3. Alien (1979) – Workers’ Rights
One of the most well-known and beloved horror movies of all time, Alien has certainly been no stranger to deeper analysis. In-depth studies have been conducted on the film and its deeper themes, and that level of analysis is better suited for places less bound by the confines of the Corner of Film list format. However, there is one prevailing theme throughout Alien, and it’s genuinely surprising: it’s seemingly a film about worker’s rights.
The crew of the Nostromo are heard on multiple occasions complaining about the working conditions and inadequate pay. There’s also a secret corporate plant onboard, Ash, who has been tasked with retrieving the Xenomorph at all costs. The story of a company jeopardizing the lives of its workers in order to protect their own corporate interests practically speaks for itself, but there are theories that the theme runs even deeper.
Charles Graham-Dixon of the BFI believes that the Xenomorph itself is a metaphor for corporate interests. Ash’s line about it being a “perfect organism… unclouded by conscience or remorse or delusions of morality” appears to back up his ideas, making it a particularly compelling argument. Regardless, the themes of workers rights and the cold-blooded greed of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation are practically undeniable, although it’s easy to forget due to the iconic nature of Alien and its sequels.