Note the consistency of design in the title sequences to the Alien Quadrilogy. Note too how they differ. Does each tangent of theme reflect the respective film?

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ALIEN

Crossing over an eclipsing planet with the title appearing in non-linear, segmented letters. From the outer letters inwards (even the middle swath of the letter “E” is last to appear). Everything pointing to the center because the center is where the parasitic pupae of the Alien comes from; the middle of you. Steady, dark tension.

UK/USA | 1979 | Color | 2.20:1 | English/Spanish | DVD

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ALIENS

The sparse, soldiering snare drum opening to an almost digital yet organic titling, like the profile of some never before seen hive. The text, apparitional at first, seems to be gestating; the “I” blooms into a symbol of life and we are in the story with a masterful tilt down on the encroaching vessel. Fairly glorious.

USA/UK | 1986 | Color | 1.85:1 | English | DVD

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ALIEN³

The last brassy notes of the Twentieth Century Fox theme holds and contorts into the reverberating growl of the film’s soundscape. Then, the familiarity of the abyss punctuated by staccato, mini cut scenes that move the story along. New format, familiar threads…the wrinkle, we begin to understand, will be in the telling. Nothing comforts quite like facehuggers interrupting stasis to earn cinematic trust!

USA | 1992 | Color | 2.20:1 | English | DVD

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ALIEN RESURRECTION

The womb-like viscera of human and alien-crossed monstrosities connotes a bastardization.

USA | 1997 | Color | 2.35:1 | English | DVD

Alien: Resurrection – Alternate

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