1 Cut Aliens Scene Proved The Best Way To Stop Xenomorphs 38 Years Ago

A scene cut from the 1986 Aliens sequel demonstrated the best way to stop or, at the very least, greatly slow an onslaught of the Xenomorph species. Although the canon’s complex nature has always precipitated lingering Alien franchise questions, what’s never debated is the sheer might of its central extraterrestrial opposition. Designed and described as the perfect organism, the Xenomorphs have come to be known as terrifying and formidable adversaries, driven by an intrinsic need to propagate their species and eliminate anything that could pose a threat.

Continuously, space-faring humans find themselves caught in the crosshairs of the Xenomorph, and every Alien franchise movie has proven the extraterrestrial species to be far superior to them in physical capability and resiliency in any condition. The aliens’ “ultimate predator” characteristics often instigate whether humans will ever get the upper hand instead of temporarily eluding the species or besting a single Xenomorph only after casualties of entire crews and their ships. Defensive measures against the Xenomorphs always appear inadequate, barring the tactics utilized in a scene cut from Aliens that confirms at least one way the species can be immobilized.

Aliens’ Sentry Guns Scene Proved How Easy It Can Be To Kill Xenomorphs

In one of the most compelling scenes left out of the Alien franchise, longtime protagonist Ellen Ripley and her Aliens crew wipe out what are easily the most aliens ever killed in the series. About midway through Aliens, Ripley and the marines of Sulaco set up UA 571-C automated sentry guns along the perimeter of their base to monitor and eliminate any Xenomorphs that come too close for comfort. The scene eventually reveals that the Xenomorphs are incredibly vulnerable to heavy artillery, as proven when the guns successfully deter a horde of aliens from getting in through the tunnels.

To good effect, Aliens’ weaponry appeared just as formidable as the ultimate predators themselves. The sentry guns were part of a more complex UA 571-C sentry weapon system, which allowed the thermal and motion-detecting mounted machine guns to fire at any hostile target within range, all while Ripley and the remaining marines could oversee the system remotely. Not only were the guns impressive, but the scene they occupied was one that many could argue added an extra layer of tension and sci-fi prestige to the sequel – however, it was all left out of the theatrical release of Aliens.

Cutting Aliens’ Sentry Guns Scene Was Better For The Franchise

The theatrical release omitted the sentry gun scene for the sake of time. However, the scene later became one of several other scenes added to the Aliens Special Addition, which is the film many have long defended as the superior cut. Whichever the case may be, the theatrical release ended up being more valuable to the franchise’s future because the special edition’s sentry gun scene certainly undermines the Xenomorph’s fearsome reputation.

How quickly and efficiently the UA 571-C sentry guns laid waste to a swarm of attacking Xenomorphs made them seem nothing more than a mere nuisance against the force of firepower. Of course, the sentry gun scene had many great strengths, but including it would mean diminishing the Xenomorphs’ appeal of being impossibly resilient predators. The Alien franchise thrives off the horror induced by the Xenomorph species, and its essence wouldn’t feel the same if Aliens or any movie that succeeded it wielded heavy artillery or hinged on the idea that heavy artillery was an easy option.