Jumpscare | 31 Nights of Horror

For this year’s 31 Nights of Horror Challenge, the Night 22 prompt is Jumpscare. We watched the movie Aliens (1986) on Netflix.

Storyline

Decades after surviving the Nostromo incident, Ellen Ripley is sent out to re-establish contact with a terraforming colony but finds herself battling the Alien Queen and her offspring.

‘Aliens’ stands as a timeless masterpiece and one of the greatest sequels ever made, delivering legendary action sequences, exceptional suspense, and groundbreaking technical achievements that remain impressive decades later. Sigourney Weaver’s performance earns universal acclaim alongside James Cameron’s superb direction. While most praise the well-developed characters and thrilling intensity, some critics found certain characters stereotypical and felt the script occasionally weak. Despite minor criticisms about relying heavily on action over atmosphere, the film’s enduring influence on science fiction cinema remains undeniable.

Our thoughts on Aliens (1986)

James Cameron’s sequel, simply put, lacks the style and depth of detail of Ridley Scott’s original. It’s also sadly Americanized. Wisecracking Marines with big, jutting guns, cigars, and knife games. A swarm of aliens instead of one solitary killer. Ambitious, mouthy, corporate go-getters. In other words, indulgence where Scott practised restraint …

And, of course, space travel has changed between 1979 and 1986. Oh, you’re still put into hibernation but, in this episode, space is of little consequence, it seems. Yet in the first movie, everyone hated hibernation and space travel was a long, drawn-out trip! The crew in _Aliens_ flits about as if they’re heading across town to kick some butt.

Seems Cameron just couldn’t resist putting his personal stamp on the film (and stamping out Scott’s vision). He even glommed a scene from _2001_ and stuck it right at the beginning of his film.

Cheap sci-fi action garbage with all the TRUE suspense taken out.

6 out of 10 stars

Trivia

Like most films, the movie wasn’t shot in sequence. But for added realism, James Cameron filmed the scene where we first meet the Colonial Marines, one of the earliest scene, last. This was so that the camaraderie of the Marines was realistic because the actors had spent months filming together.

One of the alien eggs used in the film is now exhibited in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

The Alien nest set was kept intact after filming. It was later used as the Axis Chemicals set for Batman (1989). When the Batman crew first entered the set, they found most of the Alien nest still intact.

So what do you think? How many of these scary movies have you seen? Do you have any others to add to the list? Let us know in the comments section and please consider joining our Facebook page, Scary Movies at the Fort. Each October we host the 31 Nights of Horror. Check us out.

Also, be sure to check out our Complete List of Dracula, Frankenstien, Wolfman, and The Mummy, and Universal Monster Movies.

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