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Description

A legendary fusion of science fiction and horror, Ridley Scott's Alien (1979) is one of the most enduring films of modern cinema – its famously visceral scenes acting like a traumatic wound we seem compelled to revisit.

Tracing the constellation of talents that came together to produce the film, Roger Luckhurst examines its origins as a monster movie script called Star Beast, dismissed by many in Hollywood as B-movie trash, through to its afterlife in numerous sequels, prequels and elaborations.

Exploring the ways in which Alien compels us to think about otherness, Luckhurst demonstrates how and why this interstellar slasher movie, this old dark house in space, came to coil itself around our darkest imaginings about the fragility of humanity.

This special edition features original cover artwork by Marta Lech.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments.- 'Alien'.- Afterword: Growing Up with Alien.- Notes.- Credits.- Bibliography.

Product details

Published Dec 11 2025
Format Audiobook
Duration 3 hours and 0 minutes
ISBN 9781805750970
Imprint British Film Institute
Series BFI Film Classics
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Roger Luckhurst

Roger Luckhurst is Professor of Modern Literature…

ONLINE RESOURCES

Bloomsbury Collections

This book is available on Bloomsbury Collections where your library has access.

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