Movies
[Review] NECA’s Prototype Xenomorph figure is the Completionist’s Dream
Really, what more can be said about the Alien franchise? You know, besides launching the careers of Sigourney Weaver, Ridley Scott and the late H.R. Giger, putting sci-fi horror on the map, spawning a plethora of other films, books, comics, video games and toys. Well, with Fox declaring April 26th “Alien Day”, and with several films in the franchise being in varying stages of development, there’s still plenty to be said. NECA has been in on the Alien franchise for a number of years now with its line of action figures. And with their seventh wave in the line, NECA has brought us something unexpected: A translucent concept version of the original 1979 “Big Chap” xenomorph.
Packaging:
The figure comes housed in the same standard clamshell packaging that the rest of the line has come in since its inception. For this particular figure, the package also sports a sticker labelling it a “concept figure”. The back of the packaging gives you a brief overview of this figure’s origins.
Sculpting/Paintwork:
Basically, this figure is a recoloured version of the original 1979 Alien figure that appeared in the second wave of the line three years ago, but with a cool paintjob. Instead of having the base colour mixed with the plastic, that colour is omitted. The result is a clear plastic figure. The figure is painted in a cream, bone-like colour, with a slightly darker wash to bring out the details in the sculpt. The result of this is that in the right light, the figure will allow light to pass through it, creating some really cool effects. Speaking of the sculpt, it was amazing back in 2013, and it still holds up today. Standing at 9″ tall, the figure sports great details, which are only enhanced by the paint. The dome on the figure is now clear plastic, allowing you to see the elongated, ribbed skull underneath. All the various wiring, tubes and biomechanical panelling that Giger put into the original costume are replicated here nicely. The only complaint that I have is that my figure wasn’t so lucky in the quality control department. Besides missing paint applications in spots, the dome was glued on crooked, and the wire for the tail is poking out of the sculpt. Then again, I’m often left at a crapshoot with these figures, as I have to purchase them online. If you do see this figure in the store, do a quick check to make sure the paint and pieces are applied correctly.
Articulation:
The figure sports over 25 points of articulation. The tail is done using a wire down the middle of it, allowing you to pose it in a variety of ways. The head is on a ball joint, but is hindered a bit by the pieces on the figure’s back, as well as the glued wires coming off of the figure’s face. Still, you do get an acceptable range of movement. The mouth can open and close, but is also a bit loose, which results in having the tongue dropping down at inopportune times. The arms are on pin and socket joints, which move in and out and rotate. There are cut joints at the top of the bicep, which allow you to rotate the arms. The elbow joints allow you to bend the arm at 90°, as well as rotate the lower arm in and out. The wrist joint allows the six-fingered hands to move up and down, as well as swivel. The torso features a ball joint, allowing you to rotate and crunch the abs appropriately. I know some people have said that this joint tends to be loose, but I never experienced it on my end (go figure). The legs are on pin and socket joints, allowing you to move the legs at 90° with no hindrance by the sculpt. The legs also move in and out, as well as rotate at the hip. Do be careful and keep a hair drier handy to loosen these joints so that you don’t have an unfortunate breakage. The knees feature a double joint, allowing you to bend the legs almost in half to get some classic xenomorph poses. The ankles can be rotated and pivoted, although pivoting is hindered slightly by the sculpt. Finally, the sculpt features toe articulation, allowing you to move the toes up and down. The toes also feature a peg hole, allowing you to get those classic poses without worrying about balance. Despite loose joints and the figure’s penchant to want to stick its tongue out, there’s a fantastic range of motion found in this figure’s articulation.
Accessories:
While there are no real accessories to speak of, the figure does sport the famous jawed tongue as previously mentioned, which features a slightly darker paint app to make it stand out from the rest of the figure. As well, the tail has a wire embedded in it, allowing almost infinite posability.
Overall:
Apart from quality issues and some loose joints, this is a solid figure. The paint app and sculpt work together to bring out the amazing amount of detail NECA has put into the character, and the translucent effect is pretty cool. Yes, this is a repaint of a past figure, and is more or less a niche figure for more casual fans who might want to pass on it for either the Grid or Warrior Aliens that are also part of this wave. But for those in love with the line as well as the films, this is a no-brainer in terms of decisions. Do pick it up if you find one that passes your quality check.
The holiday weekend means a light week for new horror releases, but it does bring the return of Dark Castle Entertainment to select theaters. It’s being joined by 6 new horror movies.
Here’s all the new horror releasing June 29, 2026 – July 3, 2026!
For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.
You wished for it. The highest-grossing horror movie of the year (so far), Curry Barker’s Obsession, arrived on Digital on June 30.
In Curry Barker’s theatrical debut Obsession, after breaking the mysterious One Wish Willow to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.
