Film: Alien
Again,
we are presented with a film that has undergone more analysis than we could
ever evaluate, and yet we are set with the task of attempting to write
something original about it. There are
so many aspects of this film that are worth exploring, but I will (attempt to…)
focus mainly on the lighting throughout
the film and how it adds to the complexity of the shot as well as providing
depth, in this case horror, to the progress of the plot.
In this
film what is seen by the viewer is very important. For example, information given from different
computer terminals ultimately yielding the knowledge of Special Order 937 and
the fact that human life is expendable when compared to the value of the alien
life, and the emergence of the infantile alien from the chest of Kane (time: ~56:30)
to instill the first sense of terror into the audience. However, what is unseen may actually add more
to the dramatic effect of the film. For
instance, we don’t actually get our first view of the full grown rendering of the
alien until approximately 12 minutes after its emergence, and even then only
parts of the alien are actually shown and mostly under the cover of darkness. Additionally, in this scene we are unaware
that the alien is even a threat until we see the shadows on Brett’s face
indicating that the alien is in fact coming towards him. Later, when Dallas is killed, again we are
only given a brief flash-shot of the alien (time: 75:56) and then we are to
assume that Dallas is dead because there was never an actual shot of the
attack. I believe it is the uncertainty within
the darkness that leads to an increased level of anxiety and fear of the alien;
we don’t know what it is or what its motive is and that terrifies us.
Once Ripley is the sole survivor
on the main vessel, fighting for escape, it is the lighting (time: 97:33-98:20)
combined with a continuous shot and Ripley’s frantic breathing that creates an
overwhelming effect of suspense and horror that ultimately results in a
dramatic climax with a strobe-light effect that disorientates the viewer while
giving another rapid glimpse of the alien.
As Ripley retreats it appears that the strobe effect followers her. This yields the effect of the strobe light belonging
to the alien, and as he briefly pursues her, “his” light consumes her. Once the alien stops the pursuit and focuses
on Jonesy, Ripley seems to be able to escape the effect.
-MTG
The lighting in the movie definitely adds to the suspense of the film. Each scene involving an attack by the alien, the lighting got darker. Going through the film it was safe to say that scenes with lots a lighting and bright were not the scary parts of the film. Once it got darker I was bracing myself for what was to come next. For the most part there wasn't any bright scenes. The only bright scenes were when the crew were eating or at Kane's operation room.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree, at one point I remember turning my TV's brightness up thinking it was unusually dim before realizing that it was, in fact, just the way it was shot. The lighting adds a great effect in the scene in which they are letting in the face-sucking Alien first. The way in which Ripley's seen in such an "enlightened" light, vs the shadowy demeanor over Ash's expression. I hadn't really thought about how light was used as a thematic effect until now, very interesting!
ReplyDelete