To make an unusual analogy, Alien has aged like a fine single malt; what was initially smoky and flavoursome with intense character and finish has become a truly powerful cinematic elixir. It doesn’t get much better than Alien, for mood, tone, atmosphere, mise-en-scene, special effects, cinematography, music, acting. Even the pared-back dialogue never comes across as forced or risible, as often is the case with derivative movies, because Alien does pull from numerous sources, it’s not a wholly original plot. But the emphasis on the visual narrative, the realism, the restraint in humour, these elements make the movie’s calibre like that of a full metal jacket; Alien kicks ass.