Alien 3 Movie Review

Released: May 22nd 1992

Length: 114 Minutes (Theatrical Cut) 145 Minutes (Assembly Cut)

Certificate: 18

Director: David Fincher

Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Lance Henriksen, Charles Dance, Charles Dutton, Brian Glover and Ralph Brown

After two standout productions, Alien 3 couldn’t live up to expectations in 1992 but when examining the film as the final act of a trilogy, it becomes better than the sum of its parts and hackneyed production.

Picking up where Aliens left off, the Sulaco vessel is carrying Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), Newt, Hicks and the android Bishop (Lance Henriksen) back to Earth but their hopes of a peaceful return are shattered when an alien facehugger somehow stowed away on board starts an electrical fire, causing their stasis pods to be ejected. The pod crashes on the prison planet Fury 161 and Ripley is the only survivor. She is forced to blend in with the prisoners, many of them former rapists and murderers. Things go from bad to worse when another alien is born, this time from a dog (Or an Ox in the assembly cut) and the prisoners are forced to band together to stop it. Alien 3 has a flimsy opening with more than a few inconsistencies; it then launches head on into gloomy territory with the deaths of Corporal Hicks and Newt. Immediately a bleak tone is set, matched only by Alien 3’s heavy focus on philosophy and belief which allows the film to grow on the audience further down its runtime. It’s evident everywhere you look from the hellish, brooding atmosphere to the appearance of the Alien as a demon in the eyes of the prisoners. A unique idea to run with really sets 3 apart, though depending on the version, you may wish for more morsels on the prisoners and their lives of celibacy. The assembly cut is far better in this regard as it features more scenes to flesh out the prisoners and their faith. Unfortunately, the film just can’t match the scare factor of its predecessors as lacks the build-up and suspense from before, opting instead for a more blunt, abrupt set of attack sequences. If you’re able to look past this, the film does proceeds at a reasonable clip, continuing to pour the feeling of hopelessness on thick as it builds to a powerful conclusion.

While not nearly as well-fleshed out as before, Alien 3 does have its share of memorable characters. Sigourney Weaver is again fantastic as Ripley; at her lowest point, she delivers one of the more emotional performances of her career, yet still maintains the character’s tough exterior as the film goes on; it’s a fitting end to her character’s story. While many of the side characters go by underused, there are some standouts among the prison populous. Charles Dance’s Clemons stands as the most sympathetic character of the bunch and the bond he forms with Ripley is well stated. Charles Dutton as Dylan imbues the setting with a philosophical rooting and Brian Glover and Ralph Brown as the prison Warden and his assistant 85 also have individual characteristics that work off each other well. Some light comic relief (alongside extra scenes in the assembly cut) do fill out the other prisoners which is a commendable effort but they nevertheless sit in the shadows of the space truckers and marines of films past. The collective belief the prisoners share rather than their individual personas ends up making a stronger impact here.

The look of the third Alien film is grim and gloomy, creating a desolate atmosphere that hangs over the entire film. While Alien and Aliens were comprised of brighter, futuristic colours, Alien 3 uses an angry, grungy orange to personify the prison setting, combined with the run-down grimy technology that barely functions really puts the pressure on the characters. The costume work is minimalistic and ragged, emphasising the squalor of the prison in an effective way while the haunting music score envelopes the audience into the character's futile struggle. When the Alien begins its killing spree, the gore is suitably gruesome but the modelling of the creature itself is rather hit and miss. When the costume work by Tom Woodruff Jr is on-screen, it looks great but on the other hand the rod-puppetry employed often fails to blend with the environments properly. It’s an unfortunate hiccup in a film that stamps its dark undertones firmly onto the audience. The camerawork could have also used some tuning up; while the low angles also work towards the film’s benefit, it uses point-of-view shots far too much in its final act, further lessening the scares from previous entries. Alien 3 is a looker (albeit a suitably depressing one) but it is held back by some questionable choices.

Alien 3 is undoubtedly a massive step down from its predecessors but whether you’re watching the original or assembly cut, it does do well to bring the series to a close. Its unrelenting misery is deliberate, keeping with the franchise’s tone and the characters that are well-fleshed out do deliver a strong element of religious undertones to the film. If you’re planning on watching Alien 3, be sure to go with the Assembly Cut as it contains more scenes with more development but don’t write it off completely as a failed entry in the franchise.

Theatrical Cut Rating: 3/5 Stars (Fair)

Assembly Cut Rating: 3.5 Stars (Good)