Alien Resurrection (soundtrack)

The Alien Resurrection soundtrack is the musical score composed by John Frizzell for the 1997 science fiction horror film Alien Resurrection, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. This was the fourth film in the Alien franchise.

Frizzell's score deviates significantly from the previous scores in the series, composed by Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, and Elliot Goldenthal. It features a more avant-garde and experimental approach, incorporating elements of electronic music, synthesized soundscapes, and orchestral arrangements. The score is often described as being colder and more mechanistic than its predecessors, reflecting the sterile and artificial environment of the USM Auriga research vessel where much of the film takes place.

Key themes within the soundtrack include a main theme for the clone Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), which expresses her conflicted identity and emerging humanity, and more aggressive and dissonant cues used to underscore the action sequences involving the Xenomorphs and other creatures. The soundtrack aims to capture the film’s dark, violent, and often unsettling atmosphere.

The original soundtrack album was released in 1997 by RCA Records. While it received mixed reviews from critics, with some appreciating its unique approach and others finding it less memorable than previous Alien scores, it remains a notable entry in the franchise's musical history. Limited edition releases and expanded scores have appeared in subsequent years, offering more comprehensive presentations of Frizzell's work on the film.