While its easy to see how influential of a film Ridley Scotts Alien has been on the genre of science fiction, it must not be ignored that it is, in its own right, a seminal slasher film too. Set in space, in the year 2122, Alien gave us the most iconic extra-terrestrial slasher villain, with H.R. Geigers incredibly-designed, and proper terrifying, Xenomorph. What differentiates Alien from most slasher films is also one of the biggest contributing factors to its scare-factor. The villain kills on animalistic instinct, rather than on any cognitive or emotional motive. That, and the fact that its a whole other species than us; bigger, badder, uglier, makes it one of the scariest killers in the history of the genre. Alien makes our greatest fears a reality, and it is equally, if not more brutal and gory than slasher films which claim to be all that. The infamous chestburster scene is still as shocking and near vomit-inducing as it was back in 79 and it alone is brilliant enough to warrant it essential viewing for any budding horror fan. The fact that its in space only makes it more awesome.
Joe is a television junkie. A film fanatic. A pop culture know-it-all. An interactive media masters student, and a bass player.
22 years old and Irish. Thinks Netflix is a Godsend.
