Over the years, many filmmakers have taken on the challenge of cinematic depictions of aliens and have proven to be immensely successful. While the concept that humans are not alone in the universe is inherently terrifying, Not all alien movies are meant to scare. For example, films like Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival focus on more conceptual themes, while films like Steven Spielberg ET, the Extraterrestrial offer joyful depictions of supernatural visitors.
The release of Ridley Scott’s famous 1979 blockbuster Foreigner represented a groundbreaking moment for these types of films and effectively revolutionized the extraterrestrial sci-fi horror genre. The most recent addition to the beloved franchise came with the 2024 release of Foreigner: Romulo, which takes place 20 years after the original story. The legendary director’s journey certainly doesn’t end there, considering Ridley Scott is developing a new Foreigner film. Although the Foreigner The franchise includes several incredible films, many other films focus on otherworldly occurrences and tell truly chilling stories.
10
10 Cloverfield Street (2016)
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg
10 Cloverfield Street represents an interesting case in the context of the genre. The aliens themselves are not the focus of the plot at all. On the contrary, it is the idea of their existence that makes the film disturbing. After Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is in a car accident, she wakes up in a bunker with an unknown man named Howard (John Goodman) and Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.).
His first thought is that she has been kidnapped, but Howard claims that the land above is uninhabitable due to an attack, whether from another country – or from another world. The film resembles a psychological drama in that the legitimacy of the circumstances is never clear. Certain developments suggest that Walter is telling the truth, while others suggest he has a malicious nature. 10 Cloverfield Lane’s the ending ultimately reveals the reality about the world above and makes the film even more terrifying.
9
Signs (2002)
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Signs marked director M. Night Shyamalan’s 5th project, and he delivered a true classic. The film doesn’t rely on over-the-top gore or visually stunning monsters to inspire fear. Instead, Shyamalan depicts the reveal of what an alien encounter would be like, and it’s truly scary. In the film, Graham Hess’ (Mel Gibson) life is turned upside down when he comes across otherworldly patterns cut into his farm field.
It’s not about the actions of the aliens, but rather the psychological torment they bring to the characters.
Signs uses its tense atmosphere to create a feeling of discomfort. It’s not the fact that the aliens are attacking that makes it scary, but rather the idea that they are present and lurking. There is so much build-up throughout the plot that the brief appearances of aliens are even more terrifying. The film is so simple in its structure, but it fits the narrative perfectly. It’s not about the actions of the aliens, but rather the psychological torment they bring to the characters.
8
No (2021)
Directed by Jordan Peele
No was legendary horror director Jordan Peele’s first attempt at portraying an alien story. While it didn’t receive the same degree of positive critical reception as his previous works, it ended up being an incredibly intriguing and disturbing film. The plot follows OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and his sister Emerald (Keke Palmer), who try to obtain evidence of extraterrestrial life after encountering a UFO.
The film doesn’t exactly follow the traditional formula of an alien film, but it doesn’t take away from the horror. It’s not about the malicious nature of the visitors, but rather what their existence represents. From a horror point of view, No is reinforced by its dark cinematography and anxiety-inducing scenes. Not only is it a chilling film, but it offers many insightful underlying concepts. OJ and Emerald’s tireless efforts to capture the aliens on camera show Hollywood’s fascination with capturing a spectacle. No The unique ending also poses many questions about the film’s message.
7
Foreigner (1979)
Directed by Ridley Scott
The classic and beloved Foreigner created a formula for the genre that worked incredibly well. The well-written narrative, excellent performances, and thrilling action were just some of the reasons why the film became so famous. As Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and her crewmates become trapped by a malevolent life form on the USCSS Nostromo, there is a real sense of helplessness.
Ridley Scott’s decision to rely on practical effects rather than overbearing CGI created a tangible, horrific atmosphere. The representation of the Xenomorph was truly unique, and arguably the best design for an alien to date. The film is so gripping and offers a unique suspension of disbelief. In addition to its distinct premise, Foreigner is filled with violent blood that is often difficult to watch. All of these factors combined to create an iconic, blood-curdling story that, unsurprisingly, inspired an entire franchise.
6
A Quiet Place (2018)
Directed by John Krasinski
A peaceful place was a box office success when it was released, and understandably so. It was soon followed by a sequel and a recent origin story dubbed A peaceful place: first day. The premise is very original and meets the main characteristics that qualify a film as horror. The hyperviolent aliens have super strength and hearing, but a complete lack of vision. These monsters effectively hunt using sound, and it’s downright nerve-wracking. Jump scares are one of the most effective methods of instilling fear in horror films, and A peaceful place implements them so well.
Due to the circumstances of the story, the audio is often limited to the sounds of nature or complete silence. Consequently, when the grotesque aliens attack, it’s even more horrific and chaotic. It’s even scarier that the daughter, Regan (Millicent Simmonds), is deaf and can’t feel how much noise she’s making. The film uses its unique perspective to its advantage in several emotional scenes. It’s interesting to have a horror film without sound, but that only serves to benefit the atmosphere.
5
Annihilation (2018)
Directed by Alex Garland
Loosely based on the novel of the same name Annihilation is visually stunning sci-fi filled with absolutely wild scenes. The story follows biologist Lena (Natalie Portman) as she ventures into an unexplained ethereal bubble known as “The Shimmer” that has formed offshore. Within the mysterious landscape, the laws of nature work in strange ways as plants and aliens mutate due to the alien presence. The film is completely different from the traditional alien genre scheme, but it is executed perfectly.
Annihilation It’s scary for several reasons. The world within the glow is masterfully crafted to present a reality that seems devoid of any logic. Things behave differently than they should and this slowly drives the characters into madness that seems to extend beyond the screen. Although the challenges Lena encounters are daunting, the film does not inspire fear in the expected way. Instead, it inflicts a sense of psychological trauma. Given the complicated nature of the film, there are several explanations behind Annihilation meaning.
4
Dark Skies (2013)
Directed by Scott Stewart
Dark Skies explores how the presence of aliens can disrupt every aspect of life and turn reality into a living nightmare. At the center of the story is the Barrett family, who live a relatively quiet life. However, things begin to change when random occurrences begin to occur, from birds flying through the window to spontaneous nosebleeds. Dark Skies is criminally underrated given how scary the film’s setting is.
There never seems to be any hope for the victims of the otherworldly guests. Despite the family’s best efforts, the constant torment imposed on them seems inevitable. The design of the aliens, known as “The Grays”, is equally blood-curdling. They are tall, faceless, shadowy figures that have a similar appearance to Slenderman. Even when they’re not physically present, they’re pulling strings to make the characters feel like they’re going crazy. Even better, Dark Skies’ the ending is unexpected, creative and, above all, scary.
3
No One Will Save You (2023)
Directed by Brian Duffield
No one will save you it had an unexpected amount of substance for a relatively subtle release. The plot follows Brynn Adams (Kaitlyn Dever), who lives alone and never socializes. She is shunned by her classmates and keeps to herself, but one night, she is suddenly visited by supernatural guests. In a creative play on words, Brynn is effectively a kind of alien within her community, who are terrorized by real aliens. The film is so sinister not just because of the mysterious aliens, but because of the circumstances of Brynn’s contact with them.
She is alone, trapped in her home, with virtually no hope of escape. The horror is surprisingly heightened by the depiction of the aliens. Much like the monsters in A peaceful placeThese humanoid figures are long, gangly, spider-like creatures that move quickly on their four legs. Although the plot is oddly paced, the story is filled with suspense and petrifying portraits of aliens who will stop at nothing to get to their victims.
2
The Fourth Kind (2009)
Directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi
Considering the alien film subgenre as a whole, There are no other jobs like The fourth type. The film is shot in the style of a pseudo-documentary, serving as a reenactment of rumored extraterrestrial occurrences that occurred in Nome, Alaska. The film is certainly not perfect. The plot is sometimes interconnected and doesn’t necessarily stick to the source material.
However, The fourth type It makes up for its narrative flaws with intense scenes that are sure to thrill and terrify. In a style similar to V/H/S horror franchise, the film often uses distorted and shaky camera footage to create an uncomfortable environment. While the meta-movie style is a little hard to get used to, when the action ramps up, it’s chilling. The horror of The fourth type It doesn’t come from anything flashy, but it is rather a product of short possession scenes that are elevated by the circumstances of the story.
1
Fire in the Sky (1993)
Directed by Robert Lieberman
Fire in the sky It’s an alien film par excellence. The story is essentially a blueprint for what an extraterrestrial encounter would look like. A ship appears, someone is transported, and ultimately has to face the terrors of what awaits. The film is already horrible, but even more disturbing considering that the plot is based on the account of a real person, Travis Walton. Walton claims he was abducted by a UFO in 1975 and woke up to three humanoid creatures staring at him.
Fire in the sky the description of your experience is significantly adjustedbut it makes for a terrifying film. In one of the genre’s most famous scenes to date, three aliens operate on Walton (DB Sweeney) as he desperately struggles to free himself. As his captors experiment on him, they wrap him in a membrane-like sheet and insert several metal rods into his body. It’s possibly the most terrifying scenario anyone could imagine, and it’s one of the many reasons why Fire in the sky is among the scariest alien films.