Films that inspired 'Isolation' #1 Alien !

This latest segment is all about the horror films that inspired the making of my student movie Isolation.

Ridley Scotts original version of Alien easily has to be one of my personal favourite films as well as one of the most highly renowned films of all time. Few horror films managed to capture the minds of the audience as well as the critics in quite the same way.

It uses some of the most important elements in horror film, combined with elements most commonly associated with thrillers or even dramas. It uses suspense superbly, the where-abouts of the Alien (Sometimes referred too as a xenomorph) is almost always unknown and unlike most horror films the creature isn’t actually seen until towards the middle of the 117 minute film.

Nerdy fact. The actors in this scene were replaced by children, to create the illusion that the ship and alien where bigger than they actually were!

Nerdy fact. The actors in this scene were replaced by children, to create the illusion that the ship and alien where bigger than they actually were!

It uses pacing too an incredible effect. Most horror films allow for quiet shots where footsteps or breathing can be heard, but Alien allows, at times for complete silence. Something most directors never incorporate into their films. It puts the viewer on edge and it is something they are not familiar with in films. Previous to seeing the films the audience would have seen trailers of the film, known perhaps what the aliens looked like. This means that they knew what too expect, and that it could appear at any time. In the opening 10 minutes there are at least 6 or 7 different sounds or movements that could be believed to be the aliens when in fact it is nothing more than steam being released from a valve for example.

Within the confines of the ship it is incredibly claustrophobic. The camera work uses this to great effect to build suspense as well as making the viewer feel trapped. To support this feeling of being trapped the viewer is constantly being reminded of the fact the entire cast is floating through space, by showing shots of surrounding planets or from the outside and from underneath the ship. With the constant reminder it gives more reason for the characters to panic therefore creating more fear for the viewer.


The most important lesson I learnt from Alien that helped in creating Isolation is the term ' Less is more'. In life, as well as in a horror film. People fear what they do not understand. The less the audience see the alien, see this creature that is causing mass hysteria amongst the crew of the Nostromo the more they are going to fear it. If they are exposed to prolonged shots of the alien that would make them better understand it. Meaning that the less they see, the more they fear it.

The Alien. One of the most iconic imagines in film.

For a film that is now 33 years old it still manages to terrify audiences and build suspense more than any other horror film. It is still believed to be critically one of the best films of all time and its influence can be seen in all horror as well as any film that builds suspense. It is truly a film that has stood the test of time.

The 'chestburster' scene has been frequently noted as one of the most memorable moments in film. For this reason I have included it below, it is one of the best parts of the film and considering it uses effects that are now 33 years old it far out-shadows anything of its time.

Due to the superb special effects that still seem real to this date, the brilliant sound track including the times when the film allows silence and the claustrophobic atmosphere created by the characters being trapped in the space ship, Alien is deffinetley a film that inspired Isolation.