Xenopedia
Register
Xenopedia
No edit summary
Tag: sourceedit
(43 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
  +
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''{{PAGENAME}}''}}{{Quote|...You may be next!|'''''Alien 2: On Earth''''' tagline}}
 
{{Infobox Film
 
{{Infobox Film
|name = Alien 2: On Earth
+
|name = ''Alien 2: On Earth''
 
|image = alien 2 poster.jpg
 
|image = alien 2 poster.jpg
 
|image_size = 250px
 
|image_size = 250px
|caption = ...You may be next!
 
 
|director = Ciro Ippolito (as Sam Cromwell)<br/>Biagio Proietti (uncredited)
 
|director = Ciro Ippolito (as Sam Cromwell)<br/>Biagio Proietti (uncredited)
 
|producer = Ciro Ippolito<br/>Angiolo Stella
 
|producer = Ciro Ippolito<br/>Angiolo Stella
 
|writer = Ciro Ippolito
 
|writer = Ciro Ippolito
|starring = <!--stars in billing order-->Belinda Mayne<br/>Mark Bodin<br/>Roberto Barrese<br/>Benny Aldrich<br/>Michele Soavi<br/>Judy Perrin<br/>Don Parkinson <br/>Claudio Falanga
+
|starring = Belinda Mayne<br/>Mark Bodin<br/>Roberto Barrese<br/>Benny Aldrich<br/>Michele Soavi<br/>Judy Perrin<br/>Don Parkinson <br/>Claudio Falanga
|music = Guido De Angelis<br/>Maurizio De Angelis (as The Oliver Onions)
+
|music = Guido De Angelis<br/>Maurizio De Angelis (as Oliver Onions)
|distributor = Cinema Shares International Distribution (1980, USA)
+
|distributor = Cinema Shares International Distribution (1980, USA)<br>Fiesta Films (1981, Canada)
Fiesta Films (1981, Canada)
 
 
|released = April 11, 1980
 
|released = April 11, 1980
 
|runtime = 92 min.
 
|runtime = 92 min.
 
|country = Italy, United States
 
|country = Italy, United States
 
|budget = ITL 400,000,000
 
|budget = ITL 400,000,000
|preceded_by =
+
|preceded_by = {{A1}}}}
  +
'''''Alien 2: On Earth''''' ('''''Alien 2: Sulla Terra'''''), also known as '''''Alien Terror''''' and '''''Strangers''''', is a [[1980]] science fiction film written and directed by Ciro Ippolito. Produced in United States and Italy, it is a low-budget, unofficial and unauthorized sequel to the [[1979]] film {{A1}}, although the plot has little connection to the original film. It follows a group of friends as they go caving together, only to come into contact with a voracious alien creature that gestates inside a living human host, unwittingly brought to Earth by a doomed human spacecraft.
|preceded_by(chronology) = ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]''|preceded_by(prod) =
 
  +
|followed_by(prod) = }}
 
  +
As an unauthorized sequel, [[20th Century Fox]] had nothing whatsoever to do with the film's production. In fact, Fox attempted to sue director Ippolito $10,000,000 for using "Alien" in the film's title, but a British lawsuit pointed out that there was already a novel from the 1930s called ''Alien'', and thus the case was dismissed. The concept of making unofficial sequels to mainstream theatrical productions was somewhat common in Italy during the 1970s and 1980s. Perhaps the most notable example of this trend is ''Zombi 2'' (known variously as ''Zombie'' or ''Zombie Flesh Eaters'' internationally), which is an unofficial sequel to George A. Romero's ''Dawn of the Dead'' that went on to find its own success and create a franchise of films.
'''''Alien 2: On Earth''''' ('''''Alien 2: Sulla Terra''''')''', '''also known as''' ''Alien Terror'' '''and''' ''Strangers'', '''is an unauthorized 1980 Italian sequel to the 1979 American film {{A1}}, written and directed by Ciro Ippolito. The plot has little connection to the original film.
 
