It is no secret that sequels tend to get progressively worse, and that the third and intended to be final chapter of the alien trilogy by no means challenges that trend. Helmed by relative newcomer David Fincher, who would later make many commercial successes, including Fight Club and Seven, Alien 3 has many aspects that work and even more that don’t. A noble effort with partial faithfulness to the rapidly growing legion of fans that were inspired and impressed by Ridley Scott's revolutionary masterpiece, and then by James Cameron's unusually phenomenal sequel, Alien 3 is a chapter of the story that we can take or leave; although Fincher does attempt to tie up all of the loose ends to a seminal science-fiction storyline.

Ripley, Corporal Hicks, the demolished remains of Bishop the android, and the young girl survivor, Newt, drift in deep sleep in the outer regions of space, narrowly escaping the alien infestation of the mining colony Acheron. When their ship is discovered, Hicks and Newt are found dead, presumably by a fire that mysteriously started onboard. Ripley, alone and in shock from her harrowing adventures with the aliens, struggles to cope with her new environment, the prison colony of Fiorina 9, where groups of murderers and other miscreants attempt to control themselves in the presence of a female. But stowed away on the ship appears to have been a facehugger, which attacks a local dog and the weaponless prison colony quickly find themselves in the clutches of the hellishly lethal xenomorph.

David Fincher brings a dark, foreboding visual and atmospheric tone to the film, and the tattered and rusted locales of the filthy prison colony actually makes the alien even more menacing. Providing countless corridors and lightless passageways that could house the salivating killing machine, Alien 3 brings new terror to the immediacy of being hunted down one by one. In addition, the fact that the colonists are just as volatile as the alien, are unable to formulate plans the same way a colonial Marine could and have no weapons of any kind, allows for a wonderfully morbid setup. Viscera and pools of glistening blood also make frequent appearances and Fincher doesn't shy away from the gore; an autopsy scene on Newt is thrown in for disturbing measure, which cleverly uses the “less is more” idea on violence. Where Alien had its unique maturity for a horror film, Aliens had a nonstop suspenseful action, Alien 3 has an unabashed grittiness about it that reinvents the paranoia and terror of this most fascinating movie monstrosity.

Where Alien 3 fails is in its unfriendly story. Although the film tries to tie up all the loose ends and finish off the trilogy, the lack of likable characters and too-convenient events hinders its overall appeal. Ripley loses her hair, adding to her still notably independent character from the first two films, and has grown a little rough around the edges, presumably too familiar with the alien and deception from fellow humans. A supporting cast of misfits and lesser-known actors comprise the prisoners, and while they adequately portray ruffians, there is not a likable one amongst them. A theme that runs through most alien and horror films is that humans can be just as cruel and inhuman as the creatures they fight. Early on the audience will probably assume that, once again, very few will survive. A budding romantic interest between Ripley and Clemens is even abruptly cut short, and the last of the surviving prisoners are the ones you don't want to see live. Abandoning the interesting and identifiable characters of Hicks and Newt was perhaps a poor decision, considering the pre-existing following those characters had, provoking the likeliness that audiences will instead root for the alien.

The makeup and practical creature effects, including the puppeteering and animatronics are all quite good. The computer-generated alien however, is so poorly constructed that switching between practical effects and CG is painfully noticeable and jars the flow of suspense. With potential from the bleak setting, and the success of the previous Alien films, Alien 3 falters on a few too many points to keep it up with the incredibly high standards of the first two. A decent attempt by director David Fincher, his supreme consolation is that even more films followed - and they got exponentially worse, sadly destroying the once awe-inspiring Alien.

- Mike Massie

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