This 1980s Alien Horror Movie Will Probably Scar You for Life (And It’s Almost Impossible to Watch)

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Upon its release in June 1982, Steven Spielberg’s “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” sparked numerous imitations. One notable instance is “Mac and Me,” which has seen a resurgence due to Paul Rudd frequently joking about it on Conan O’Brien’s late-night show. Similar to Spielberg’s timeless, emotional, and heartwarming masterpiece, the 1983 British film “Xtro” also features both a boy and an alien on its poster. However, these are the only similarities between the two productions. Interestingly, like “Mac and Me,” “Xtro” shares a disturbing quality. Yet, it’s worth noting that in “Xtro,’s” case, being unsettling was intentional. Contrary to popular belief, “Xtro” was more influenced by Ridley Scott’s “Alien.

Just as E.T. sparked the 1980s alien movie craze, Alien stands out among its contemporaries such as Nightbeast, Parasite, Strange Invaders, and Creature. What makes Xtro unique (in terms of both quality and the impact it leaves on your mind) is worth exploring. Let’s delve into that to find out more.

Xtro Is Utterly Unpredictable

Similar to the underappreciated 1993 film “Fire in the Sky”, the movie “Xtro” also features an alien abduction scenario. Just like many films about extraterrestrial abductions, there’s a bright light, frightened people, and screams followed by darkness, hush, and a reduced number of screaming individuals. However, unlike “Fire in the Sky”, it doesn’t depict a father being abducted right before his son’s eyes.

In addition, upon his return in “Fire in the Sky,” the character doesn’t initially appear as an alien causing terror among a driving pair (a memorable jump scare from the ’80s), murdering that pair, and subsequently heading towards a house where he forcefully impregnates a woman. Regrettably, this is the last portrayal of the alien depicted on the movie poster. It’s regrettable because it’s an intriguing, nearly lifelike creature crafted with practical effects.

Instead of the alien, it’s Sam, the father who was previously abducted, who comes back to his dwelling. His wife Rachel, now in a relationship with Joe, and their son Tony are the inhabitants of this apartment building. However, they aren’t the only ones living there, as we encounter Analise Mercier, a grumpy neighbor residing downstairs. Analise is portrayed by Maryam d’Abo, a familiar face to 007 fans as the Bond girl from Timothy Dalton’s first spy movie, The Living Daylights.

No One Is Safe

In the sci-fi film ‘Xtro‘, each character appears to be experiencing peculiar situations long before they encounter the alien Sam. For instance, young Tony is plagued by recurring nightmares where he wakes up drenched in blood, as if he were Johnny Depp in ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street‘. The meaning of these repeated dreams isn’t entirely obvious, other than hinting at ominous and potentially lethal events to come. Additionally, it remains a mystery why, when Sam tries to call his family before returning home, his hand manages to melt the phone. ‘Xtro‘ is a movie that doesn’t rely on a straightforward logical structure.

After Sam returns to live with his family, that’s when events start becoming increasingly strange. It is revealed that Tony keeps a pet snake, and towards the middle of the film, he finds his father consuming the eggs of this very snake. Later on, there’s a sequence where the snake slithers into their downstairs neighbor’s apartment, leading to it being accidentally incorporated into a salad, discovered, and ultimately killed.

At approximately the same time, the alien Sam consumes his son’s blood, which seemingly grants the child abilities. Tony then employs these powers, leading to the summoning of a six-foot tall toy soldier. This soldier, along with a similarly humanized toy clown (essentially a little person actor in clown makeup and often seen holding a sparkling spinning toy), eliminates the downstairs neighbor.

However, their actions don’t end there. Afterward, Tony and the clown make their way to Mercer’s apartment. There, the clown strikes her unconscious with a shaky hammer, while Tony presses his mouth against her abdomen, revealing blue veins – an indication that she’s also been impregnated by the alien seed. This scene takes an unexpected turn, marking one of the film’s most bizarre moments. In an attempt to eliminate Mercer’s boyfriend, Tony conjures a toy tank. Unfortunately, it fails to complete the task; instead, a panther steps in to finish the job.

Towards the end of the film, Sam undergoes a dramatic transformation into a serpent-like alien, unlike the crab-walking creature we encountered at the start. This new form allows him to mentally induce an aneurysm in his wife’s current partner, despite their ongoing relationship even though she has reconciled with her husband.

If you’re holding out for a positive resolution, I regret to say there isn’t one. In fact, it gets twice as bleak because Rachel is compelled to witness her husband and son being enveloped in the same radiant energy that claimed Sam in the initial scene. This tragic event sends her home, where she encounters a horde of alien eggs, and ultimately meets her demise at the hands of an infant, serpentine alien. Fade to credits.

Initially and even now, the movie titled “Xtro” is often labeled as a low-budget exploitation film. However, while this description may hold some truth, it doesn’t diminish the intrigue that the movie offers. Among all films worldwide, “Xtro” stands out uniquely for featuring a ferocious panther roaming within an apartment building.

Speaking about B-movies from the early ’80s that feature alien horror, “Xtro” stands out as one of the most daringly ambitious productions, sharing the top spot with “The Deadly Spawn” for sheer grotesqueness. However, tracking down a copy can be challenging due to its DVD being discontinued and it not being available for streaming. But if you manage to come across it, don’t hesitate to add it to your collection.

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2025-04-30 00:41