5 ‘underrated' sci-fi masterpieces you need to watch immediately if you're loving Alien: Earth

Daily Mirror

a day ago

The latest entry in the Alien franchise has just arrived on Disney+ and die-hard fans will have already devoured the first two episodes
Wondering what to watch while you're waiting for the next episode of Alien: Earth on Disney+? Look no further.
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We have a list of five incredible science fiction films that are guaranteed to scratch your itch for body horror, interstellar thrills and existential dread. Even better, they're all available on streaming platforms.
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The series from Fargo showrunner Noah Hawley has scored rave reviews so far, from fans and critics alike who are loving the nostalgic tributes to the original spaceship slasher and musings on artificial intelligence.
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With an entire weekend still left to get through before the series continues, here's a rundown of five underrated sci-fi masterpieces to keep you busy.
Ad Astra
Alongside the body horror and skin-crawling sexual metaphors, the Alien franchise exemplifies the dread-inducing emptiness of space like no other.
If you're looking for a film with similar levels of dense atmosphere with a beautifully rendered vision of outer space, look no further than the unsung masterpiece Ad Astra, starring Brad Pitt.
This moody space opera follows the F1 star as an astronaut who embarks on an interstellar journey to discover the truth about his missing father, played by Tommy Lee Jones.
One five-star Letterboxd review called it 'one of the most meditative and breathtakingly exquisite outer space epics ever made.'
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Ad Astra is available to stream on Disney+.
Gattaca
This under-seen sci-fi gem from the 1990s is set in a not-too-distant future where humanity has become obsessed with genetic perfection, eerily mirroring many of the themes of Alien.
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Ethan Hawke stars as Vincent, a young 'In-Valid' who infiltrates the biological elite by posing as a paralysed swimming star, portrayed by Jude Law.
Determined to take part in a mission to Saturn's moon Titan, he soon uncovers dark truths hidden just beneath the surface of this so-called perfect new society.
One five-star Google review claimed: 'One of the best sci-fi movies ever made.
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'I saw a clip in Biology class (we were studying gene editing), fell in love, and promptly watched the whole film.
'Since then, I've re-watched it countless times, and countless more sci-fi films, and this one still stands out from all of them.'
Gattaca is available to stream on Prime Video.
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Color Out of Space
If it's more gruesome body horror and chilling Lovecraftian threats from the beyond you're after, Color Out of Space could be right up your alley.
Starring Nicolas Cage, this obscure thriller from 2019 follows a family who move to a farm to escape the noise of modern life. Big mistake.
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When a meteor crash lands in their garden, they gradually become obsessed with an otherworldly colour that begins to infect and mutate everything within its facility, including themselves.
'This thing is going to be a cult classic,' one Letterboxd user promised. 'It's got the blueprints of a wild premise and a truly off the rails Nic Cage performance.
'It's a horror that doesn't rely on anything really that scary but knows when to leave it to your imagination. With some great visuals and Cronenberg-y body horror, Color Out of Space absolutely rips.'
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Color Out of Space is available to stream on Prime Video.
Crimes of the Future
Speaking of David Cronenberg, one of his best and most iconic films, The Fly, is on Disney+. However, if you're an Alien aficionado there's a strong chance you've already seen it, so why not try one of his more recent flicks?
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Another eerie sci-fi drama, Crimes of the Future, takes the concept of body horror to a whole new level, centring its unique thriller narrative on a medical artist who discovers a sinister scheme to unlock the next stage of human evolution.
Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux and Kristen Stewart star in this surreal vision of the future which 'showcases [Cronenberg's] mastery over the ghastly and the gruesome', according to one ecstatic Google review.
'Perverse and provocative, it's easy to understand how it might not be most people's cup of tea, however, fans of Cronenberg and his penchant for the grisly will be delighted.'
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Crimes of the Future is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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Prey
If there's one franchise that goes hand-in-hand with Alien it's the Predator series, launching in 1987 with the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic and even joining forces for two schlocky beat 'em up crossovers in the noughties.
While they've followed different paths since then, there could be a chance the two series coalesce again with the revamp of the Predator franchise from director Dan Trachtenberg, who released the brilliant Prey in 2022.
After checking out this nail-biting thriller that follows Amber Midthunder's 18th Century Comanche warrior's bout with the iconic hunter, fans will soon be able to experience the highly anticipated follow-up, Predator: Badlands.
This instalment will be set on a distant planet in the future, and even features Elle Fanning as a synthetic created by Alien's Weyland-Yutani. Could a Xenomorph make a surprise appearance?