3. THE SLOW REVEAL OF THE TITLE ADDS A CURIOUS PULL, AS THE
NAME IS NOT IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS, ALSO AT THE TIME, WHAT
THE ALIEN LOOKED LIKE HAD NOT BEEN REVEALED IN
ADVERTISING, ADDING EVEN MORE TO THE VIEWER’S
DISCONTENT. THE PLANET THAT IS SEEN IN THE BACK IS SHOWN
TO PIQUE THE VIEWER’S INTEREST EVEN MORE SO, AS IT ISN’T
RECOGNISABLE AS ONE OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM’S.
The beginning of the movie ALIEN
(1979) begins with the image of space
slowly listing to the left. As this
happens, the title of the film is
revealed, all the while the credits for
the movie appear one at a time.
There is also an aspect of satisfaction to the
audience as the title is designed in a way that it is
symmetrical up till the title is revealed. This is
also a sort of foreshadowing, as the Alien is
described as a perfect lifeform in the movie.
These three aspects give the viewer a sense
curiosity, but at the same time wariness as they
may not be satisfied with what they find.
4.
5.
6. THE ENTIRE OPENING SEQUENCE IS DESIGNED TO PLACE THE
VIEWER INTO A SENSE OF AWARENESS BUT AT THE SAME
TIME IT MAKES THEM FEEL SOMEWHAT SAFE, AS THE PLANET
IS INSINUATED TO BE WHERE THE ALIEN IS, THE VIEW OF IT
FROM SPACE LEAVES THEM WITH A SENSE OF SAFETY. THIS IS
EFFECTIVE BECAUSE THE CHARACTERS ESSENTIALLY ARE SAFE
UNTIL THEY SET FOOT ON THE PLANET.
The almost silence used in the scene
also carries through to the start of the
movie which has the ship almost
completely silent apart from the
beeping of computers. These factors
help create a tranquil setting which
entirely contrasts to the end of the
movie.
The tranquil feeling of the opening is also
made to contrast what the audience is
supposed to feel throughout the rest of
the movie, which is a psychological horror,
and helps simulate to the audience what
the characters would be feeling as the
movie went forward.
