Alien: Resurrection (1997)

The fourth film in the Alien franchise is often dismissed as an irrelevant abomination, diving to depths that even it's dark and dreary predecessor never reached. I heartily rebuke these accusations, not just because Paul W. S. Anderson showed us how bad it could have been, but because this film is good fun. Of course, when what should be a dark and terrifying science fiction horror ends up being funny, action-heavy and just plain fun, something seems to have gone wrong. But I thoroughly enjoyed this instalment, not least because of the excellent character of Clone Ripley. Of course, her hybrid human-Alien existence makes little sense, but her quiet and slightly inhuman attitude makes her dangerous, funny and frighteningly capable. The rest of the cast do their jobs well enough, particularly Winona Ryder's diminutive android or Ron Perlman's endlessly endearing jackass. But this isn't to say that this film is just all-out comedy, as there are frightening scenes (notably the aquatic Aliens), and one particular scene stands out; Clone Ripley discovers a room of her failed predecessors, finding one still alive and begging to be killed, to which she obliges. The scene is chilling and well-performed, and remains the most iconic thing about the film. Sadly, every new Alien film needs a new breed of the titular beasties, and Alien: Resurrection gives us the Newborn, a ridiculous-looking hybrid of human and Alien traits that utterly fails to inspire either terror or intrigue - it merely disappoints. A mixed bundle, but if you can look past the silliness, there's definitely alot to enjoy here.


I guess Steve Buscemi wanted to go uncredited...