   
The film features a score by Guido De Angelis and Maurizio De Angeli, performed by them under the pseudonym Oliver Onions.
 
 
==Plot==
 
==Plot==
As the world awaits the return of a crew of astronauts [[Alien (film)|deep space mission]], a young woman named Thelma Joyce appears on a television talk show to discuss caves. Soon after her interview begins, Thelma has a horrible psychic vision.
+
As the world awaits the return of a crew of astronauts on a [[Alien (film)|deep space mission]], a young woman named Thelma Joyce appears on a television talk show to discuss caves. Soon after her interview begins, Thelma has a horrible psychic vision. After [[USCSS Nostromo|the spacecraft]] returns to [[Earth]] with its occupants missing, a girl on a beach discovers a weird, blue, [[Ovomorph (Egg)|pulsating rock]]. Soon after the discovery, her mother finds the girl dead, her face having been ripped off.
   
  +
Some time alter, Thelma and her husband Roy meet up with their friends at a bowling alley. After a short gambling session, they leave to go cave climbing in a cave complex nearby. On the way to the caves, the group stops at a roadside café to buy food and change into their caving gear. Thelma's friend Burt discovers a blue rock. The group can't figure out what type of rock it is, and Burt puts it in his pack to take with them. The group finally arrives at the cave, and quickly rappels to the bottom to set up camp for the night. During the descent, Burt drops the rock. As the group turns in for the night, Thelma tells Roy that she feels that something horrible is about to happen, but Roy calms her down.
After [[USCSS Nostromo|the spacecraft]] returns to [[Earth]] missing its occupants, a girl on a beach discovers a weird, blue [[Ovomorph (Egg)|pulsating rock]]. Her mother soon finds her with her face ripped off.
 
   
 
The following day, Thelma's friend Jill rappels into a lower section of the cave by herself, where she discovers the blue rock that Burt dropped. Before she can touch it, the rock opens up and a creature attacks her face. Thelma psychically senses the attack and panics. After Roy again calms her down, he elects to go and search for Jill.
Thelma and her husband Roy meet up with their friends at a bowling alley. After a short gambling session, they leave to go explore a cave.
 
   
 
Roy rappels down into the hole and finds Jill, alive and apparently unharmed but unconscious. She is hoisted back up to the rest of the group and set aside by herself, still unconscious. While the rest of the group group is taking pictures of the many rock formations, a [[Chestburster#Alien 2: On Earth|creature]] erupts from Jill's face and attacks Burt, dragging him upside down before beheading him with its tail.
The group stops at a roadside cafe' to buy food and change into their caving gear. Thelma's friend Burt discovers a blue rock that he decides to keep in his pack. The group can't figure out what type of rock it is.
 
   
 
The infant alien quickly grows into a mature [[Xenomorph XX121 (Alien)#Alien 2: On Earth|shape-shifting creature]] and begins slaughtering the group of friends one by one, multiplying in number with each kill. Only Thelma and Roy manage to outrun the aliens and escape the caves. They jump into their car and speed towards the city to find help. Along the way, they discover a police car, but no police officers are in sight. They stop at the roadside café again, but there is nobody there. Roy tries to call for help on a payphone, but no operator is available. They get back into the car and continue towards the city.
The group finally arrives at the cave, and quickly rapells to the bottom to set up camp for the night. Thelma tells Roy that she feels that something horrible is about to happen, but Roy calms her down.
 
   
  +
Thelma and Roy finally arrive, but find the city is likewise deserted. They head to the bowling alley, and Ray is suddenly killed by an alien waiting there. The creature chases Thelma through the bowling alley, until she manages to bludgeon it and make her escape. Outside, Thelma runs through the empty city streets, calling for help but getting no answer. She finally stops yelling and sits down at an intersection, despondent, as text on screen warns the audience, "You may be next!"
Thelma's friend Jill discovers the blue rock that Burt dropped while rapelling the previous day. Before Jill can touch it, the rock opens up and a [[Facehugger]] attacks her face. Thelma senses what is happening and panics. Roy calms her down, then decides to go find Jill's body.
 
