Half-Life – Headcrabs
After their introduction in the first Half-Life, many of us went into Half-Life 2 fully aware of the horrors that follow the unwelcome arrival of the parasitic alien species Barney Calhoun once referred to as “Headhumpers”, but we know as Headcrabs.
Conceptually, Headcrabs aren’t that different from zombies. Just like a rogue zombie virus, they’re unnervingly adept at turning people into mindless killing machines. If it isn’t stopped immediately, a small group of Headcrabs can clear an entire town. They accomplish this exactly how a rogue zombie virus would, starting with the assimilation of a few that proceed to either turn or kill whoever’s left.
Assimilation isn’t the only weapon these aliens wield. Headcrabs have an arsenal of weapons to dispatch well-defended groups of survivors or anyone who possesses a Gordon Freeman-esque tolerance to their mind-controlling effects.
Death by Headcrab can come in a variety of flavors, including a quick and violent death from one of the assimilated, or a slower death from a dose of near-fatal poison that leaves the victim in a state where they’d die if you poked them gently with a toothpick.
As for their muffled screams? When played backwards you can make out delightful messages like “Oh, God help! Help me!” and “Get it off me!” which likely means its victims are fully aware of and in quite a bit of pain while they’re being turned.
