1979's Alien, directed by Ridley Scott, is a brilliant exercise in mood and atmosphere building up to a horror film of excruciating terror. The design of the alien, the strong performances and direction, and the straightforward, inescapable tale of a haunted house in space make it a landmark science fiction film. Part of its brilliance comes from its examination of power relationships, exemplified by the tug of war between Ripley and the Alien. Through the lenses of Devor and Cohen, a pair of crucial scenes in the film will be explored in terms of their exploration of power.
The alien itself maintains all of the ...
