10 Greatest Use Of Practical SFX In Horror Movies

As a sci-fi film that arrived in 1979, two years after Star Wars, the model exteriors and spaceship interiors on Alien are impressive. But it is as a horror movie that director Ridley Scott’s masterpiece really comes alive in the special effects department, which were extraordinary for the age. The film follows the crew of the Nostromo spaceship as they answer a distress signal on an unknown planet.

They explore and come across a magnificent alien structure, designed by abstract artist H.R. Giger. Within the structure there are egg-like pods submerged in mist, and as Kane (John Hurt) investigates closer, one opens and a grotesque crab-esque creature with flailing tentacles attaches itself to his face. Kane is brought back to the ship's medical bay and his colleagues attempt to remove the ‘Face Hugger’, but discover it bleeds acid and it cannot be cut off. Soon, Kane wakes from his slumber and the creature is gone. The crew celebrate over dinner, leading to the iconic scene of the movie, and one of the most well-known sequences in the entire sci-fi/horror genre.

Kane goes into shock and, as he is pinned down to stop him convulsing, blood explodes from his chest, before an infantile alien creature follows, bursting out of his body. The crew search for the alien and we soon meet the fully grown creature, a stunning and iconic H.R Giger design known as the Xenomorph, which picks them off one by one before a climatic and beautifully shot showdown, with final girl Ripley (Sigourney Weaver).