STORY: How Alien's CHESTBURSTER Was Made

[@martinharris5017]

Hearing Giger, the master of horror, get all squeamish over worms is absolutely delightful.

[@fabmax41]

"It'z Awriful!"

[@tiffsaver]

Goes to show you, everybody's afraid of something.

[@stinkyham9050]

I thought that was pretty funny too. Especially considering his art is so incredibly deviant, and I mean that in a good way, I love his art.

[@MotorBro78]

Giger was a true artist. Not afraid to depict the things that scared him.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

I thought Giger was the only artist on the creatures. Turns out there was a lot of input from Ridley and others to get the final result.

[@MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive]

Uh...Yeah...scared. Right... (Puts pants back on.)

[@alaric_]

I always thought that he *wanted* to show things that scared him or made him uneasy. Kinda like 'if it me makes me uneasy, it will do the same for other people'.

[@vincentgoupil180]

Art is not about scaring people.

[@cosmicXtropics]

Exactly and Scott took all the credit

[@firejelly]

One thing I always loved about the chest burster are the little tubes on the sides of its head that pulsate. Minor detail that gives it more life.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

Yeah that was huge because it draws your eyes away from the more plastic looking aspects of the puppet. Brilliant.

[@alaric_]

@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017 Back in '79, most plastics were hard andopaque and the same went with rubber, there was little translucency in things. The technology existed but was really limited compared to the current tech. That skin looks really convincing with much more realistic fake blood* then usually in films of that period (dark thick syrup like thing). That and the pulsating veins are what sold it to me. And using metal teeth to take away attention was a genius move! *that 16:21 image of Hurt's lower body is good in showing how well the blood works.

[@desertweasel6965]

It reminds you of a penus is why you like it.

[@randy25rhoads]

“No ma’am, I think he shoulda seen it. He needed to know that things like that could happen in life. That could be a true story.” That dad’s interview. 😂

[@1903tx]

I'd love to know what he and his son are up to these days.

[@felicecinque]

so bizarre lol

[@Howtoeatrocks]

I always found how it skedaddled away after bursting so funny. You’ve got this horrific destructive thing that flees like the road runner the second it perceives a threat

[@vincentgoupil180]

Kinda like a Mr. Handkey "Poo" Space Turt scatting off the table.

[@jerrodwendland]

The shot of the chestburster running across the table with a tupperware bowl over its head just made my day!

[@davidsummer8631]

In the late 70s Tupperware parties regularly got out of control

[@chadryan9900]

The behind the scenes stuff about the film of the sequence made my day. I felt bad the one FX guy who worked the chestburster didn’t get any recognition.

[@LAHFaust]

That kid's face when she asks if was glad he saw the movie at 20:39. He had the time of his life.

[@jeffreyhenion4818]

I was shocked during the chest-burster scene in ‘Alien’ but I absolutely lost my shit in the homage scene in ‘Spaceballs’. I laughed so hard I nearly passed out.

[@battlefield_hackers_exposed]

Hello my baby 🎶🎤🎶hello my honey 🎶🎤🎶

[@alabasterlight]

Thanks ,I never knew where that clip was from?

[@edvaira6891]

Thank you for helping bring some glory for Mr Dicken…he deserved more credit than he received

[@vincentgoupil180]

As a technician not as a creative force.

[@afterhoursphotography]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@vincentgoupil180he just finalized the design of both Facehugger and Chestburster it and you’re saying HE’S NOT CREATIVE?! That’s kind of disrepectful

[@vincentgoupil180]

@@afterhoursphotography 5:09 " *Dicken* said that it was basically just the head of the full sized Alien with a tail at the end." The Alien was taken from *H.R. Giger's* book. Get it ? H.R. Giger was the *creative* force behind the Alien. Dicken was a technician who made the model. At that point in the making of Alien he followed orders. And even then had a hard time conceptualizing what was asked of him. Dinosaur legs on the chest burster ? The film is "Alien", not "T. Rex in Outer Space". Face it, Dicken was above his head and, sadly close to a nervous breakdown. Yea, give him credit but he's no H.R. Giger. Btw, fk Dicken for replacing Giger off the project. Giger was hired to make the Alien start to finish. Creative concept to final piece. That was Ridley Scott's premise for getting Giger aboard. After a month of Dicken mucking about Giger was bought back. Creative, my glutinous maximus.

