Connect with us

Editorials

[‘Aliens’ 30th Anniversary] Here’s Why ‘Aliens’ Almost Never Happened

Published

on

Newt ALIENS image via FOX

Ridley Scott’s film Alien is considered one of the greatest films of all time, horror or otherwise. Released in 1979, it received wide acclaim and grosses $80.9 million domestically ($267.8 million in 2016 dollars) on an $11 million budget. With that kind of success, a sequel was inevitable. James Cameron’s Aliens was released in 1986 to widespread critical acclaim and a massive box office gross. Some say it even surpasses Scott’s film in terms of quality (personally, I think Alien is a better film but I would re-watch Aliens over Alien any day of the week). Why did it take seven years for Aliens to get released? It’s was a long, troubled road to get Aliens to the big screen, but it all worked out for the best.

After the huge success that was Alien, Brandywine Productions was fully intent on churning out a sequel. Alan Ladd, Jr., the president of 20th Century Fox at the time, fully backed the project (he’d have been a fool not to). Unfortunately, 20th Century Fox was put under new ownership towards the end of 1979 and Ladd left the company. Norman Levy was brought in as the new president and rumor has it that he though a sequel would have been too expensive for the company to produce. Meanwhile David Giler, Walter Hill and Gordon Carroll, the owners of Brandywine Productions, sued Fox over the disbursement of the profits that Alien had made. This lawsuit would not be settled until 1983, four years after Alien was released.  Imagine for a moment what would have happened had neither side reached an amicable agreement. Or what if there was too much bad blood between Brandywine and Fox? We may have never had Aliens (or at least the version of Aliens we know and love).

By this point Fox had gone through more turnover and new executives were employed. Larry Wilson, the development executive sought out a writer for the film. He read James Cameron’s script for The Terminator and was impressed, so he showed the script to Giler who was equally impressed. The only problem was that Cameron had just started pre-production on The Terminator, so there was no way to fast-track production of what was then known as Alien II. Cameron wanted to direct the film so badly that he wrote a treatment anyway. That treatment was met with mixed reception and it was then announced that production on The Terminator would be delayed by nine months because Arnold Schwarzenegger was stuck filming Conan the Destroyer. That gave Cameron enough time to work on the script for Alien II. He turned in 90 pages (which equates to about 90 minutes in screen time) to new Fox president Larry Gordon, who loved the script. He loved it so much, in fact, that he agreed to wait until Cameron was done on The Terminator just so that he could direct the film, which then became Aliens.

30 Fun Facts About Aliens

While all of that nearly prevented Aliens from getting made, the hurdles during filming didn’t stop there. It turns out that locking down Sigourney Weaver to reprise her role as Ellen Ripley would be no easy task. She had rejected numerous offers from Fox to star in the film (before a script had been written), but even when she did show an interest after reading Cameron’s script, the contract negotiations took some work. Rumor has it that the negotiations were so drawn out that Cameron and his wife (Gale AnnHurd, a producer on the film) called Arnold Schwarzenegger’s agent saying that they were going to write Ripley out of the film, knowing his agent would relay the information to Weaver’s agent who then told the Head of Production at 20th Century Fox. Soon thereafter a deal with Weaver was in place.

Production for Aliens was also somewhat tumultuous. The film was shot at Pinewood Studios in England and Cameron found it difficult to get used to their work practices (i.e., taking tea breaks that would bring production to a halt). There was tension between the crew and Hurd, who thought she only had her job because she was married to Cameron. Things got so heated at one point that the entire crew walked out after the original Director of Photography was fired mid-shoot (Hurd managed to get them all back on set). Composer James Horner ran into issues with Cameron as well. He was given six weeks to compose the score, but upon arrival in England realized that the film was not yet complete and they were still in the editing process. Because of this he had only three weeks to compose the score for the film.

As you can see, Aliens was loaded with problems from the get-go and it’s sort of a miracle it turned out as well as it did. If anything, the many problems Aliens faced should be comforting to movie-watchers. It just goes to show that even after many hurdles a film can still turn out alright (so those of you worried about the re-shoots of Rogue One can rest a little easier). Despite all of the issues, Aliens turned out to be one of the best sci-fi/action movies of all time (it even snagged seven Academy Awards nominations, winning two of them). Go give Aliens a watch today, just make sure it’s the far superior Special Edition.

A journalist for Bloody Disgusting since 2015, Trace writes film reviews and editorials, as well as co-hosts Bloody Disgusting's Horror Queers podcast, which looks at horror films through a queer lens. He has since become dedicated to amplifying queer voices in the horror community, while also injecting his own personal flair into film discourse. Trace lives in Austin, TX with his husband and their two dogs. Find him on Twitter @TracedThurman

Editorials

Six Shot-on-VHS Horror Movies to Watch After ‘Frogman’

Published

on

Frogman VHS

Nostalgia is a funny thing. From the unexpected resurgence of vinyl to modern-day flip phones, it’s pretty clear that the technical limitations of the past can often inspire the stylish trends of the future. One of my favorite examples of this is the ongoing analog horror craze, as I find it fascinating how many of the genre’s major creators appear to have been born after the decline of VHS tapes and eerie PSAs.

