The fourth film in the Alien
series, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Delicatessen, The City of Lost
Children) at a cost of $70 million, takes place aboard an immense ship, the
Auriga, where General Perez (Dan Hedaya) heads a staff of seven science
officers and 42 enlisted, all employed by United Systems Military (replacing
the Company of the earlier films). The time is 200 years after the events of
Alien 3. Scientists researching the aliens need
hosts, and they rely on space mercenaries who make spacecraft raids to
acquire bodies for the scientists. The research requires an Alien Queen
specimen, so Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) has been cloned from preserved
blood samples. The scientific team then removes the baby Alien Queen from
Ripley's chest. Since the Ripley clone has alien DNA mixed into her genetic
structure, she is not totally human. Later, a commercial freighter, the
Betty, arrives with a crew of mercenaries — Elgyn (Michael Wincott), pilot
Hillard (Kim Flowers), paralyzed mechanic Vriess (Dominique Pinon), space
jock Johner (Ron Perlman), and junior mechanic Annalee Call (Winona Ryder) —
who deliver a load of human hosts with alien eggs. Problems begin when the
mercenaries take over the Auriga, and aliens escape to massacre humans. As
the aliens attack, Ripley and the mercenaries try to reach the Betty in
order to escape. Cinematography by Darius Khondji features the same ENR
process he used on Seven, adding silver to the printing process to heighten
contrasts, making the dark colors richer. An electric blue tint was employed
during the underwater firefight between the mercenaries and the aliens. For
the more physical aspects of her role, Ryder got in shape with six hours of
daily workouts. Although all previous films in the series were shot at
London's Pinewood Studios, filming of Alien Resurrection took place West Los
Angeles soundstages with special effects in California and Paris.| Sigourney Weaver | Ellen Ripley |
| Winona Ryder | Annalee Call |
| Ron Perlman | Johner |
| Dominique Pinon | Vriess |
| Michael Wincott | Elgyn |
| Dan Hedaya | Gen. Perez |
| J.E. Freeman | Dr. Wren |
| Brad Dourif | Gediman |
| Raymond Cruz | Distephano |
| Kim Flowers | Hillard |
| Gary Dourdan | Christie |
| Leland Orser | Purvis |
| David St. James | Surgeon |
Genre/Type - Horror, Science Fiction, Monster Film, Sci-Fi Action, Sci-Fi Horror
Produced by - 20th Century Fox / Brandywine
Release - Nov 12, 1997 (France)
Released by - 20th Century Fox
Running time - 108 min.
Starship Troopers (1997, Paul Verhoeven)
It! The Terror from Beyond Space (1958, Edward L. Cahn)
Pitch Black (2000, David N. Twohy)
is preceded by: Alien ³ (1992, David Fincher)