Alien

The Brief

Four men, two women, and a cat aboard a spaceship face a deadly challenge when they are joined by an uninvited stowaway from outer space. The alien is not only ill-mannered and terrifying in appearance, but also has a voracious appetite, preying on the crew one by one. Much like Blade Runner, which came a few years later, director Ridley Scott presents a strong sense of pessimism and skepticism about the course of progress. The fact that the titular alien is able to grow large and strong is largely due to the ship’s onboard scientist, who is more interested in the creature’s research potential than in interplanetary workplace regulations, and does everything in his power to protect the non-human lifeform. Sigourney Weaver’s character has been the subject of numerous interpretations, centered on the unusual fact that a space hero in this case is a woman. This has led to some curious readings of the cat as a vulnerable child figure and the spaceship as an allegory for the womb. Good to know: * Age 15+