[@Odious_One]

@@afterhoursphotography Dickens was a hack. He wasn't creative and had no talent. He jumped on the back of another persons work and designs and even the few things he brought to set and the work were things ANYONE else could've and likely would've done ... and most likely would've done better. All he did was cause more work to be done that didn't need to be and more money to be wasted in a movie that was already over budget. I think him and his ego were showing the disrepect.

[@telboy1965]

Roger was an absolute genius and a legend R.I.P 😔

[@jdion79]

How epic is it that John Hurt was down to be in Spaceballs? Helluva guy.

[@AllyKiss18]

As someone who’s been watching Alien for 25+ years, it’s really so incredible to get this series. I’m loving every episode and it encourages me in my own Directing. I also love your work on Space Odyssey, please keep this format, it’s exceptional.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

It really demonstrates how incredibly driven and perfectionistic one has to be to be a filmmaker. It's no wonder Kubrick called. He's the master and didn't want anyone to have the jump on him lol.

[@AllyKiss18]

@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017 always strive for perfection, you’ll maybe never reach it but if you get close it’ll keep the quality up there

[@theexchipmunk]

20:38 That kid man. You just know he is already thinking about how he will be the coolest guy at school for getting to watch that movie. :D

[@jonbalmer]

I was 10…most terrifying experience of my life. My dad thought it was a “space” movie lol.

[@liamthompson9342]

@@jonbalmer me too. I literally watched it through my fingers and just wanted to get out, but after I got out I couldn't stop going back. 7 times.

[@jimmerhardy]

Learning how Hurt was in the film is shocking. So many things fell into place. Incredibly great series.

[@liamthompson9342]

This is my favourite move and that scene was a nightmare but I always found the way the chestburster scuttled away over the table was comical. I guess because it doesn't actually have any observable way of moving that fast. It has no legs and it's not slithering like a snake.

[@Derpy1969]

“Oh no! Not again!” 21:35

[@zman890]

Get that guy some pepto bismol.

[@shaggycan]

That was a classic Kubrick call Scott got.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

I knew Kubrick was kind of autistic, but damn. No small talk at all.

[@jdemarco]

Back before GCI effects. You really have to appreciate the creativity and hard work of these effects crews...

[@ninakore]

The audience interviews at the end are hilarious. 'This is something that could happen!' 😂😂

[@mplsmark222]

Makes you wonder if the dad actually watch the film, or if he snuck out and headed to the bar while the kid watch the movie.

[@crono331]

I live half hour drive from Giger museum. Trust me is an experience. Been there many times.

[@OONNIID777]

Indeed, the Giger Museum is a must-see!

[@RamsesTheFourth]

We traveled there last year. I must say its unlike any other museum Ive seen. But we expected that of course:)

[@trialbyicecream]

Wait… that’s the original actor in space balls! I need to rewatch both now that I’m old enough to get the horror of alien Abe the humor of the other.

[@ricardoaguirre6126]

Oh no. Not again.🤣

[@parakart]

I wondered part way through if any reference to Spaceballs might crop up 😂

[@illbelieveanything]

Your videos are the most amazing, in-depth ones of their kind on the internet. I have learned SO much from them it’s unreal. Keep up the awesome work!

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

Not to be too nitpicky, but he's lifting a lot of stuff from the behind the scenes documentary videos from the film.

[@JonathanGarner-wn8mh]

A fantastic channel , I’m in the work laptop as I do long shifts, I get the opportunity to have KZbin on in the background , I’ve done all of your apocalypse now vids and these are the current material, you have an excellent channel, I have watched other documentaries, films , interviews and bought books because of the tangents you send me down. It’s a movie nerds paradise . Well done please don’t stop , thanks ,sam

[@chuckm4540]

It was commonplace in the 70s and 80s for parents to bring their kids to R-rated movies. I remember being 10 or maybe even younger seeing Dirty Harry, Magnum Force, the Secret Life of a Window Cleaner, Blazing Saddles at the drive-in theater.

[@Malum09]

That dude saying "he needs to know about this, this could be based on a true story" makes me think he wanted his kid to be crazy prepared for an alien invasion.

[@tiffsaver]

When I first saw this film at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood I'd never heard so much screaming in all my life, and never have since.

