10 Terrifying Dream Sequences In Horror Movies

1984 star John Hurt's death-by-chest-burster may be the most iconic scene in the Alien series, but the sequel's chilling nightmare gives it a run for its money in terms of sheer visceral impact.

As our heroine Ridley comes to terms with awakening from hyper sleep, she learns that not only is her ordeal on the Nostromo over, but surprise, she's been out of commission for over fifty years. As if that weren't enough, she soon learns that she's actually pregnant with a little baby Xenomorph of her own.

There's not a lot of gore actually on display in this effective sequence, with ingenious sound design elevating a heartbeat to deafening volume and Sigourney Weaver's Exorcist-worthy contortions doing the majority of the work.

The result is a horrifying sequence so effective that original Alien helmer Ridley Scott couldn't resist redoing it in far gorier detail when he created 2012's prequel Prometheus. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, so here's hoping Titanic director James Cameron can find it in his heart to forgive the Gladiator helmer.