ALIEN
With the tagline of, “In space, no one can hear you scream” on their original theatrical poster, Alien promised a viewing experience packed with terror, blood, and plenty of isolation- a promise they definitely delivered on.
While Alien wasn’t the first film to tackle the concept of space travel and encountering alien life, it was the first to utilize silence, darkness, and isolation in a way that had yet to be seen. The script follows seven characters traveling through space, who, after intercepting and investigating an SOS call, are now in the fight of their lives with a creature that embodies fear itself.
Setting of the Film
The isolation that can be found in the setting of Alien is pretty obvious since it’s set in space. I mean, how much more physically isolated can you get? Apparently, a lot more. While we don’t know why the crew was traveling through space until later on in the film, we do realize that the crew aboard the ship is entirely alone on their expedition. They are neither traveling with a fleet of ships nor do they have any correspondence with anyone outside of those on the ship. These features heighten their isolation as it leaves the crew members to only converse amongst themselves. These details also relay the subtle message that should the crew encounter any issues, they are entirely on their own.
Ripley and the Setting
Unlike most of the other works we look at, Ripley’s isolation isn’t influenced by the setting all that much. While she, and her fellow crew members, are all exposed to multiple facets of isolation, due to their space travel and the size of their ship, she is impacted by the film’s general setting no more than any of the other characters. It’s not until nearly the end of the film when, after the alien has killed the crew, Ripley experiences isolation through her setting.
The Alien
Technically called a xenomorph, the alien is the antagonist of the film. It also operates as the inflicter of isolation, as it kills every person aboard the ship until only Ripley is left. It’s important to note that the alien’s actions, which result in Ripley being isolated, are unintentional. This differs from the other films we look at, and from Frankenstein and Dracula, as theses antagonists’ actions intentionally target the protagonist(s) with the intent of inflicting fear, repulsion, dread, and isolation.
Ripley and the Alien
The relationship that we see between Ripley and the alien is similar to the that of Victor Frankenstein and his Creature. While these relationships are different in the sense that Ripley has nothing to do with the alien being on the ship, and that the alien is not intentionally killing the crew members to get back at her, there are other similarities. The alien and the Creature both inflict isolation unto Ripley and Victor by killing those that they had relations with.
Ripley's Relationship with Isolation
Ripley doesn’t have much of a relationship with isolation. Unlike Victor, who willingly isolated himself, and Jonathan, who’s relationship with isolation is because of Dracula, Ripley has neither. There is no evidence that suggests she prefers isolation, as she appears to willingly socialize with her crew, nor is there evidence to suggest she has any kind of a relationship with the inflicter of her isolation, like Jonathan did with Dracula. So, while Ripley is exposed to physical isolation, which leads to social and emotional isolation, she has no control over this aspect.
All of the characters in Alien are subjected to varying levels of isolation. I focused primarily on the character of Ripley, since she survives and is subjected to the most extreme forms of isolation.
Like Ripley, each character is subjected to physical isolation through their environment, and cope with it by socializing with the one another.
​
However, unlike Ripley, the other characters do not survive and die in situations where they experience some form of isolation. As a result, these characters died in isolation.
Two of these characters die in actual physical isolation, both while trying to find and/or kill the xenomorph, while the other four die being surrounded by their crew members .
​
But dying while surrounded by people, all of whom are unable to help you, exposes these characters to emotional isolation as no one else can empathize with what they're experiencing.
Interested in seeing how isolation interacts with the other two films I'm analyzing?
​
Click on one of the posters below!
Or click the button below to go back to the top!