Cheltenham's Eclectic cinema programme will be resuming soon at the Playhouse, and after much programming deliberation, coming soon will be a screening of a Sci-Fi classic. I was very happy to be asked by the founder of Eclectic Cinema to write an intro for the website;
Ridley Scott's seminal 1979 sci-fi horror set the standard for monster flicks and has become a cultural touchstone. Few films have aged as well, even appreciated in value as this has. After Alien, James Cameron came aboard to helm Aliens, a sequel that helped add to the lore and became a classic in it's own right, a rare thing these days. Since, a franchise has been built with many additions, prequels and cross-overs - as is the modern way - none have reached the heights of the original masterworks.
The story; the seven strong crew of the Nostromo, a commercial transport ship on it's way back to Earth, are woken from stasis to investigate an indecipherable, repeating radio transmission from a nearby planet. Upon arrival, they find a derelict ship with no sign of survivors, but they are not alone. After gaining entry to the Nostromo, the titular E.T. employs the age-old warfare tactic of infiltrate and attack. From the loss of the first crew member (played by John Hurt) in one of the most infamous scenes in film history, they are on the back foot, out-witted and out-gunned and must use their full ingenuity to survive being hunted in their own ship.
The undeniably simple premise relies on the skill of the impeccable execution, from the economic, tight direction, to the Jerry Goldsmith soundtrack and the effective, well-realised performances. All of which helps the tone of the film to bridge the gap between 1970s dark sensibilities and 1980s action. As always with Scott's productions, the details are all fully considered and add to the world, but they're to aid, not distract from the story. For instance, the interiors of the commercial space ship are spot on; drab and operational, although still convincing and impressive as a set. The film is full of iconic imagery, from the first sight of the derelict ship, to the creature design itself. The intelligent and strong willed third-in-command Ellen Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver, has become an iconic character, often considered the greatest film heroine.
''In space no-one can hear you scream''
Don't miss your chance to see this undeniable sci-fi landmark on the big screen. See more details on the Eclectic Cinema website
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