15 Most Terrifying Sci-Fi Movie Scenes Ever

To be honest, this entire list could be made up of scenes from Alien, as it introduced the world to one of the most recognisable and terrifying creatures ever devised. But, to keep it fair, only one of its terrifying scenes can go on this list, and while the chest-burster is amazing, its more surprising than terrifying. What is terrifying however, is Brett’s death.

This scene has very little score, with the only real noises being dripping water and clinking chains. The grimy setting, is full of long distorted shadows, making it hard to see what’s lurking out of site

The terror really starts though, when Brett (Harry Stanton) finds Jones (the cat). The dangling chains disappear, the Xenomorph’s tail slowly swings down, and the score slowly creeps in. As Brett turns, we’re given a close up of the Xenomorph, and it is genuinely the stuff of nightmares, made even more terrible by the in aliens chilling sound design.

Its whole body is shaking, and its drooling, hissing mouth gets closer and closer to the camera before its retractable jaw shoots out into Brett’s skull. The kill itself is incredibly quick, and you barely have time to register it. All you can do hide behind the sofa and hope the Xenomorph doesn’t get you too.

This scene is incredible and just as effective today as when it was first released in 1979. It is a real masterclass of suspense and is one of the most terrifying scenes in cinema.