Alien is a true cinematic marvel because it is not only able to capture the grandiose nature of the best science fiction but also the claustrophobic, paranoia of the best horror films. The film can be viewed two ways: as a straight forward sci-fi narrative about exploration and discovery or a horror film that deals with human error and the idea of being a victim of circumstance. The Xenomorph is the most important element of the story, obviously, because it is a constant mystery that the audience has to figure out as the story progresses. Ridley Scott wisely films the creature with copious amounts of shadow that allows the viewer to use their imagination to develop its evolution throughout the movie.