew it was coming. I don't remember screaming as much as many yelps, but I DO know my eyes were as wide as saucers and my jaw had hit the floor. I still think this is one of the biggest shocks I ever got in a movie. Keep in mind that except for Tom Skeritt, nobody else in the cast were particularly well known - this was Sigourney Weaver's first movie, so nobody knew she would end up being the hero of the piece. BTW, I'm so glad I saw the movie on opening day - which was a Friday of course - but by Sunday, it seemed like EVERYBODY knew about the BIG SCENE, thereby missing out on the shock value. But hey, I didn't. Hehehe. Anyways, it was fun to watch you react.
I was 9. I was ALLLL about STAR WARS at the time so the sci-fi had me interested, but I was too young to see it.
My older sister (14) went and saw it on July 4th. She hated crowds and the movie was constantly selling out, so her and a couple older friends saw it that night knowing most people would be enjoying fireworks. After seeing it I wanted to know all about it! She told me there was almost no one in the theater (as they hoped) and that the movie was sooo scary and intense.
I saw it on VHS years later. It remains one of my all time favorite movies!!
All the doors on the Nostromo open differently - from the side, from the top, iris open, pull apart at the sides.
Guess the Company hired lowest bidders to build the ship...
Just like supplying a shuttle that only holds 3 people to a ship with 7 crew members.
One popular theory is that the alien in the shuttle was dormant because it was about to molt.
I just stumbled onto your channel. Wonderful reaction to one of my favorite movies. I saw this in the theater because a guy in school said it was like Star Wars. I nearly shit myself. I’d never seen a scary movie before and it is decidedly NOTHING like Star Wars. Ever since, the Nostromo is my go to nightmare. I can’t count how many times I’ve woke up in a cold sweat all these years later. {grin}. I really wish you had seen the directors cut. There’s one particularly gruesome scene where she finds what the alien was doing with the crew.
I love your reactions, as i've said before. Your emotions are real, full of integrity: You are BEAUTIFUL!
Saw this on opening day at the earliest matinee......completely blind. AWESOME.
Hi friend Seb! Can't wait to watch this reaction. This was the first scary movie I ever saw in the early 80s and I still remember the dread
Love this reaction, so genuine :)
The transmission was not a call for help. It was a warning to stay away.
Only the first two Alien movies have guys in suits playing the aliens. Alien 3 had a full size head for closeups, but the full body shots were done with a puppet keyed into the shot. From Alien Resurrection on, they used a mix of CGI and animatronic aliens.