One of my all time favourite sci-fi/horror movies and the birth of not one, but two iconic characters. This weeks joy is ALIEN.
Plot in a nutshell: The crew of the commercial spaceship Nostromo encounter a deadly lifeform, after investigating a mysterious transmission of unknown origin.
Another Top 100 listed scripts-to-read entrant, another absolute classic. Famously quoted as being a haunted house themed tale set in a spaceship (with a terrifyingly new creature instead of ghosts), this is a simple story with a stunningly catchy hook. An unknown species of alien picks off a spaceship crew one by one, for no reason other than its nature, and the crew have to survive as best they can. Who is going to be the last organism standing?
This is yet another revised draft (not final shooting), but already contains all the elements necessary to keep the reader riveted in their seat. From the eerie insides of the Alien ship to the sweaty lower decks of the Nostromo, this is perfect horror setting. Oh, to experience something like this for the first time!
So, what did I learn from ALIEN?
ย I would be remiss if I didnโt at least state one of the strongest points of this script; Ripley. One of the very best female characters ever put to paper in my opinion. Every angle is covered. Strong when needed, yet still vulnerable in moments. Efficient when required, yet capable of giving a โfuck you!โ when it suits. Layers that give depth to be played with, yet holding her position constantly, simply because itโs not only important to her, but who she is and how sheโs built. Love her.
Second iconic creation; the Alien itself (or Xenomorph to fans out there). Damn, this thing is lightning in a bottle. From its means of incubating its hosts (shout out to the Facehugger, easily the third iconic creation of this script), to its defence mechanisms (acid for blood on a spaceship. Shit, thatโs just Einstein levels of genius right there), this creature is a walking nightmare. It hides in the dark, pops out when you least expect it, kills in a number of horrific and painful ways and if you try to kill it, will potentially melt you to death in the process. If you can catch it. And it doesnโt wait until you fall asleep and then cocoon you. To make more. My head is spinning. How did the writers feel when they created this creature? If it was more than stunned, Iโll be surprised.
Action Directions. These are about as brief, lean and yet descriptive as I think you can get. Appearing in an almost list like form, they just give you what you need to know in abbreviated brief. To cut any leaner would be to miss essential directions. Great example of editing down to the last essential letter.
Check your final edit. Annoyingly, throughout this entire draft, every question written in the dialogue, ends withoutย a question mark. Every. Single. One. Really, really irritating.
The descriptions of the spaceship interiors give you a distinct feel for the atmosphere within the various ships. Dripping water, layers of heat, whites and greys, lights, the hum of machines and engines. Itโs a wonderful cornucopia of ecosystems that really adds to the tension in the air. Plenty of rich examples worth checking out.
Another read that just flew. Even though it wasnโt the final draft, it held so much excitement and rich character interaction, it was damn near impossible to put down. Not only that, but it was a such a strong idea, that it spawned a franchise. And while some of the sequels were hit and miss (mostly miss), this is one of the finest franchise starters (without knowing it was) you will probably come across. Worth it just for discovering Ripley and the creature alone.
Link to the script:
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