Alien 2: On Earth - Raro Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1980
Directors: Ciro Ippolito, Biagio Proietti
Writer: Ciro Ippolito
Cast: Belinda Mayne, Mark Bodin, Roberto Barrese, Benedetta Fantoli, Michele Soavi, Valeria Perilli, Danilo Micheli, Claudio Falanga, Donald Hodson, Ciro Ippolito, Peter Shepherd

Release Date: June 10th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 84 minutes 52 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: R
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo Italian, DTS-HD Stereo English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"In the sci-fi monster movie Alien Terror (aka Alien 2: On Earth) a spaceship lands back on Earth after a failed mission. There’s only one minor problem: the astronauts have been replaced by hideous creatures that can penetrate people’s bodies and make them explode! A group of cave explorers are attacked by the monsters inside an underground cave, but the survivors are in for a surprise when they finally manage to escape the trap..." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Alien 2: On Earth comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 30.6 GB

Feature: 26.9 GB

Though no information is provided about the source, it looks similar to Midnight Legacy’s 2011 Blu-ray release. Colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression or digital noise reduction. That said, there is stock footage that has print debris and scratches.

Audio: 4/5 (DTS-HD Stereo Italian), 3.75/5 (DTS-HD Stereo English)

This release comes with two audio options: a DTS-HD stereo mix in Italian and a DTS-HD stereo mix in English. Both audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced. Range-wise, ambient sounds and the score are well represented. That said, the Italian language track sounds fuller than the English language track. Included are removable English subtitles for the Italian language track and removable English SDH for the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an interview with filmmaker Eli Roth titled Franchised Terrorist (11 minutes 36 seconds, DTS-HD stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with film historians and hosts of Wild, Wild Podcast Adrian Smith and Rod Barnett.

Summary:

When a NASA space capsule returns an alien entity to Earth, chaos ensues!

So what is Alien 2 on Earth? Is it some long-forgotten sequel to the Alien franchise? Alien 2 on Earth is one of many films that emerged from Italian cinema in the 1970s and 1980s. These films were loosely based on successful American movies. That said, these Italian rip-offs were sequels in name only.

The narrative follows a group of friends on a cave diving expedition. During their adventure, one of them discovers a strange-looking rock. This rock somehow transforms into an alien entity that stalks them and ultimately devours them. The narrative is quite routine, and there are no significant surprises. After the initial setup, it's painfully obvious where things are headed. Even the film's big reveal at the end comes off as anticlimactic.

The acting is one-dimensional, devoid of expression. The only performance of note is that of future filmmaker Michele Soavi (Cemetery Man) in the role of Burt, one of the cave explorers. That said, even if they had a stronger cast, it would not have saved this film.

From a production standpoint, Alien 2 on Earth suffers from a myriad of problems. The narrative is lethargically paced, the direction is uninspired, and there is only a minimal amount of carnage, most of which happens in the last 30 minutes. Alien 2 on Earth saves its most memorable moments for its finale, a sequence that takes place in a bowling alley. One of the few bright spots is Guido De Angelis and Maurizio De Angelis’ (Torso) score under the pseudonym Oliver Onions.

Alien 2 on Earth is an awful film, and yet there is something oddly compelling about this celluloid abomination. If you enjoy Shockley Spaghetti nightmares, then you should dive in headfirst. However, everyone else should steer clear if they want to avoid having their brains melted.

Alien 2: On Earth gets a first-rate release from Raro Video that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a pair of informative extras.

Written by Michael Den Boer