   
  +
==Cast==
Roy rapells down into a hole and finds Jill, alive and with her face intact. He straps her to a lifter and she is lifted up to the rest of the group. Jill is set aside by herself, still unconscious. While the group is taking pictures of the many rock formations, a [[Chestburster]] erupts from Jill's face and attacks Burt's neck. Burt is dragged upside down as the creature slices his neck repeatidly until his head falls off.
 
  +
*Thelma Joyce .... Belinda Mayne
  +
*Roy .... Mark Bodin
  +
*Maurine .... Benedetta Fantoli
  +
*Burt .... Michele Soavi
  +
*Jill .... Judy Perrin
  +
*Mr. Raymond .... Donald Hodson
  +
*Joe .... Ciro Ippolito
   
 
==Release and Reception==
The "[[Faceburster]]" quickly grows into a mature [[Alien (Alien 2: On Earth)|Alien]] and slaughters the group one by one, multiplying with each kill. Thelma and Roy manage to outrun the Aliens and escape the caves. They jump into their car and drive towards the city.
 
 
''Alien 2: On Earth'' was released theatrically in Italy on April 11, 1980 and in West Germany on March 19, 1982. The English-dubbed version of the film was never released theatrically in the United States. Instead, it was released directly-to-video under the title ''Alien Terror''. The US version of the film is slightly different, being much darker overall and having the sky at the end of the film tinted red, for unknown reasons.
   
 
Reviews were generally favourable regarding the film's splatter scenes, the location and the tension, but the content drew a mixed to negative response from critics. Currently, the film holds a 4/10 on IMDb. Adam Tyner of DVD talk wrote, "James Cameron once summed up his follow-up to {{A1}} as 'forty miles of bad road'. ''Alien 2'', meanwhile, is eighty-four miles of bad, period."
On the way to the city, they discover a police car, but no police officers are in sight. They stop at the roadside cafe' again, only no one is there. Roy tries to call for help on a payphone, but no operator is available. They get back into the car and continue to drive to the city.
 
   
  +
The recent Blu-ray release of the film, however, has received more positive reviews from critics and fans alike. Tom Landy of ''High-Def Digest.com'' gave the film 3 stars out of 5 and wrote, "It's tough to outright recommend this one to the masses, but for fans of the film or collectors of oddball cult curiosities then this Blu-ray is the definitive disc of ''Alien 2: on Earth'' to own."
Thelma and Roy finally get back to the city, but strangely, they can't find anyone. They stop at the bowling alley to find that it's empty, too. Roy goes to the back, only to be killed by an [[Alien (Xenomorph)|Alien]] waiting there. The Alien chases Thelma through the bowling alley, until she hits it in the head and leaves.
 
   
 
===Alternate titles===
Thelma runs through the empty city streets, calling for help but getting no answer. She finally stops yelling and sits down in an intersection. Suddenly, text shoots at the screen, warning the audience "You may be next!", implying that the Aliens have taken over [[Earth]].
 
 
''Alien 2: On Earth'' has had a somewhat confusing release history. As is fairly common with Italian movies from the period, the original title has been altered, twisted, or sometimes completely changed multiple times since the film's release, often making it hard to find.
   
 
International titles include:
==Release==
 
 
*''Alien 2: Sulla Terra'' (''Alien 2: On Earth'') Italy (Original title)
[[File:ALIEN 2 ON EARTH Trailer - The Cinema Snob|thumb|left|300px|The original theatrical trailer for Alien 2: On Earth]]'''''Alien 2: On Earth''''' was released theatrically in Italy on April 11, 1980 and in West Germany on March 19, 1982.
 