Michael Johnston (“Teen Wolf”), Inde Navarette (“Superman & Lois”), Cooper Tomlinson (“That’s a Bad Idea,” Milk & Serial), Megan Lawless (The Death That Awaits), and Emmy Award-nominee Andy Richter (“Conan,” Elf) star.
Based on a story by director James Kondelik (Behind The Walls) and a screenplay by Canadian writer Victor Rose, survival thriller Pitfall headed home to Digital on June 30. Family is murder in this Cineverse release.
In Pitfall, a young man becomes separated from his friends in the woods and plunges into a ten-foot pit lined with spikes, impaling his leg and leaving him helpless. As reality sinks in and his situation grows dire, he realizes the fall wasn’t an accident.
The film stars Richard Harmon (Final Destination: Bloodlines), Alexandra Essoe (The Pope’s Exorcist), and UFC champion Randy Couture (The Expendables) as the ruthless killer who stalks his prey in the woods. Marshall Williams (The Ice Road), Jordan Claire Robbins (The Umbrella Academy), and Matt Hamilton (Murder for Sale) also star.
The Amityville IP leans into Jaws with Amityville Shark House, just in time for the Fourth of July holiday too, as it released on Digital June 30.
Will Collazo Jr. (Amityville Thanksgiving) and Shawn C. Phillips (Amityville Karen) co-direct from a script they wrote with Julie Anne Prescott.
In the movie, after discovering an ominous shark idol hidden beneath the decaying floorboards, Richard unknowingly awakens an ancient and savage force. As the entity begins to merge with him, a quiet coastal town descends into blood-soaked chaos.
With each victim claimed, the monstrous predator grows stronger, fueling a cult’s belief that their dark god has been reborn. Now, the race is on to stop the carnage before evil consumes everything in its path.
Phillips and Prescott also star alongside Tasha Tacosa, Maritza Brikisak, Gigi Gustin (The Retaliators), Adam Marino, and Carl Solomon.
Available on Digital, Blu-ray, and DVD as of June 30 is Jacked, directed by John Fucile from a script he co-wrote with Simon Fraser.
The synopsis: “Set in the summer of 1987, JACKED follows two small-town teenagers whose day at the lake turns into a fight for survival after their car breaks down and they encounter a violent stalker.”
Marla Jean Robison, Tom Koch, Anthony Cipriani, Wynn Reichert, Kam Perez and Bella Marie star.
Get ready to work up a killer sweat and maybe spill some blood with Slashercise, a workout meets slasher hybrid that arrived exclusively on Bloodstream on July 1.
Written and directed by Ama Lea (Deathcember), the retro-styled feature follows “a masked killer known only as Meathead as he stalks the fitness clubs of Los Angeles, turning workout sessions into blood-soaked nightmares. As the city’s top trainers are picked off one by one, a group of determined fitness fanatics must fight back before they become the next bodies on the mat.”
Vanessa Decker (Stiletto), John Bloom (The Last Drive-In With Joe Bob Briggs), Spencer Charnas (Ice Nine Kills), Sarah French (Blind), Kelli Maroney (Night of the Comet), Sarah Nicklin (V/H/S/Halloween), Diana Prince (The Last Drive-In With Joe Bob Briggs), Jared Rivet (The Once and Future Smash), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp), Tiffany Shepis (Victor Crowley), and Lisa Wilcox (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master) star.
After a record-breaking box office run, A24 and director Kane Parsons’ feature debut is heading back to theaters with bonus footage. AMC Theatres is unleashing Backrooms: Everything Must Go Editiontoday, July 3.
In the film written by Will Soodik, the owner of Cap’n Clark’s Ottoman Empire discovers a strange doorway in the basement of the furniture showroom. He sets out to explore the mysterious, liminal space, walking headfirst into a creepypasta nightmare.
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsvestar.
AMC describes this release as a “theatrically exclusive post-credit” with additional footage from Kane Parsons. Expect 16 minutes of bonus footage, with the new version clocking in at 2 hours and 6 minutes.
The Last Exorcism director Daniel Stamm and Dark Castle Entertainment are back with Lockbox, in select theaters July 3. It adapts Soren Narnia‘s Knifepoint Horror Podcast story “Winthrop” by Emmy-winning playwright Justin Yoffe.
In Lockbox, “Seeking peace after her mother’s death, Ellen retreats to a rural town and takes in her severely traumatized cousin Winthrop. Their fragile domestic balance shatters when an erratic neighbor warns that Winthrop is dangerous. As strange phenomena escalate, Ellen must put everything on the line to defend Winthrop from a dangerous otherworldly entity determined to track him down.”
Lou Taylor Pucci (Touch Me, Evil Dead), Carla Gugino (The Haunting of Hill House, Gerald’s Game, The Fall of the House of Usher) and Katharine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps, Backrooms) star.
This week’s new release roundups are presented by Lockbox.
Be careful who you let in. Carla Gugino and Lou Taylor Pucci star in Lockbox, only in select theaters this Friday. Get tickets.
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