It’s almost like there’s a subconscious understanding that some stories are best told through fuzzy visuals and heavily compressed audio, which is why I appreciate flicks like Anthony Cousins’s Found Footage throwback Frogman, a cryptozoology-inspired scary movie that dares to incorporate lo-fi aesthetics into its storytelling during a time when most studios encourage filmmakers to make their projects look as generically slick and polished as possible. And if you also enjoyed Frogman and are on the lookout for more VHS-based gems, Bloody-Disgusting has got you covered, as we’ve come up with a list highlighting six shot-on-VHS classics for your viewing pleasure.

As usual, don’t forget to comment below with your own favorite analog thrillers if you think we missed a particularly spooky one. I’d also like to give a shout-out to Bloody-Disgusting’s own long-running V/H/S series, which won’t be included here for obvious reasons.

Now, onto the list…


6. Zero Day (2003)

School shootings are one of the scariest realities of the modern world, but the complicated political elements behind these tragedies mean that most genre filmmakers don’t even try to tell stories about them. There are a few exceptions, however, and one of the most notable is Ben Coccio’s Zero Day, a deeply uncomfortable Found Footage character study that explores just how far ill-intentioned teenagers might go to prove a point.

Inspired by the real-world Columbine Basement Tapes, in which the mass-murderers kept a record of their plans and motivations, Coccio’s film follows a fictional video diary where troubled friends Andre and Calvin discuss their homicidal intentions. Another case where the gritty visuals make the story hit even harder, I’d recommend this one for discerning fans of True Crime media.


5. August Underground (2001)

Out of all the movies on this list, Fred Vogel’s August Underground is simultaneously one of the most fascinating and the hardest to recommend. A simulated snuff film following the exploits of a degenerate serial killer and his deranged filmmaker friend, the low production value and amateurish visuals make this shot-on-video experience even more uncomfortable as you begin to question if it really is just a movie.

And while Vogel would go on to expand on this controversial production with a series of slightly more agreeable sequels that boasted improved visuals, none of the follow-ups can quite compare to the raw thrills of the original. Just make sure that you don’t accidentally pick this one for family movie night if you dare to give it a watch.


4. WNUF Halloween Special (2013)

Frogman VHS list

The only entry on this list produced after the decline of VHS-based media, this 2013 classic still holds up as a convincing masterclass in authentic period-piece horror. A simulated recording of a public access show gone terribly wrong, the WNUF Halloween Special should be on everyone’s spooky season watchlist – though I’d argue that it’s best enjoyed as a background conversation piece during Halloween parties.

From the hilarious yet extremely believable retro advertisements to the not-so-subtle hints of the satanic panic motivating the story, this is a delightful experience even if you weren’t alive back when this kind of TV was still on the air.

And if you like this one, don’t forget to check out the Out There Halloween Mega Tape, which was made by the same director.


3. The McPherson Tape (1989)

Originally made popular by bootleg copies circulating the underground VHS trading scene, there’s no discussing shot-on-video horror without bringing up one of the grandaddies of modern-day Found Footage, the legendary McPherson Tape. Also known as UFO Abduction, this homemade thriller follows a birthday party gone wrong as the Van Heese family is visited by extraterrestrials.

While the flick works better as a terrifying hoax rather than a proper movie due to its odd pacing and general lack of traditional story structure, it’s still a must-watch for Found Footage fans. Just be sure to track down the gritty original, not the 1998 remake, Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County.


2. Ghostwatch (1992)

Frogman VHS movies

The term “made-for-TV” used to carry some seriously negative connotations in the world of film, with most audiences assuming that this kind of classification meant that they were about to watch low-budget schlock unsuitable for the big screen. However, there were plenty of clever filmmakers that managed to turn the limitations of broadcast television into storytelling tools, and a great example of this is Stephen Volk’s excellent mockumentary, Ghostwatch.

Starring real TV host Sir Michael Parkinson and borrowing details from the infamous Enfield Poltergeist case, this controversial TV special attempted to do for hauntings what Orson Welles’s War of the Worlds radio adaptation did for aliens. And while we’ve seen scarier Found Footage ghost stories in the decades since Ghostwatch premiered, I’d argue that the chilling authenticity behind the production makes it well worth revisiting in 2024.


1. America’s Deadliest Home Video (1993)

Jack Perez’s pioneer POV thriller may not be that well known these days, but this obscure little gem is actually responsible for many Found Footage tropes that we now take for granted. Telling the story of an amateur cameraman who finds himself being kidnapped by a group of criminals during a road trip, this video diary from hell still holds up as a horrific example of grounded Found Footage.

While some questionable acting and convenient story beats sometimes break the carefully crafted immersion, America’s Deadliest Home Video stands out by not only being one of the first of its kind, but also by embracing its amateurish roots instead of being embarrassed by them.


Frogman, which actually was released on VHS, is now available on VOD outlets.

Continue Reading