 
*''Alien 2: To Teras sti Gi'' (''Alien: The Monster of Earth'') Greece
 
 
*''Alien Volta a Atacar'' (''Back to Alien Attack'') Portugal
The English-dubbed version of the film was never released theatrically in the United States. Instead, it was released directly-to-video under the title ''Alien Terror''. The US version of the film is slightly different, being much darker overall (making it hard to watch, especially the cave scenes) and having the sky at the end of the film tinted red, for unknown reasons.
 
 
*''Alien, die Saat des Grauens Kehrt Zurück'' (''Alien, The Seeds of Horror Returns'') Germany
 
*''Le Monstre Attaque'' (''The Monster Attacks'') France
 
*''Alien Terror'' USA (VHS release)
 
*''Strangers'' USA (Alternate VHS release)
 
*''Alien 2: On Earth'' USA (DVD and Blu-ray release)
   
  +
===Home video releases===
 
[[File:Alien 2 blu ray.jpg|thumb|Alien 2 Blu-Ray cover]]On March 22, 2011, Midnight Legacy re-released the English-dubbed version of the film on DVD and Blu-ray in the United States under its original title, ''Alien 2: On Earth''. The re-release includes fully remastered picture and audio. This version of the film is longer than any other version, and includes deleted scenes and trailers.
 
[[File:Alien 2 blu ray.jpg|thumb|Alien 2 Blu-Ray cover]]On March 22, 2011, Midnight Legacy re-released the English-dubbed version of the film on DVD and Blu-ray in the United States under its original title, ''Alien 2: On Earth''. The re-release includes fully remastered picture and audio. This version of the film is longer than any other version, and includes deleted scenes and trailers.
 
===Alternate Titles===
 
''Alien 2: On Earth'' has had a confusing release. Since its original release, the title has been altered, twisted, or sometimes completely changed from the original title, making the film very hard to find sometimes.
 
 
International titles for ''Alien 2'' were:
 
 
''Alien 2: Sulla Terra'' (''Alien 2: On Earth'') - Italy (Original title)
 
 
''Alien 2: To Teras sti Gi'' (''Alien: The Monster of Earth'') - Greece
 
 
''Alien Volta a Atacar'' (''Back to Alien Attack'') - Portugal
 
 
''Alien, die Saat des Grauens kehrt zurück'' (''Alien, The Seeds of Horror Returns'') - Germany
 
 
''Le Monstre Attaque'' (''The Monster Attacks'') - France
 
 
''Alien 2: On Earth''- USA (DVD and Blu-ray release)
 
 
''Alien Terror'' - USA (VHS release)
 
 
''Strangers'' - USA (Alternate VHS release)
 
 
==Reception==
 
Reception to the film was mixed to negative. Currently, the film holds a 28% Approval Rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 3.7/10 on IMDb.
 
 
Adam Tyner of DVD talk wrote "James Cameron once summed up his follow-up to {{A1}} as 'forty miles of bad road'. ''Alien 2'', meanwhile, is 'eighty-four miles of bad, period'."
 
 
The Blu-ray release of the film, however, has received more positive reviews from critics and fans alike.
 
   
 
==Trivia==
 
==Trivia==
*The plot in the film {{A1}} takes place in the year 2122 AD. This film, however, appears to take place somewhere in the 1980s, even though its story is supposedly set after the events on the ''[[USCSS Nostromo|Nostromo]]''.
+
*The plot in the film {{A1}} takes place in the year [[2122]] AD. ''Alien 2: On Earth'', however, appears to take place somewhere in the 1980s, even though its story is supposedly set after the events on the ''[[USCSS Nostromo|Nostromo]]''.
  +
*The [[Xenomorph XX121 (Alien)#Alien 2: On Earth|Alien]] in the film differs considerably from the creature seen in the original ''Alien'' (and the rest of the official franchise). While it shares the key trait of gestating inside a human host, each stage of its life cycle is otherwise quite different:
*The [[Chestburster]] bursts out of the victim's face rather than the chest in this film. As a result, some fans have christened it the "Faceburster".
 
