14 Most Terrifying Moments From Alien Films
9. Sorry To Interrupt, We'll Be Leaving Now (Aliens)
Ripley goes searching for Newt at the dangerously unstable processing station after she had been taken by the aliens (another terrifying moment in itself). That's despite Bishop warning Ripley that "in 19 minutes this place is gonna be a cloud of vapour the size of Nebraska".
Our fearless heroine delves deeper down, leaving tiny flares as markers on the ground in order to retrace her steps, and blasting the flamethrower now and again for good measure. She hears Newt screaming in terror and eventually extricates her from the hideous hive, having blasted a facehugger and an incoming Xenomorph to pieces. Phew! All Ripley has worry about is remembering where she dropped those flares.
There's taking a wrong turn, then there's taking a wrong turn into the Xenomorph's main egg chamber. What adds to the tension here is the deathly hush that accompanies Ripley's realisation, and the way the camera pans in real time with Ripley along the slimy ovipositor towards the big reveal of the all-singing, all-dancing Alien Queen.
What follows is an intriguing battle of wits between Ripley and Her Heavy Breathing Xenomorph Majesty. Two alien soldiers approach menacingly; Ripley notices and fires a warning flamethrower shot over the eggs. The Alien Queen indicates for the two aliens to move back.
Ripley and Newt slowly begin to leave. However an egg hatches and Ripley, clearly unimpressed, obliterates all of Queenie's reproductive hard work. Those flares still better be flaring.