Alien

(Ridley Scott, UK/US 1979, 117 min., 35mm)

First Contact. Sigourney Weaver proves herself a courageous warrior as her working-class spaceship crew steadily fall prey to a terrifyingly unpredictable creature in Scott’s futuristic spin on the haunted house film and the first in a hugely successful franchise series, known also for one of the most memorable taglines: “In space no one can hear you scream.” The alien, inspired by the sleek, biomechanical designs of H. R. Giger (who was also part of the special effects team), is infamous for its gut-splattering first appearance.