Alien, directed by Ridley Scott, is a seminal science fiction horror film that follows the crew of the commercial space tug Nostromo, who encounters a deadly xenomorph. The film stars Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, a character who becomes iconic in the sci-fi genre. The story begins with the crew awakening from stasis to investigate a distress signal on a remote moon. They unknowingly bring aboard a parasitic organism that quickly evolves into a terrifying predator. The film is renowned for its atmospheric tension, groundbreaking visual effects, and H.R. Giger’s unique and disturbing creature design.
Alien has had a profound impact on both the science fiction and horror genres. Its claustrophobic setting, slow-build suspense, and strong female protagonist broke new ground in filmmaking. The xenomorph, with its phallic design and unsettling life cycle, has become one of the most iconic monsters in cinema history. The film’s blend of horror and sci-fi elements influenced countless subsequent movies and established Ridley Scott as a master of atmospheric storytelling.
Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) appeared in four movies, starting with Ridley Scott‘s 1979 original Alien and then James Cameron‘s 1986 Aliens, plus David Fincher’s 1992 Alien 3 and Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s 1997 Alien Resurrection. In this episode, on the 45th anniversary of the original, we discuss the first two great films: Alien and Aliens.
Aliens, directed by James Cameron, is the action-packed sequel to Alien. Set 57 years after the events of the first film, it follows Ripley as she returns to the moon LV-426, where the Nostromo first encountered the alien, now home to a human colony. Ripley joins a group of colonial marines sent to investigate why the colony has gone silent. They discover the colony overrun by xenomorphs, leading to intense combat and survival scenarios. Sigourney Weaver reprises her role as Ripley, delivering a performance that earned her an Academy Award nomination. Aliens shifted the tone from the slow-burn horror of the original to a high-octane action thriller, yet it retained the core elements of terror and suspense. As we discuss in this week’s episode, the film’s exploration of themes such as motherhood, corporate greed, and military might, combined with groundbreaking special effects, cemented its status as a classic.
The impact of Alien and Aliens on popular culture and the film industry is immense. Both films redefined their genres and introduced groundbreaking storytelling and visual techniques. Ripley’s character became a feminist icon, showcasing strength, resilience, and leadership in a predominantly male-dominated genre. The xenomorph design and its life cycle introduced a new level of horror and fascination with alien creatures. In the fxpodcast, discusses the VFX, the backstory of their designs and the key effects elements that make both films significant beyond just their great entertainment value.
Thanks for listening and joining us.
The space trucking crew this week are:
Matt Wallin *   @mattwallin        www.mattwallin.com.
Follow Matt on Mastodon: @[email protected]
Jason Diamond  @jasondiamond      www.thediamondbros.com
Mike Seymour  @mikeseymour.        www.fxguide.com. + @mikeseymour
Special thanks to Matt Wallin for the editing & production of the show with help from Jim Shen.