Alien: Resurrection (1997)
Review Date: January 24th, 2023
Hi everyone. This is my 1st Movie Review of 2023. Also, the final installment of the OG Alien Series. I also purchased the OG Alien Movies off of iTunes about a month ago. But this film takes place 200 years after the events of Alien 3 (1992). So let’s get down to the review for today.
Sigourney Weaver - Ellen Ripley/Ripley 8
Winona Ryder - Call
WARNING: SPOILERS AWAIT!!
☠️
200 years after the events of Alien 3 (1992), military scientists on Auriga create a clone of Ellen Ripley, designated…
Ripley 8
using DNA from blood samples taken before her death.
The Xenomorph Queen's DNA has been combined with Ripley's, so the clone grows up with an embryo inside it. The scientists extract the embryo, raise it, & collect its eggs while keeping Ripley 8 alive for future study. As a result of the Xenomorphs' DNA inside her, the clone has enhanced strength, reflexes, acidic blood, & a psychic connection with the Xenomorphs. Additionally, the Xenomorph's genetic memory allows the clone to have some of Ripley's memories.
A group of mercenaries consisting of…
1. Elgyn
2. Johner
3. Christie
4. Vriess
5. Hillard
6. Call
arrives from Betty, & they deliver several abducted humans in stasis. Then, the military scientists use the humans as hosts for the aliens, raising several adult Xenomorphs for study. Call was played by Winona Ryder. She appeared in Beetlejuice (1988), Edward Scissorhands (1990), & Girl, Interrupted (1999) as well.
The Betty crew soon encounters Ripley 8. Call recognizes her name, & tries to kill her, suspecting that Ripley 8 may be used to create Xenomorphs. But the creatures have already been cloned. The mature Xenomorphs escape confinement by killing off one of their own to use its acidic blood to burn through their enclosures, & capture Dr. Jonathan Gediman. They damage the Auriga, & kill the majority of the crew who failed to evacuate, including General Perez & Elgyn.
Military scientist, Dr. Wren reveals that the ship's default command in an emergency is to return to Earth. Realizing that this will unleash the Xenomorphs on Earth, Ripley 8, the mercenaries, Wren, a soldier named DiStephano, & surviving Xenomorph host, Purvis decide to head for the Betty, & use it to destroy the Auriga.
Along the way, Ripley 8 discovers a laboratory containing the grotesque results of the previous 7 failed attempts to clone Ellen Ripley. A surviving 1 begs Ripley 8 to euthanize her. She complies, & then incinerates the lab.
As the group makes their way through the damaged ship, they swim through a flooded kitchen. They are chased by 2 Xenomorphs. 1 is killed, while the other snatches Hillard. As they escape the kitchen, the Xenomorph returns, & blinds Christie, who sacrifices himself to kill the Xenomorph. After Wren betrays the group, Call is revealed to be an android. (Plot Twist)
Using her ability to interface with the Auriga's systems, Call sets it on a collision course with Earth, hoping to destroy the Xenomorphs in the crash. She cuts off Wren's escape route, & directs the Xenomorphs toward him. Ripley 8 is captured by an Xenomorph, while the others head for the Betty.
Wren, who is already aboard, shoots Purvis, takes Call hostage, & demands that she abort the collision. An injured Purvis attacks Wren, & forces Wren's head to his chest as the Xenomorph embryo he is carrying bursts through his ribcage, killing them both. Then, the survivors shoot, & kill the juvenile Xenomorph.
Ripley is taken to the Alien nest, where she finds Gediman, alive & partially cocooned. The Alien queen, having developed a uterus as a result of her genetic contamination with Ripley 8, gives birth to an Xenomorph with overtly human traits.
Unable to bond with the queen, the hybrid Xenomorph recognizes Ripley 8 as its mother. So it kills the Alien queen, & Gediman. Ripley 8 takes advantage of the distraction to escape, & makes her way to the Betty.
The newborn hybrid reaches the ship, & attacks Call, killing DiStephano when he tries to help her. Ripley 8 finds her way onto the ship, & saves Call, by distracting the hybrid. Using her acidic blood, Ripley 8 melts a hole in a window, & pushes the hybrid towards it. The decompression violently blows the creature through the hole, & out into space as Ripley 8 watches on tearfully.
The countdown on the Auriga continues as the survivors escape in the Betty. The Auriga collides with Earth, causing a large explosion. As they look down at Earth, Call asks, “What should we do?” Ripley 8 replies, "I don't know, I'm a stranger here myself.”
THE END
Alien: Resurrection (1997) Isn’t as good as the 1st 3. But it’s still a really good movie. But the 200 year time gap was surprising.
OVERALL: 8/10 | End of Review
Link to Contacts & Social Media:
Follow my Facebook & Instagram for more Popcorn Office fun! What movies do you think I should review in 2023? Use this email: