Scott's film was initially pitched as "Jaws in space" and Giger's alien features the requisite razor-blade teeth and unreadable, implacable air.

Cameron kept a razor blade on his editing desk with anote: Use only if film sucks.“Ijust

The blade, when lit, did indeed glow in front of the camera, but it lacked the color and hazy corona that surrounded the pure white blade as seen in the finished film.