[@RD-lt3ht]

I know subsequent chestbursters were more mobile and articulated, but none since the first one has had the TRANSLUCENCY, which is a visually HUGE component of Giger's esthetics; I'll take take 1979's "look" over all subsequent sequels/prequels anyday.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

I don't know if you saw the earlier video, but other artists contributed to the chestburster creature also. It wasn't just Giger.

[@vincentgoupil180]

​@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017 Like Dan O'Bannon's flying omelet.

[@martinharris5017]

@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017 Can you name the other artists? I thought it was designed by Dickens under direction from Scott and based on a small version of the adult creature, which Giger designed.

[@vincentgoupil180]

@martinharris5017 The previous video for the face hugger involved some or most of the artists on the chest burster although it was a separate project. Artists, technicians, creative contributors for the *face hugger* were Dan O'Bannon, Ronald Shusett, Ron Cobb, H.R. Giger, Roger Dicken, Ridley Scott, Joe Petagno and a crew of production personnel. Believe a producer had some feedback so both projects were a committee to design a horse that came out looking like a camel.

[@kremesauce]

It’s amazing seeing the alternate takes and the behind the scenes, thank you for putting this out there for us Tyler, amazing work!

[@imdiyu]

20:37 That young man's reaction is priceless.

[@alberto1583]

Absolutely love this series!

[@mitsidstevgttab2677]

Thank you SO MUCH for having made this behind the scenes series at a Netflix worthy level! I have massively enjoyed it!

[@chrisperry7963]

Excellent as always, and I am so glad you included the 'Spaceballs' hilarious homage!!

[@aldunlop4622]

I've never been so scared/scarred as watching the chest-burster that first time back in 1979. My first year in high school and we watched it in the auditorium for Film Class. Gut-churning! Apparently, film club didn't care much about ratings!

[@-xirx-]

Fascinating. R.I.P Roger Dicken *21:40 my favourite scene from the epic, unsurpassed Space Balls!

[@joaomotta7791]

Watched the facehugger video yesterday, was wondering when the next would come out! Can't wait for the big chap!

[@Studeb]

Kubrik's phone call was hilarious, but I guess he gave him his respect and softened him to lend him the surplus The Shining footage to Blade Runner a few years later.

[@jeremygilbert7190]

Great video - and lots about John Hurt! What's beautifully underlined is not only does the scene work because of the gruesome effects, but the actors sell it with their visceral sense of shock. Saw the film the opening night here in Toronto and was stuck in the front row - which made it not only bigger but LOUD... adding to the shock of it. We weren't aware what was coming!

[@jarnomiedema]

I first saw Alien in 1994, when I was about ten years old. I was at my best friend's birthday party and we could rent a VHS to watch. Everybody wanted to watch a scary movie. I had no clue. After the chestbuster scene, I spent the rest of the movie in the hallway, looking at the photographs my friends' mom had on the wall.. I could barely sleep for three weeks after that. I only watched it again (and the other Alien movies) when I was about 25 years old. Everything about those creatures, from facehugger to chestburster to xenomorph taps into my primal fears.. My own kids are now 13 and almost 10. The thought of letting them watch this at that age is incomprehensible to me..

[@glennac]

That whole messy chest burster scene really was slapdash and haphazard, and not something they could easily rehearse or be well prepared for (which was intentional on Scott’s part). That whole sequence could have easily turned out slocky and artificial. It only works because of the masterful editing by Terry Rawlings.

[@michaelparks6120]

Wow, that is a terrifying scene!

[@anotherjones5384]

I find this series so thrilling and fascinating, the way you edit and put all of this together is absolutely perfect

[@KenjiMapes]

All the behind-the-scenes stuff & all the history of the Alien production videos you’ve cranked out are fascinating. Learning about how so many things came together by luck or happenstance when other choices could have been made which would have changed the end product shows how crazy productions can be. It’s all so interesting. Imagine Giger wasn’t hired or not brought back. Alien very well could have been completely different & ended up being a single movie instead of full blown franchise. All the history behind it is amazing & contemplating the possible what if’s is a trip. Keep up the great work. We often forget that movies aren’t merely entertainment & escape. They are historical relics of the times they were made in & often provide us with insights into society & culture among other things. Movies like fashion or other “extravagances” aren’t mere frivolity or indulgences but can be important records of our world.

