Alien: Do Xenomorphs Have Eyes?

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Among all science fiction films, only a handful have managed to introduce an iconic and terrifying monster like Ridley Scott’s 1979 masterpiece “Alien.” This movie revolutionized special effects with the work of visionaries such as Brian Johnson, Carlo Rambaldi, and their team, who were awarded the film’s sole Academy Award. The Alien, more accurately known as a Xenomorph, is undeniably one of the scariest creatures ever depicted on screen. Yet, despite its fearsome nature, it seems to lack a certain element.

Instead of having visible eyes like most creatures we know, Xenomorphs, as seen in the movie “Alien”, do not possess any eyes at all. This includes their adult form and the Facehuggers, their infant stage. The absence of eyes on these alien beings raises the intriguing question, ‘Do Xenomorphs even have eyes?’ However, the answer to that question is more complex than a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. To put it simply, they do not have visible eyes in the traditional sense, but they still seem to perceive their environment through other means.

For more than four decades, Xenomorphs have left an indelible mark on popular culture, inspiring numerous filmmakers, writers, artists, and game designers to create their unique interpretations of these creatures across various media, each offering a distinct take. However, the visual abilities of the Xenomorph from the original “Alien” movie remain somewhat ambiguous due to differing creative interpretations among the artists involved. Here, we delve into the origins of the iconic alien’s appearance, the reasons for its eyeless form, and how it manages to see without visible eyes.

H.R. Giger designed Xenomorphs without eyes

From the get-go, it’s reasonable to acknowledge that the biology of Xenomorphs seems rather illogical, yet this doesn’t diminish their terrifying nature. These creatures sport robust armor that enables them to withstand the harsh conditions of space for an unspecified duration, perhaps even indefinitely. Moreover, their blood is so corrosive it eats through anything it comes into contact with – except other Xenomorphs. In “Aliens,” merely firing at them triggers a blast of acid that spreads over vast areas, causing widespread damage and allowing them to wreak havoc even in death.

The beings were deliberately crafted to be awe-inspiring and terrifyingly menacing, and they certainly live up to that expectation. The artist behind the Xenomorph’s appearance is H.R. Giger, a Swiss artist whose designs shaped not only the creatures but also the film’s overall aesthetic. At first, Giger depicted the Xenomorph with enormous eyes positioned at the front of its domed head; however, he soon changed his mind and adopted the design that ultimately graced the silver screen.

As a devotee of H.R. Giger’s terrifying masterpieces, I can’t help but marvel at his creative decision to eliminate the eyes from his monstrous creations. He believed that an eyeless creature was more unsettling because its victims would never know if it was staring right at them, adding a layer of uncertainty and fear. Instead, he opted for a semi-transparent dome, creating a being that is not only imposing but also insidious in its ability to instill dread and apprehension in anyone who lays eyes on it.

The Xenomorph in Alien doesn’t have eyes

In the design of Giger’s “Alien”, there are no eyes visible, either inside or outside its head, leaving us wondering about its ability to see. Despite its apparent homing in on victims and holding them still until it brutally kills them, the method by which it locates and focuses on its victims remains unclear. Over the years, numerous theories have emerged about how Xenomorphs perceive their surroundings, with various media providing some insights into this mystery.

It’s obvious that Xenomorphs don’t perceive like humans; instead, they rely on a mix of their other senses. It’s thought they “perceive” through heightened hearing and scent to employ echolocation and detect pheromones while hunting prey. Furthermore, they can sense fluctuations in air pressure and the electrical signals in human bodies to spot targets, meaning they don’t require eyes to see – they simply see differently.

In the 1993 four-issue miniseries “Aliens: Hive” by Dark Horse Comics, a character laments as she tries to avoid an intimidating Xenomorph. The dialogue indicates that she swears off light and sound, but the Xenomorph shows no concern for such specific senses. Instead, it relies on other methods like vibration, electricity, or fear. The comic doesn’t delve too deeply into this aspect, but it’s clear that Xenomorphs lack eyes – at least according to where the Alien franchise stood in its history at that time.

Later films feature Xenomorphs with eyes hidden inside their skulls

With each new installment of the series, the primary alien species, known as Xenomorphs, underwent development and alterations in their physical forms. In “Alien 3,” for instance, a creature birthed within a canine host, often referred to as the ‘dog alien,’ predominantly moved on all fours due to its genetic makeup. As the series continued, new varieties of Xenomorphs emerged, such as the Newborn from “Alien: Resurrection.” This particular Xenomorph had eyes resembling a human’s, which was a result of being born from a fusion between a Queen Xenomorph and DNA from a Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) clone.

As a fan, I’ve always marveled at how some Xenomorphs boast skull-embedded eyes covered by their translucent domes, a design reminiscent of the mysterious barreleye fish with its transparent head and internal eyes. However, unlike the barreleye, an observer can’t see the Xenomorph’s eyes. This design implies that they possess sight, but their prey remains oblivious to this fact since the eyes are hidden and their behavior doesn’t betray their visual abilities.

The evolution of the initial blueprint has persisted in multiple fashions. In “Alien: Romulus,” we encounter another human-Xenomorph hybrid known as the Offspring, who bears a closer resemblance to a human than a traditional Xenomorph. As the “Alien” series progresses and incorporates changes to Giger’s Xenomorph, it strays increasingly from the original design and, consequently, from the eyeless creatures that have given many sleepless nights for nearly five decades.

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2025-01-18 15:30