Alien (1979)

 

After a space merchant vessel receives an unknown transmission as a distress call, one of the crew is attacked by a mysterious life form and they soon realize that its life cycle has merely begun. 

Superbly directed and highly suspenseful sci-fi thriller, the decrepit spaceship design and especially the truly abhorrent creation of the alien still influence sci-fi and horror movies to this day.

On re-watching: a classic of its genre that reveals new details on every new viewing.

Halliwell****: "Deliberately scarifying and highly commercial shocker. On its own terms, a classic of suspense - and art direction."

Maltin***1/2: "Space-age horror film reverts to 1950s formula, but unfolds at a deliberate pace, populates the story with interesting, colorful characters, and plants its (genuine) shock moments with exceptional skill. Imitated but seldom equaled." 

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

When seeds drift to earth from space, mysterious pods begin to grow and invade a small town, replicating the residents one body at a time. 

Strangely, I keep reading that this quite efficient horror thriller is a remake of the old classic, but it actually is a straight continuation which even includes the ending of that movie re-staged with the same actor.

On rewatching: excellent sci-fi horror, one of the best of the 1970s.

Halliwell: "Flashy updating of the 1956 classic, mistakenly set in a big city and confusingly unravelled, with nobody for the audience to empathize with. Its nicest effect is to have Kevin McCarthy appear in a cameo."

Maltin***: "Chilling remake of 1956 classic with many new twists and turns; unfortunately, it runs out of steam and offers one climax too many."

Goin' South (1978)

Due to the lack of men after the Civil War, a small western town allows a bachelorette with ulterior motives to save a horse thief from the gallows by marrying him.

From memory: Imagine Jack Nicholson indulging himself in directing a humorous Western with himself in the lead role and you pretty well know what you're getting; entertaining, but very messy and overlong.

Halliwell (no star): "Curious semi-comic Western which might have made a good two-reeler."

Maltin***: "Amusing Western comedy, not for all tastes...Steenburgen is refreshingly offbeat and Belushi's disappointingly small role is a real hoot."