9 Iconic Movie Props With Seriously Strange Backstories

5. The Chestburster from Alien

The infamous chestburster scene, a moment of pure, visceral horror, was a masterclass in cinematic deception. The crew built a complex prosthetic torso for actor John Hurt, rigged with pneumatic pumps, animal entrails, and copious amounts of fake blood. Crucially, most of the cast members, including Sigourney Weaver, were kept in the dark about the exact mechanics and intensity of the effect. Their genuinely horrified and disgusted reactions, captured on film, were authentic. This bizarre behind-the-scenes secret – traumatizing actors for art – solidified the chestburster as a benchmark in practical effects, creating a moment of raw, unscripted terror that continues to shock audiences.