[@aerob1033]

Somehow I knew the Spaceballs bit would work its way into this video. Nice work.

[@mortem-tyrannis]

This is probably my favorite channel on KZbin, the passion for what you do really shows in these videos my dude. Keep up the awesome work.

[@flesheater5712]

Saw this in the theater opening week. I was 8, my dad was the best 😊

[@KiloOneThree]

Well that’s a coincidence! I was just about to re-watch the Directors Cut on my Anthology set and had just finished watching the Chestburster Multi-Angle Sequence in the extras! Perfect timing for more info 😊

[@Tommy_Poole]

A truly unique movie which is as fresh today as it was back in 1979.

[@macronencer]

Good grief, that was a tough day at work for all the actors! I can't imagine how uncomfortable it must have become for John Hurt sitting in that position for hours and hours...

[@iconofsin1043]

Amazing video! One of my all time favorite movies and creature designs

[@LudwigHohlwein1974]

Enjoyed the series so far. Well researched and entertaining. Looking forward to the big guy!

[@martinharris5017]

This was easily the best rundown of the Chestburster scene I've watched. Can't wait for the adult xenomorph episode!

[@CybranM]

I really appreciate this series of videos! Sometimes all of the dice ends up in your favour and you get Alien despite all the things that couldve gone wrong. Looking forward to seeing the next one about the Xenomorph!

[@nomadswandering9816]

Wow, those local news clips were quite something.

[@WarrenPeaceOG]

The Singing Frog is the best movie humanity has thus far conceived

[@truefilm6991]

One Froggy Evening, the Warner Brothers cartoon? Genius.

[@szinyk]

Great episode as always! Interesting how much went into what's a fairly short (but impactful) shot!

[@aime_33]

Can't wait for the next episode!

[@MarkArandjus]

17:02 that's a cool shot! It's not in the final cut.

[@SaturnCanuck]

For the record I KNEW of Roger Dicken. I read The Book of Alien when it came out and of course Cinefex (may she rest in peace)

[@martinharris5017]

Me too. i still have The Book Of Alien that I purchased in 1980 when I lived in the UK!

[@gorequillnachovidal]

Son, now you know that some day an alien might burst out of your chest. My role as a father has reached its zenith.

[@bicivelo]

20:56 😅😅 the dad trying to justify the movie in front of his wife by saying the kids should see it because it can actually happen. You know, your typical cautionary tale. The 3 Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, Pinocchio, ALIEN. 😅😅

[@murderycatdoll1380]

Such a masterpiece!!! So happy they made the effort from this!

[@darwinradke3198]

Wow - thank you for this!! The attention to detail to highlight such an important component to an overall brilliant, original, and ahead of its time film.

[@DeltaDarbyLiberator]

Another excellent part to the wonderful series!

[@mikey_r]

Wonderful video, thanks for putting this together 👏

[@mikesantillanmx5530]

I like the chestburster the way it is, and the scene is fantastic, but I also like an unfinished model that Giger was working on. In the only photo that I've seen of it, it looks like it was made with some dog jaws, with a long neck and a bloated body. It looked promising too.

[@Skimmerlit]

You do important work. This is great.

[@TheRealNormanBates]

5:16 I always assumed those were prevestigal shoulder hoops. 16:07 if you look closely, the image looks like a chicken embryo: the face is on the left facing right, with very large black eyes and a tiny mouth.

[@merchius]

Fantastic production!

[@daunder6138]

Love this series! I'm excited to see the next one!!

[@DamonCzanik]

As an artist,.I hate it when your client wants something but doesn't have an idea what they want. It's like, "Give me a better description or let me do it! I don't want to creat a thousand drawings/paintings.because I have to to read your mind, but even you have no idea what you want! Help me, help you!" I had one time.when my only description was "unimaginable horror". Which is stupid by definition because no matter what I imagine, it is by definition, imaginable. I'm sure every experienced creative professional has had something like this. And I have had my own p"lucked turkeys"/where I know it's/going to be or is. awful..Where you do what you can, but it's terrible. In the end, that is what they asked for.

[@Aspiring-Hobo]

The only thing that I still don't get it with no legs, how did it slides so fast?

[@davidpaterson3443]

Agree, it's the only shot in the whole movie that looks 'wrong'! They should have made it maybe jump off the table instead of it 'running' off the table.

