Bring on the tough stuff. There’s not just one right answer.
- This film is often considered one of the finest blends of the science fiction and horror genres. Write a list of science fiction tropes you are familiar with and some movies that exhibit them. How do the horror elements of the film alter the use of these tropes? Do they play against the tradition or strengthen it? Do they change the usage or purpose of these tropes in some significant way? More of a horror buff? You can answer this question in the reverse as well.
- The titular alien doesn't show up until roughly 50 minutes into the movie. That's almost halfway, so why do you think the filmmakers decided not to reveal the alien for so much of the run time? Do you see this decision as serving the film's character, thematic, or atmospheric intentions? Do you think it works against any of these?
- The film's opening credits show a slow pan across the planet and a slow reveal of the title Alien, line by line. Why do you think this stylized credit sequence was chosen to open the film?
- The film's original script had all the characters written as men but noted that it needn't be filmed that way. Do you see the inclusion of women characters as changing the tone of the film? How do you see Ripley and Lambert playing into the gender roles of science fiction and/or horror genres? How do they play against them? For fun, how do you see the movie being different if it was filmed with a cast of all men? Or how about only women?
- Check out Alien's theatrical trailer from 1979. What qualities from the movie does the trailer explore, such as setting, character, mood, etc? Do you see the trailer employing any symbols or themes? How? Given this, how does the trailer ultimately prepare you for the film itself?
- Alien went from single movie to decades-spanning franchise. Find and enjoy another work from the franchise – could be a novel, comic book, video game, or one of the many sequels / side-story films. How has the alien changed in this incarnation? Do these changes alter the fundamental nature of the beastie? Does this change how it is uses as a symbol? Is it even still a symbol?
- The alien creature has been seen as symbolizing everything from sexualized violence to racial tension to the battles of natural selection. What do you think the alien represents and what evidence for this do you see in the film?
- The alien has been in crossovers with several notable pop culture icons in its day. These include the Predator, Terminators, Judge Dredd, and Batman. No joke. Pick your own pop culture icon to feature in a crossover film. Marvel's Avengers? Michael Jackson from Moonwalker? My Little Pony?! Now, draw up a rough outline of the story and explain how the alien would fit into the story both as a character and a symbol. How would the alien change to fit into this new world you've created? Would your world have a different tone? Explore different themes? End differently?