 
**The [[Ovomorph (Egg)#Alien 2: On Earth|Eggs]] in the film barely resemble the Eggs from ''Alien''. In the original film, the Eggs were grey-green, leathery and opened on top. The Eggs in ''Alien 2'' resemble rocks, are blue and pulsate. They still open at the top, however.
*The [[Alien (Alien 2:On Earth)|Alien]] is a shape-shifting creature, similar at the John Carpenter's film '''The Thing''' (1982).
 
 
**The Alien's [[Chestburster#Alien 2: On Earth|infant form]] bursts out of the victim's face rather than their chest (leading some fans to christen it the "Faceburster").
*The "Faceburster" appears to have the ability to slice off heads with its tail.
 
  +
**Finally, the creature's adult form is shown to be a shape-shifting creature that attempts to assimilate other lifeforms. In this last regard it is similar to the titular creature in John Carpenter's 1982 film ''The Thing''.
*The [[Ovomorph (Egg)|Eggs]] in the film barely resemble the Eggs from ''Alien''. In the original film, the Eggs were grey-green, leathery and opened on top. The Eggs in this film resemble rocks, are blue and pulsate. They still open on top, though.
 
  +
*Some critics have suggested that the film's narrative details and visual design and effects appeared to have been a major influence on the 2005 film ''The Descent''.
*Since ''Alien 2 ''is an "unauthorized" sequel (meaning that it wasn't approved by Fox, the company that released ''Alien''), it has never been released in any'' Alien ''film collection or boxed set with the other films in the series. Therefore, the only way to obtain the film is through the rare ''Alien Terror ''VHS or the Midnight Legacy DVD release, which is far easier to find.
 
  +
*The conquest of Earth by the Alien, hinted at at the end of the film, is a major plot point in many of the [[Aliens (comic series)|comics]] and novels of the [[Alien (franchise)|''Alien'' franchise]].
*Despite being intended as a sequel, it is, for the most part, considered a rip-off instead.
 
 
*Since ''Alien 2 ''is an "unauthorized" sequel, it has never been released in any ''Alien'' film collection or boxed set with the other films in the series (nor is it ever likely to be).
  +
*A sequel to this film, with the working title ''Alien 3'', was to be directed by Mattei Bruno, but was never realized.{{Citation needed}}
   
 
==Gallery==
 
==Gallery==
  +
<gallery>
 
atvhs.jpg|The ''Alien Terror'' VHS cover.
  +
Alien 2 German VHS.jpg|German VHS cover.
  +
Alien 2 French poster.jpg|French poster.
  +
Alien 2 Spanish.jpg|Spanish VHS cover.
  +
Alien 2 logo.jpg|Italian logo.
 
at titile.jpg|The ''Alien Terror'' title card. The number "2" was sloppily covered in post-preduction.
 
alien 2 egg.jpg|The egg in the film.
  +
Alien 2 cast.jpg|The protagonists.
 
Faceburster.jpg|A Faceburster erupting from Jill's face.
  +
Alien 2 button.jpg|Burth see a button part of the alien.
  +
Alien (2) from Alien 2.jpg|Burth and Maurine are infected.
  +
Alien in a human body (Alien 2).png|An Alien in the Cliff's body.
  +
Alien from Alien 2.jpg|An Alien erupts from Cliff's face.
 
faceburster 2.jpg|Thelma watches as a Faceburster is about to attack Roy.
  +
Alien 2 POV shots.png|The Alien's POV when it is in Roy's body.
  +
</gallery>
   
  +
==Videos==
 
  +
<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
 
  +
ALIEN 2 ON EARTH Trailer - The Cinema Snob
<gallery captionalign="left" widths="232">
 
atvhs.jpg|'''''Alien Terror''''' VHS cover
 
at titile.jpg|The '''''Alien Terror''''' title card. The number "2" was sloppily covered in post-preduction.
 
alien 2 egg.jpg|The egg in the film.
 
faceburster 2.jpg|Thelma watches as a Faceburster is about to attack Roy
 
Faceburster.jpg|Faceburster erputing from Jill's face
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 
[[Category:Non-canon articles]]
 
[[Category:Non-canon articles]]

Revision as of 01:36, 23 May 2015

"...You may be next!"
Alien 2: On Earth tagline

Alien 2: On Earth (Alien 2: Sulla Terra), also known as Alien Terror and Strangers, is a 1980 science fiction film written and directed by Ciro Ippolito. Produced in United States and Italy, it is a low-budget, unofficial and unauthorized sequel to the 1979 film Alien, although the plot has little connection to the original film. It follows a group of friends as they go caving together, only to come into contact with a voracious alien creature that gestates inside a living human host, unwittingly brought to Earth by a doomed human spacecraft.

As an unauthorized sequel, 20th Century Fox had nothing whatsoever to do with the film's production. In fact, Fox attempted to sue director Ippolito $10,000,000 for using "Alien" in the film's title, but a British lawsuit pointed out that there was already a novel from the 1930s called Alien, and thus the case was dismissed. The concept of making unofficial sequels to mainstream theatrical productions was somewhat common in Italy during the 1970s and 1980s. Perhaps the most notable example of this trend is Zombi 2 (known variously as Zombie or Zombie Flesh Eaters internationally), which is an unofficial sequel to George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead that went on to find its own success and create a franchise of films.

Plot

As the world awaits the return of a crew of astronauts on a deep space mission, a young woman named Thelma Joyce appears on a television talk show to discuss caves. Soon after her interview begins, Thelma has a horrible psychic vision. After the spacecraft returns to Earth with its occupants missing, a girl on a beach discovers a weird, blue, pulsating rock. Soon after the discovery, her mother finds the girl dead, her face having been ripped off.

Some time alter, Thelma and her husband Roy meet up with their friends at a bowling alley. After a short gambling session, they leave to go cave climbing in a cave complex nearby. On the way to the caves, the group stops at a roadside café to buy food and change into their caving gear. Thelma's friend Burt discovers a blue rock. The group can't figure out what type of rock it is, and Burt puts it in his pack to take with them. The group finally arrives at the cave, and quickly rappels to the bottom to set up camp for the night. During the descent, Burt drops the rock. As the group turns in for the night, Thelma tells Roy that she feels that something horrible is about to happen, but Roy calms her down.

The following day, Thelma's friend Jill rappels into a lower section of the cave by herself, where she discovers the blue rock that Burt dropped. Before she can touch it, the rock opens up and a creature attacks her face. Thelma psychically senses the attack and panics. After Roy again calms her down, he elects to go and search for Jill.

Roy rappels down into the hole and finds Jill, alive and apparently unharmed but unconscious. She is hoisted back up to the rest of the group and set aside by herself, still unconscious. While the rest of the group group is taking pictures of the many rock formations, a creature erupts from Jill's face and attacks Burt, dragging him upside down before beheading him with its tail.

The infant alien quickly grows into a mature shape-shifting creature and begins slaughtering the group of friends one by one, multiplying in number with each kill. Only Thelma and Roy manage to outrun the aliens and escape the caves. They jump into their car and speed towards the city to find help. Along the way, they discover a police car, but no police officers are in sight. They stop at the roadside café again, but there is nobody there. Roy tries to call for help on a payphone, but no operator is available. They get back into the car and continue towards the city.

Thelma and Roy finally arrive, but find the city is likewise deserted. They head to the bowling alley, and Ray is suddenly killed by an alien waiting there. The creature chases Thelma through the bowling alley, until she manages to bludgeon it and make her escape. Outside, Thelma runs through the empty city streets, calling for help but getting no answer. She finally stops yelling and sits down at an intersection, despondent, as text on screen warns the audience, "You may be next!"

Cast

  • Thelma Joyce .... Belinda Mayne
  • Roy .... Mark Bodin
  • Maurine .... Benedetta Fantoli
  • Burt .... Michele Soavi
  • Jill .... Judy Perrin
  • Mr. Raymond .... Donald Hodson
  • Joe .... Ciro Ippolito

Release and Reception

Alien 2: On Earth was released theatrically in Italy on April 11, 1980 and in West Germany on March 19, 1982. The English-dubbed version of the film was never released theatrically in the United States. Instead, it was released directly-to-video under the title Alien Terror. The US version of the film is slightly different, being much darker overall and having the sky at the end of the film tinted red, for unknown reasons.

Reviews were generally favourable regarding the film's splatter scenes, the location and the tension, but the content drew a mixed to negative response from critics. Currently, the film holds a 4/10 on IMDb. Adam Tyner of DVD talk wrote, "James Cameron once summed up his follow-up to Alien as 'forty miles of bad road'. Alien 2, meanwhile, is eighty-four miles of bad, period."

The recent Blu-ray release of the film, however, has received more positive reviews from critics and fans alike. Tom Landy of High-Def Digest.com gave the film 3 stars out of 5 and wrote, "It's tough to outright recommend this one to the masses, but for fans of the film or collectors of oddball cult curiosities then this Blu-ray is the definitive disc of Alien 2: on Earth to own."

Alternate titles

Alien 2: On Earth has had a somewhat confusing release history. As is fairly common with Italian movies from the period, the original title has been altered, twisted, or sometimes completely changed multiple times since the film's release, often making it hard to find.

International titles include:

  • Alien 2: Sulla Terra (Alien 2: On Earth) — Italy (Original title)
  • Alien 2: To Teras sti Gi (Alien: The Monster of Earth) — Greece
  • Alien Volta a Atacar (Back to Alien Attack) — Portugal
  • Alien, die Saat des Grauens Kehrt Zurück (Alien, The Seeds of Horror Returns) — Germany
  • Le Monstre Attaque (The Monster Attacks) — France
  • Alien Terror — USA (VHS release)
  • Strangers — USA (Alternate VHS release)
  • Alien 2: On Earth — USA (DVD and Blu-ray release)

Home video releases

Alien 2 blu ray

Alien 2 Blu-Ray cover

On March 22, 2011, Midnight Legacy re-released the English-dubbed version of the film on DVD and Blu-ray in the United States under its original title, Alien 2: On Earth. The re-release includes fully remastered picture and audio. This version of the film is longer than any other version, and includes deleted scenes and trailers.

Trivia

  • The plot in the film Alien takes place in the year 2122 AD. Alien 2: On Earth, however, appears to take place somewhere in the 1980s, even though its story is supposedly set after the events on the Nostromo.
  • The Alien in the film differs considerably from the creature seen in the original Alien (and the rest of the official franchise). While it shares the key trait of gestating inside a human host, each stage of its life cycle is otherwise quite different:
    • The Eggs in the film barely resemble the Eggs from Alien. In the original film, the Eggs were grey-green, leathery and opened on top. The Eggs in Alien 2 resemble rocks, are blue and pulsate. They still open at the top, however.
    • The Alien's infant form bursts out of the victim's face rather than their chest (leading some fans to christen it the "Faceburster").
    • Finally, the creature's adult form is shown to be a shape-shifting creature that attempts to assimilate other lifeforms. In this last regard it is similar to the titular creature in John Carpenter's 1982 film The Thing.
  • Some critics have suggested that the film's narrative details and visual design and effects appeared to have been a major influence on the 2005 film The Descent.
  • The conquest of Earth by the Alien, hinted at at the end of the film, is a major plot point in many of the comics and novels of the Alien franchise.
  • Since Alien 2 is an "unauthorized" sequel, it has never been released in any Alien film collection or boxed set with the other films in the series (nor is it ever likely to be).
  • A sequel to this film, with the working title Alien 3, was to be directed by Mattei Bruno, but was never realized.[citation needed]

Gallery

Videos