Aliens - Review

“We're on an express elevator to hell, goin' down!” – A review of Aliens. 

I adored Alien. Scary, tense and intelligent, it was an absolute masterpiece of a sci fi horror. With James Cameron taking over from Ridley Scott, would Aliens live up to the original?

Of course it would.

Released in 1986, Ellen Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver, is no longer just a survivor – now she’s a determined protector who has been recruited by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation to go with a squad of marines to a colony on LV-426, where communication has been lost. What follows is a terrifying and chaotic journey as Ellen and the crew face the deadly xenomorphs in a perilous and tumultuous environment, a tense and terrifying watch rivalling the original film.

Something worth noting straight away is that this is not a film that tried to simply recreate the original. Whilst the original tense atmosphere of Alien is certainly honoured, this sequel reimagines the franchise with relentless energy and military bravado. Whilst the first film was deeply claustrophobic, Aliens has a grittier feel to it as the tragically unprepared soldiers head into a riveting battle. The marines aren’t just background characters either. They’re tough and brash but bring a sense of comradery and tension that makes this more than a standard action film.

Similarly to the first film, the use of tension and suspense is masterful. You find yourself constantly on the edge of your seat even when there’s a pause in the action – the gunfire may pause, but the threat doesn’t. This is partly due to the incredible score by James Horner, which amplifies the feelings of urgency and dread throughout, and partly because of the futuristic and haunting set designs.

For me though, it’s not the action or violence that sets Aliens apart, but the emotional core of the film. Ripley bonds with Newt, the only survivor from the colony, and themes such as resilience and motherhood are introduced, raising the stakes even higher than before. Ripley is compassionate, intelligent, protective and incredibly resourceful, and it’s her bond with Newt that helps to further humanise her and transforms her into an incredible protagonist.

Aliens is a great film, but I’m not sure it quite beats the original film. This is of course personal taste; I prefer the slow burn, psychological horror of Alien to the high-octane action of Aliens. The pacing is incredibly fast and entertaining, but I do feel that the pacing occasionally leads to sacrificing some of the nuance and atmosphere of the original.

With that being said, I can’t really fault Aliens. I’m pleased it didn’t just try to recreate the first film and did something different, and I do think it’s a true genre defining classic. Its blend of horror, action and emotion makes for a fantastic watch, and Aliens remains one of the best science fiction films ever made.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

Share Article: