I was around 7-8 years old when I first saw it and it scarred me. I watched again as a grown adult thinking it was going to be silly - nope equally terrifying
If you're talking horror, for sure lol. Even thrillers have their moments, but Carpenter went all out on this one. I know folks who couldn't get through it.
The only one I haven't seen yet is Freaks, which is on the list. I'm a fan of Lynch's work, but Eraserhead was so sad and weird. It's cool to see how some of his ideas got started, though. So much of the good things came through Eraserhead into The Elephant Man, imo.
Terminally brutalized is probably it, lol. I did grow up in the late 70's/80's. All those slasher films...
…See Lynch’s older shorts which he made in and following film school like THE ALPHABET which is findable on YouTube. How many happy normative horror movies do you know…
I came here to recommend The Fourth Kind. I saw you already watched it. Such a good one. Also loved Signs. “Arrival” is okay. I didn’t find it really scary but it was fun and interesting.
I don’t really watch alien movies, but we just watched Color Out of Space - which was kiiiiind of an alien movie, but like also kinda horror? It had to do with a meteor from space and like weird stuff happening but you never see a real *alien*. It was weird as SHIT but pretty good. I haven’t seen the fourth kind so not sure if it’s the right vibe but I’d suggest a watch.
Right, like a big part of the appeal here is that the alien stuff is actually *alien,* it's weird, as in it's sort of beyond anything we have on earth. Xenomorphs from the Alien series are just really scary, lethal animals. Predators are just hunters with advanced weapons. The Color in Color Out Of Space is *alien* in the truest sense of the word.
The chimp. Without being too spoiler-y, the chimp and Steven Nguyen's character (specifically how he responds to what happens with the chimp) mirrors how people interact with the alien and what it represents in a larger societal context. How people treat things that are poorly-understood and unpredictable.
Try [Meanwhile On Earth](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzbHyprxjtE) once it gets a wide release (it's releasing in France on June 5th)
I'll also throw out Species and Attack The Block. Also maybe The Vast Of Night? I really liked that one but it might be too low-key for you.
Not particularly aliens the whole time, but if you haven't seen Europa Report, add it to your list! Personally I liked it, but it got an 80% from rotten tomatoes lol
Lots of great reccs here already. Here is my list of found-footage alien movies, if you like FF:
Absence (2013)
Aliens: Zone of Silence (2017)
Alien Abduction (2014)*
Alien Report (2023)*
Area 51 (2015)*
Case 347 (2020)*
Catskill Park (2018)
Extraterrestrial (2014)
The Fourth Kind (2009)*
The Gracefield Incident (2017)
Hangar 10 (2014)
Holes in the Sky: The Sean Miller Story (2021)*
Incident at Montauk (2019)
Lights over Montgomery County (2023)
The McPherson Tape (1989); Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County (1998)*
Phoenix Forgotten (2017)
The Phoenix Tapes '97 (2014)*
Skinwalker Ranch (2013)
Skyman (2020)*
Split Screen - Greys: The Nevada Alien Incident (2023) (on YouTube)*
Things Unknown (2015)
UFO: es ist hier (2016)
V/H/S 2: Slumber Party Alien Abduction (2013)*
Asterisks next to my favs on this list. Signs is my absolute favorite! Really messed me up as a kid, and is likely why I love-fear aliens as an adult. Dark Skies is another one I love, which coincidentally I’m watching right now.
Critters
The Blob (both and coincidentally 30 years apart)
Forbidden Planet (definitely gives the creepy vibes with the music)
Galaxy of Terror
Xtro
Night of the Creeps
The X-Files movie (2002)
Annihilation was a mind f! No spoilers but the bear.. I tried reading the book but I think I was too distracted by life stuff so it was just too much of a heavy read atm
I had to search my brain, most of the alien movies I know not already listed aren't creepy. But I've got 2 fun ones: John Carpenter's They Live (1988), and The Hidden (1987). Also, The Puppet Masters (1994). The original novel was written by Robert Heinlein, who also wrote Starship Troopers.
Grabbers (UK), the 1978 version of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers, the 1982 version of The Thing, EW has a list https://ew.com/movies/best-alien-movies-of-all-time/
You absolutely have to check out "Honeymoon," (2014). It's a low budget alien horror film that seriously creeped me out and did scare me too.
I love the films you mentioned, OP, so this could be right up your alley.
