Alien Minute

Episode 104: Three is Better Than Two

Today, Erin joins us again to talk a little about P.T. Anderson, a lot about Brian De Palma, and we say goodbye to the Commercial Towing Vessel Nostromo as it somehow explodes three times.

Episode 103: Playing as Fair as You Can Play

KCAI Instructor Erin Hamer-Beck returns to help us suss out how the Alien ended up on the shuttle, whether or not he is napping, and just how adaptive it really is.

Episode 102: Pet Carriers and Permed Bangs

Erin Hamer-Beck returns to talk with us about belching fire, focus pulling, visible c-stands, and Sigourney Weaver's legacy in Sci-Fi cinema.

Episode 101: Balance of Terror

Episode 100: Mu-th-er Gives the Finger

It's our 100th episode and Krysztoff Nemeth returns once more to talk about Ripley's justifiable temper tantrum, Mu-th-er's middle fingers, and the value of repetition.

Episode 99: Reducing the Subject

Episode 98: The Ripley Side-Eye

Krysztof Nemeth returns to discuss asynchronous ticking sounds, disorientation techniques, and an intentionally "bad" music cut.

Episode 97: I'll Buy Anything Walter Murch Sells Me

Krysztof Nemeth returns to talk about the benefits of cacophonous sound design, precariously placed cat carriers, and arguably the worst Director's Cut addition.

Episode 96: Dark Pattern

This week we welcome Krysztof Nemeth who joins us to talk about the engine room, establishing the Ripley vs. Alien scenario, and intentionally circuitous self-destruct systems. Permalink

Episode 95: The Big Shift

We finish our week with Marya E. Gates by discussing what's left of Lambert and Parker, our own personal fears, and how we read the shift to full Ripley point-of-view. Permalink

Episode 94: Requiem for a Navigator (and an Engineeer)

Today we are joined again by Marya E. Gates to talk about Parker's death, Ripley's shoes, and what exactly happened to Lambert.

Episode 93: Lambert in the Spotlight

Marya E. Gates is back to talk with us about economy of filmmaking, how we feel about the full body shot of the Alien, and whether Lambert got a fair shake. Permalink

Episode 92: Leading Up to a Jump

Marya E. Gates is back to discuss uncharacteristic cat behavior, an interesting Ash theory, and silent era filmmaker Lois Weber.Permalink

Episode 91: The Clanging of Canisters

This week we welcome Turner Classic Movies' very own Marya E. Gates to talk about clanging canisters, forgotten trackers, and to get her point of view on the Ripley/Jones relationship. Permalink

Episode 90: The Great Jones Controversy

Ian McNeice joins us again from sunny London Town to talk about some of his future roles, the great Ripley/Jones controversy, and an alternate timeline where Lambert has the flamethrower.Permalink

Episode 89: Sci-Fi Switch Flippin'

Today, Ian McNeice joins us as we pull our hair back and get down to the business of discussing ship geography, long takes, and how difficult it was to work with Milos Forman. Permalink

Episode 88: No Cavities

Ian McNeice is back to talk about the benefits of rehearsal, fighting for character moments, and Ash's cavity-free skull.Permalink

Episode 87: Raw Ash

Actor Ian McNeice returns to talk about Ash's soliloquy, an actor's preference in regards to camera setups, and working with SIGOURNEY WEAVER!!!! Permalink

Episode 86: Exposition Has Always Been Tricky

This week we're joined by venerable character actor Ian McNeice to talk about Ash spitting up milk, a fully deflated Lambert, and the trouble with exposition-heavy performances.Permalink

Episode 85: It's Like Grappling Hooks and Jet Packs

Violet returns one last time to talk disembodied heads, a helpful exposition dump, and the clumsiest moment in the movie.Permalink

Episode 84: Just Enough Cooks

Violet Lucca is back to talk about milk spewing androids, more expository ADR, and how Alien was the product of serendipitous collaboration.Permalink

Episode 83: The Second Monster

Violet Lucca is back again to discuss a crazy suffocation scheme, the vice-grip of an android hand, and the added layer of introducing a second monster to a horror movie. Permalink

Episode 82: The Strange Acknowledgement of an Observing Force

Violet Lucca joins us as we talk about meta camera movement, mirroring wounds, and the nature of the infamous "nudie nook".Permalink

Episode 81: A Movie Made Out of Echoes

Today we're joined by Violet Lucca from Film Comment Magazine to talk about Ash's creepy reveal, Ripley's violent reaction to it, and the use of inverted callbacks in the screenplay. Permalink

Episode 80: Crew Expendable

Tyler and David from Battleship Pretension return one last time to talk about Sigourney Weaver's brilliant performance, Dan O'Bannon's dislike of the robot subplot, and the weirdly warm feeling provided by the sound design of MU-TH-ER. Permalink

Episode 79: Parker Action Man

David and Tyler return to discuss MU-TH-ER's design, examine the choice to cut a certain scene, and pine for the days of a minimalist Ridley Scott.Permalink

Episode 78: Don't Follow Me

Tyler Smith and David Bax are back to talk about Parker's possible problem with Ash, Ash's problem with eye contact, and Sigourney Weaver's acting acrobatics. Permalink

Episode 77: Listen to the Most Scared Person

David Bax and Tyler Smith return to talk about Parker's recalcitrance, Lambert's fearful decisiveness, and Ripley's adaptability.Permalink

Episode 76: An Honest Scare

Today, Tyler Smith and David Bax from the Battleship Pretension Podcast join us to discuss audience reaction to the Alien reveal, how to read Ash's emotionless profile, and Tom Skeritt's wonderful performance.Permalink

Episode 75: I Can't Believe This is Happening

Marlon West joins us for one last time to talk about a worried Dallas, a nervous Ripley, and a handful of goo.Permalink