After escaping with Newt and Hicks from the alien planet, Ripley crash lands on Fiorina 161, a prison planet and host to a correctional facility. Unfortunately, although Newt and Hicks do not survive the crash, a more unwelcome visitor does. The prison does not allow weapons of any kind, and with aid being a long time away, the prisoners must simply survive in any way they can.
Direction
Fincher's visual language already fully formed
Costume
Shaved heads and prison garb = instant unease
Practical Effects
Puppet alien outshines CGI that aged badly
Director
David Fincher
Sigourney Weaver
Ripley
Charles S. Dutton
Dillon
Charles Dance
Clemens
Paul McGann
Golic
Brian Glover
Andrews
Ralph Brown
Aaron
Danny Webb
Morse
Christopher John Fields
Rains
Holt McCallany
Junior
Lance Henriksen
Bishop II
Christopher Fairbank
Murphy
Carl Chase
Frank
Leon Herbert
Boggs
Vincenzo Nicoli
Jude
Pete Postlethwaite
David
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Fincher disowned the theatrical version and refused to participate in its restoration. The 2003 Assembly Cut restores nearly 40 minutes of footage he actually shot.
This film killed the Alien franchise's theatrical momentum for years — the studio's marketing lied about Earth setting, and fans never forgave the bleakness. It's arguably the most unfairly maligned blockbuster of the '90s.
US
