10 Terrifying Sci-Fi Horror Movie Monsters With Very Little Screen Time
These nasty critters knew how to leave an impression.
One of the golden rules in storytelling is "less is more", and that phrase is even more applicable to the horror genre, especially when it comes to sci-fi horror.
Even if a movie creature is well-designed and intimidating, it can lose its mystique completely if it's overexposed. The Xenomorph in Alien and the titular character in Predator terrified an entire generation, despite the fact both characters were only on screen for a matter of minutes. Hell, the monsters from Bird Box freaked out moviegoers even though they're never seen at any point. This proves that knowing when to show the big bad beastie is much more important than how often it's shown.
Over the years, there have been aliens, interdimensional entities, and a surprising amount of mutant bears that have shocked moviegoers to their very core. Even though some of the nasty critters on this list are never seen clearly, they well and truly got under our skin.
These ten sci-fi monsters came and went in the blink of an eye, but that's all it took for them to scare viewers out of their minds.
10. The Creature By the Road Side - Xtro
Low-budget British horror Xtro opens with a father, Sam, abducted by an unknown light in the sky. Three years later, the light returns and plants a seed in the woods, and that seed quickly sprouts into a creature made from the DNA of Sam and an alien. (This is a weird film, by the way.)
Even though this is meant to be a gripping scene, the cheap, rubbery costume of the monster undercuts the tension. After seeing this laughable outfit, viewers shouldn't have high hopes for what's to come.
Having said that, there's one jump-scare that catches many first-time watchers off-guard. While the extra-terrestrial crawls around the forest, the camera cuts to a couple driving on a countryside road. As they listen to tranquil music on the radio, it's easy to momentarily forget about the little critter.
With no warning, the camera cuts to the alien on the roadside, just before it collides with the vehicle. To ensure viewers jump out of their skin, the shot is accompanied by a deafening synthesised sound.
The creature doesn't look great, but the way it's revealed here is flawless.