Alien analysis

This sequence from Ridley Scott’s Alien features the character ‘Dallas’ crawling through ventilation shafts in hope of killing the alien aboard the ship. Crawling through these claustrophobic shafts utilises low key lighting to enhance the threatening atmosphere and suspense created by this situation, never quite sure when the alien will appear for the audience to be frightened. As Dallas moves forward in these shafts, more light appears to the audience and the character himself, increasing the tension as more and more of the shafts are revealed. This lack of light plays on the fear of the unknown, the idea that something unseen and frightening may be lurking in the darkness. That we the audience can’t see this just ramps up the suspense and horror of this scene.

This contrasts with the shot of the pristine hallways of the Nostramo, the ship. The completely white corridors look artificial and very clinical; a convention of sci-fi space ships and technology. When the alien does appear, the use of key lighting helps shock the audience and highlights the alien in its first reveal for the film.