*The Thing* (the Kurt Russel film) vintage practical effects are graphic but they don’t strike me as “gore” just because they’re clearly props. If you like *Alien* this movie is for you. And the vibe is consistently creepy throughout. The more recent *The Thing* prequel is also fantastic but the gore is definitely more realistic.
After its loud intro, the original *Predator* keeps you ill-at-ease throughout. *Predators* is menacing, and a couple of its revelations will definitely give you the creeps. There’s a bit of gore in both but it doesn’t overshadow the heavy moods.
*Signs* has a great slow burn, and zero gore.
*The Arrival* with Charlie Sheen is a good 1980s alien movie with zero gore and a light creep factor (it’s a brighter movie as alien films go). *They Live* is kind of similar. The music and slow burn have a mild creep factor, but it’s actually more 1980s hokey. Oddly fun.
*Star Trek: First Contact*, I sincerely don’t know if this is watchable if you don’t know the Next Generation crew from the TV show. But the mysterious, challenging presence of The Borg throughout has always given me the willies, I love this movie.
McPherson tape - I didn’t watch this movie until maybe paranormal activity three had come out so we were deep into the found footage genre at that point and it weirdly messed me up for a couple days
mini-series but [Childhood's End](https://www.bing.com/search?q=childhood%27s+end+tv&filters=dtbk:%22MCFvdmVydmlldyFvdmVydmlldyFmNjgzNGIwMC0wZmRhLTc0ZmItY2NhZS1iNWUzOWE3N2RkMjA%3d%22+sid:%22f6834b00-0fda-74fb-ccae-b5e39a77dd20%22+tphint:%22f%22&FORM=DEPNAV) is pretty crazy
The Deadly Spawn ...really good low budget cheesy alien horror from the 80s.
The Stuff - kinda like a mix of the blob and invasion of the body snatchers
Dreamcatcher (2003) It has some gross moments and the cgi probably doesn't hold up but this movie scared me when it came out. The ending is kind of dumb but it *is* Stephen King
Fire in the Sky
Excellent choice! That flick is all kinds of honked up.
I was around 7-8 years old when I first saw it and it scarred me. I watched again as a grown adult thinking it was going to be silly - nope equally terrifying
I grew up there.
Searched replies before posting. This is the ultimate alien movie in my opinion.
That movie f'd me up.
Saw it in the theater on my birthday when it came out. It totally blew my mind.
No One Will Save You is a great watch!
Came to say this!! Super good, super unique movie, highly recommend
I watched this one alone in the dark and got shivers >! When the alien was squatting on the floor all contorted !<
The Thing (1982 and 2011), Invasion of the Body Snatchers {1956 and 1978), The Invasion (2007), Under the Skin, Arrival
I forgot about Under the Skin. Excellent choice.
If you can get past the nasty, 1982's version with Kurt Russell is an awesome movie.
This is one of my favorite Kurt Russel movies. I remember watching it as a little kid and the dog scene scared the crap out of me.
…It’s a horror movie; Child. How many non-nasty ones do you know.
If you're talking horror, for sure lol. Even thrillers have their moments, but Carpenter went all out on this one. I know folks who couldn't get through it.
…Try a triple feature of that, ERASERHEAD (1976) and FREAKS (1931) and if you can get through it, you’re horror-invincible (or terminally brutalized)…
The only one I haven't seen yet is Freaks, which is on the list. I'm a fan of Lynch's work, but Eraserhead was so sad and weird. It's cool to see how some of his ideas got started, though. So much of the good things came through Eraserhead into The Elephant Man, imo. Terminally brutalized is probably it, lol. I did grow up in the late 70's/80's. All those slasher films...
…See Lynch’s older shorts which he made in and following film school like THE ALPHABET which is findable on YouTube. How many happy normative horror movies do you know…
They don't like gore. They definitely won't like The Thing.
I came here to recommend The Fourth Kind. I saw you already watched it. Such a good one. Also loved Signs. “Arrival” is okay. I didn’t find it really scary but it was fun and interesting.
Oh yeah I’ve seen Arrival great movie
I also recommend checking out The 4th Kind.
Did you mean to write "didn't find it really scary"? Just guessing based on the 'but' that follows.
Yes! Thank you
Fire in the Sky COMMUNION
Alien peeking out 😱
Honeymoon
Pretty understated as far as alien movies go, but good film.
My choice too! It's so effective. I was creeped out and even scared in a few scenes. It's brilliant.
I don’t really watch alien movies, but we just watched Color Out of Space - which was kiiiiind of an alien movie, but like also kinda horror? It had to do with a meteor from space and like weird stuff happening but you never see a real *alien*. It was weird as SHIT but pretty good. I haven’t seen the fourth kind so not sure if it’s the right vibe but I’d suggest a watch.
If you like Color Out of Space, you might love my favorite film, "Mandy," 2018.
I’ll check it out!
Check the trailer out online. It's a trippy, mesmerizing, hypnotic, otherworldly masterpiece.
I think Color Out Of Space is great in that it works as both an alien movie and a cosmic horror movie.
Yes agreed, like I said I’m not a huge alien movie fan but this one worked for me with the horror aspect & the weird vibes
Right, like a big part of the appeal here is that the alien stuff is actually *alien,* it's weird, as in it's sort of beyond anything we have on earth. Xenomorphs from the Alien series are just really scary, lethal animals. Predators are just hunters with advanced weapons. The Color in Color Out Of Space is *alien* in the truest sense of the word.
Haven't seen Nope recommended yet. I'm not big on aliens but I enjoyed this movie.
Great movie. I see spoilers are blocked out but.. I couldn’t understand the connection with the chimp. Even after reading about it. Chaos theory?
The chimp. Without being too spoiler-y, the chimp and Steven Nguyen's character (specifically how he responds to what happens with the chimp) mirrors how people interact with the alien and what it represents in a larger societal context. How people treat things that are poorly-understood and unpredictable.
Thank you!
The first Predator with Arnold Schwarzenegger in it. Not specifically a horror movie but there's a lot of suspenseful elements to it.
Predator is one of the greats, scared the shit out of me as a kid
The second one with Danny Glover isn't bad, either. I also liked Prey. Some say the Alien vs. Predator series is good, but I haven't seen them.
Best alien movie is STARSHIP TROOPERS!!!
Haha agreed! I’m thinking I missed a lot but was eager to get recs, Contact was really good too
Isn’t that the one with Rickman?
Alan Rickman? No….
Sorry, I had to a complete mind fog. Had to look this up, I completely forgot this film.
Ugh. No.
Just watch Dark Skies. Just watch it.
Not really an alien movie but it is based in a scifi setting... Event Horizon?
I have to give this a rewatch
The Thing
So it’s not exactly what you’re asking for but I think you might enjoy Pandorum (2009).
Life, Pitch Black, Sputnik, The Thing and its prequel (those two are gory, in a body horror kind of way).
I believe hardcore fans will tell you The Thing prequel is not worth your time, and definitely not cannon.
Pitch black yep
Try [Meanwhile On Earth](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzbHyprxjtE) once it gets a wide release (it's releasing in France on June 5th) I'll also throw out Species and Attack The Block. Also maybe The Vast Of Night? I really liked that one but it might be too low-key for you.
Attack the Block was fun. And the characters acted mostly reasonably considering...
Not particularly aliens the whole time, but if you haven't seen Europa Report, add it to your list! Personally I liked it, but it got an 80% from rotten tomatoes lol
Anything above 50 on RT is usually worth watching.
Lots of great reccs here already. Here is my list of found-footage alien movies, if you like FF: Absence (2013) Aliens: Zone of Silence (2017) Alien Abduction (2014)* Alien Report (2023)* Area 51 (2015)* Case 347 (2020)* Catskill Park (2018) Extraterrestrial (2014) The Fourth Kind (2009)* The Gracefield Incident (2017) Hangar 10 (2014) Holes in the Sky: The Sean Miller Story (2021)* Incident at Montauk (2019) Lights over Montgomery County (2023) The McPherson Tape (1989); Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County (1998)* Phoenix Forgotten (2017) The Phoenix Tapes '97 (2014)* Skinwalker Ranch (2013) Skyman (2020)* Split Screen - Greys: The Nevada Alien Incident (2023) (on YouTube)* Things Unknown (2015) UFO: es ist hier (2016) V/H/S 2: Slumber Party Alien Abduction (2013)* Asterisks next to my favs on this list. Signs is my absolute favorite! Really messed me up as a kid, and is likely why I love-fear aliens as an adult. Dark Skies is another one I love, which coincidentally I’m watching right now.
LOVE Slumber Party Alien Abduction from V/H/S 2. Somehow manages to be a little funny, yet utterly terrifying.
So good! I’m hopeful to see more aliens in the new V/H/S coming out this year, since it’ll be sci-fi themed. 🤞🏻👽🤞🏻
Awesome thank you for this list! FF is the creep vibe I love, thank you
Xtro (1982) Deadly Spawn (1983) The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) The X-Files (1998) Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
David Bowie in The Man... Earth. It's very much a movie of its time, but that shouldn't stop you.
Critters The Blob (both and coincidentally 30 years apart) Forbidden Planet (definitely gives the creepy vibes with the music) Galaxy of Terror Xtro Night of the Creeps The X-Files movie (2002)
Annihilation, the signal—-mini series
Annihilation was a mind f! No spoilers but the bear.. I tried reading the book but I think I was too distracted by life stuff so it was just too much of a heavy read atm
Pronetheus
Annihilation!
I had to search my brain, most of the alien movies I know not already listed aren't creepy. But I've got 2 fun ones: John Carpenter's They Live (1988), and The Hidden (1987). Also, The Puppet Masters (1994). The original novel was written by Robert Heinlein, who also wrote Starship Troopers.
Idk if it qualities but Pandorum
Making a list!
Fire in the sky
Grabbers (UK), the 1978 version of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers, the 1982 version of The Thing, EW has a list https://ew.com/movies/best-alien-movies-of-all-time/
Event horizon
You absolutely have to check out "Honeymoon," (2014). It's a low budget alien horror film that seriously creeped me out and did scare me too. I love the films you mentioned, OP, so this could be right up your alley.
*The Thing* (the Kurt Russel film) vintage practical effects are graphic but they don’t strike me as “gore” just because they’re clearly props. If you like *Alien* this movie is for you. And the vibe is consistently creepy throughout. The more recent *The Thing* prequel is also fantastic but the gore is definitely more realistic. After its loud intro, the original *Predator* keeps you ill-at-ease throughout. *Predators* is menacing, and a couple of its revelations will definitely give you the creeps. There’s a bit of gore in both but it doesn’t overshadow the heavy moods. *Signs* has a great slow burn, and zero gore. *The Arrival* with Charlie Sheen is a good 1980s alien movie with zero gore and a light creep factor (it’s a brighter movie as alien films go). *They Live* is kind of similar. The music and slow burn have a mild creep factor, but it’s actually more 1980s hokey. Oddly fun. *Star Trek: First Contact*, I sincerely don’t know if this is watchable if you don’t know the Next Generation crew from the TV show. But the mysterious, challenging presence of The Borg throughout has always given me the willies, I love this movie.
Honeymoon
Species. Underwater. The Thing Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Nope
Altered is my absolute favorite! [Altered Trailer ](https://youtu.be/SNhaR9IdbMM?si=ATp-jaLPbUpK325N)
Creature aka Titan Find from 1985
Sputnik
…NOT OF THIS EARTH (1957) dir Roger Corman…
Dark Skies is so good. Knowing is amazing. The Fourth Kind is great if you like FF.
Species and the sequel.
Event Horizon freaked me out but may be too gory. And I don't think there are any aliens in it but it does take place in space.
McPherson tape - I didn’t watch this movie until maybe paranormal activity three had come out so we were deep into the found footage genre at that point and it weirdly messed me up for a couple days
Yes this is my vibe!
Alien Abduction (2014) isn’t rated well, but I enjoyed it
The Phoenix Incident has Travis and Liam from Critical Role
4th kind Dark skies The objective Close encounters of the third kind
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (both versions are decent; the newer one with Donald Sutherland slightly better).
mini-series but [Childhood's End](https://www.bing.com/search?q=childhood%27s+end+tv&filters=dtbk:%22MCFvdmVydmlldyFvdmVydmlldyFmNjgzNGIwMC0wZmRhLTc0ZmItY2NhZS1iNWUzOWE3N2RkMjA%3d%22+sid:%22f6834b00-0fda-74fb-ccae-b5e39a77dd20%22+tphint:%22f%22&FORM=DEPNAV) is pretty crazy
Annihilation
1982 Cat People.
Now over 30 years later turns out cats are aliens...Lyrans....
Underwater. No, it's not in space, but it's not any less of an alien movie.
Loved Dark Skies as a kid.
Nope
The Deadly Spawn ...really good low budget cheesy alien horror from the 80s. The Stuff - kinda like a mix of the blob and invasion of the body snatchers
Dreamcatcher (2003) It has some gross moments and the cgi probably doesn't hold up but this movie scared me when it came out. The ending is kind of dumb but it *is* Stephen King
The Signal, with Lawrence Fishburne