[@securityrobot]

Roger Dicken had a small cameo in Warlords of Atlantis, he can be seen lobbing bombs at the attacking monsters (that he built) from the battlements.

[@jbrownson]

Enjoying this series, nice work

[@MannyEspinola-q4t]

Thank you for this fantastic blast from the past

[@WoodwoseTransmissions]

Class video, as always. Cheers

[@SevenDaysToNoon]

This series of videos is quite brilliant! 👏👏👏

[@nitramluap]

21:50 - Spaceballs parodying Alien parodying Loony Tunes's dancing frog. So good.

[@NightBazaar]

That sound effect from the movie (at the end of this video) is classic and creepy. I think it's supposed to be computer noise. The Chestburster was an unexpected, shocking part of the movie. The Facehugger scene, popping out of the egg in the derelict ship, was another shocking jump-scare in the movie.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

It might be my favorite film opening of all time, besides maybe the helicopter shot in the Shining. I love all those weird computer sounds.

[@liamthompson9342]

Agree the sound effects were a substantial part of this movie. Really unusual, unsettling noises but that also sounded very plausibly real.

[@SmartCookie2022]

The sound effect I think you're referring to is the Nostromo picking up the signal from the derelict wishbone-shaped ship and processing it.

[@smol_white_bat]

Movie magic: it's a miracle they get it done

[@jorgezarco9269]

John Hurt was cast as Winston Smith in 1984(based on George Orwell's novel).

[@spawn9129]

Been waiting for this one

[@warmflash]

Fantastic ❤❤❤❤❤

[@naarahjanemorris3121]

It's wrong that others took the credit for the chest burster Giger was a true artist I wondered how it was made now I know, John Hurts acting in that scene was realistic & amazing bless him all men fear been pregnant by an alien.

[@Roganscreativemind]

3:53 Baby Cry

[@alikus7]

As bad as the lack of Oscar recognition is, it’s not as shameful as what Kubrick pulled with 2001. Service for hire in the end, no royalties for those folks and still to this day.

[@Sancho_Retablez]

20:54 That's a good father.

[@Justfilloutthe111111]

My only wish as a cinephile would be able to see Alien for the first time. On the other hand I don't want to not have that amazing experience as a 13 year old...

[@MarcMcKenzie-qb6or]

When they had the theatrical screenings for the 40th anniversary that was the first time I ever saw it in the theater. For years I had seen it on TV and on VHS and DVD....but seeing it on the big screen is a whole 'nother experience!

[@fredo1070]

Incredible documentary, secrets of movie magic revealed.

[@Studeb]

Dad of the year there informing his kid that aliens could burst out of their chest at any moment for the rest of their lives. :D

[@jaykarhunen6568]

that 2nd dad at the end 🤣

[@hwizell7478]

Kick line babies morph “Oh we’re the boys of chorus…” Crew you’re rooting for

[@traumgeist]

Kenner had previously bought the rights to make the Star Wars toys and made a batshit amount of money from that deal, so of course they weren’t going to pass on the merch rights to a movie for big kids. When Kubrick made 2001, he showed everyone the boring reality of space and took most of the fun out of science fiction. Star Wars made science fiction fun again. Alien is mainly fun in the ways people react to it.

[@JeanieM7475]

when I first saw Alien, quite a few years now, I turned away at that chest bursting open, but now I can view it without hesitation.

[@LiberPater777]

_🎶Hello ma baby 🎶_ _🎶Hello ma honey🎶_ _🎶Hello ma ragtime🎶_ _🎶Gaaaal🎶_

[@Vendetta_Armada80]

Giger was a true story teller and designer. Dickens was also apart of the film to

[@ArtieKendall]

Father: Boy, there're a few things in life you need to know about, and one of them is chestburster aliens. Son: 😳

[@margaretbowen867]

I was at the cinema, and the audience must have jumped two feet out of their seats when the baby creature burst out of Hurt's chest. One older lady had to be helped up the aisle and out after that scene. 🤪

[@SpawnPirate]

I saw the thumbnail for this video from the corner of my eye and for a couple of seconds I thought I was lookin' at a really delicious sandwich.

[@Streetsam]

Great!

[@MindbodyMedic]

Whats fascinating is the chestburster can lay coiled inside and use that "spring" of potential energy to get cracking

[@lewis7515]

2:21 - Scott draws Jones freaking the F out!...