The exquisite nightmares of H.R. Giger

(Image credit: H.R. Giger)

last updated 8 January 2015

Legendary Swiss artist H.R. Giger — whose surrealist creations made him an icon for generations of science fiction and fantasy fans — has died after suffering injuries in a fall. He was 74.

Giger's artwork depicts a nightmarish world that blends hideous creatures, bizarre machinery, and sex for an unforgettably disturbing combination. His most famous creation was the titular creature from Ridley Scott's Alien, which is routinely cited as one of the most frightening and influential movie monsters ever created. In a 1979 interview, Giger explained how he created the creature:

In the first design for the alien, he had big black eyes. But somebody said he looked too much like a... what do you call it... a Hell's Angel; all in black with the black goggles. And then I thought: It would be even more frightening if there are no eyes! We made him blind! Then when the camera comes close, you see only the holes of the skull. Now that's really frightening. Because, you see, even without eyes he always knows exactly where his victims are, and he attacks directly, suddenly, unerringly. Like a striking snake. [Starlog]

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Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.