Why Stephen King’s Take on the Ending of ‘Alien’ Misses the Mark
With a career spanning decades with films like ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘Gladiator’, Ridley Scott is hailed as one of the finest directors in history. However, many people still consider his 1979 sci-fi horror masterpiece ‘Alien’ to be his greatest accomplishment. With its horrifying chestburster scene and the debut of Sigourney Weaver’s character Ellen Ripley, one of cinema’s greatest heroes, the movie pioneered the genre of monster movies. Ripley is a legendary character who was ranked by the American Film Institute as the eighth-best hero of all time. However, in his 1981 book ‘Danse Macabre’, author Stephen King criticized her portrayal, especially in relation to the film’s conclusion.
Although King generally thought ‘Alien’ was great, he criticized Ripley’s choices in the epilogue, calling them “extremely sexist.” Two particular instances he critiqued were her choice to save her cat, Jones, which he perceived as a conventional “feminine” weakness, and her nakedness on the escape shuttle, which he compared to the sexualized victims of classic horror films. King said her reputation suffered as a result of her choices.
Image Courtesy: Looper
King’s criticism, however, ignores how serious Ripley’s acts were. Her return to Jones is about maintaining the final link to a life that the alien shattered, not about perpetuating stereotypes. Amid destruction, Jones represents humanity and hope. In addition, Ripley’s outfit in the last scene isn’t superfluous. Actress Sigourney Weaver clarified that Ripley’s actions are not an attempt to sexualize her character, but rather a reflection of her relief and fatigue following days of dread.
Alien’s conclusion follows traditional horror tropes, building suspense before the pivotal encounter. Ripley is an engaging last girl because of her resourcefulness and vulnerability. These scenes highlight her tenacity rather than diminish her bravery, demonstrating that she is still a ground-breaking figure in movie history.
–Farheen Ali
