10 Brilliant Horror Movie Concepts Not Taken Far Enough

The ending of 1986's Alien's promised us so much if a sequel were to come along. Ellen Ripley was no longer alone and had a team on her side if she had to fight the titular Aliens again.

However in the opening moments of Alien 3, all but Ripley are killed off unceremoniously, leaving our sole survivor the lone woman in a prison full of men. Upon realising that an Alien stowaway has followed her from LV426, Ripley must convince the disbelieving convicts that their lives are in mortal danger.

This concept, along with Ripley grief and loss are never really expanded on and seemingly forgotten as the Alien begins its attack. Ripley, previously a motherly and warm character seems to forget all about her fallen escapees as she pursues the affections of Charles Dance's Dr. Clements. As bodies begin to dwindle the prison inmates quickly side with Ripley and earlier themes of resentment, chauvinism and even the threat of sexual violence are dropped, eschewing the idea of Ripley as a lone, bereft, frightened and disbelieved warrior that seemed so interesting.

The film also reintroduces the concept of a sole alien being à la the 1979 original, but handles it in a much clumsier fashion. The beast isn't kept in shadow to remain a mysterious, silent stalker that will haunt the viewer for years to come... Instead we get full-on shots of a leaping, diving dog-like alien, that is the farthest thing from scary or threatening with the added, very unconvincing, CGI effects. Any hope of the single alien concept taking Alien 3 back to the pulse pounding suspense of the original is dashed as we see the Alien galavanting down corridors in scenes that seem comic rather than frightening.