Alien: Darksteel Cut

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Faneditor Name:
Original Movie/Show Title:
Franchise:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1979
Original Running Time:
115 minutes
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
114 minutes
Time Cut:
2 minutes
Time Added:
1 minutes
Subtitles Available:
Available in HD:
Synopsis:
This is the director’s cut with some stuff taken out that always bugged me and adding back some stuff back from the theatrical cut. I also fixed the very inconsistent colour grading which varied from shot-to-shot in a few scenes.
Intention:
I have always wanted a hybrid of the theatrical and extended cuts of each Alien film that had the best parts of both so I no longer had to decide on which one to watch.
Additional Notes:
As I got deeper into the edit I realised how terribly inconsistent the colour grading was on the blu-ray. It seemed more apparent in the director’s cut. Basically they reframed quite a few shots and changed the colour grading in the process, so you would have the colour changing as the scene is going. I decided to restore a lot of shots from the theatrical cut and occasionally colour match them myself to keep it as consistent as possible.
Special Thanks:
I want to personally thank ArtIsDead for being so incredibly patient with me throughout the process of having my first fan edit approved. It has not been an easy road travelled getting a handle on my ADHD whilst helping my pregnant partner who just gave birth to my first child in January 2023.
Release Information:
Digital
Editing Details:
I strived to not make any edits that have not already been done officially. Any editing change from the director's cut was originally done in the theatrical cut. I ensured that any shots throughout a scene were consistent with their colour timing, as some shots were reframed and recoloured in the director's cut.
Cuts and Additions:
Cuts:

12:39 - Cut crew listening to transmission scene
1:06:47 - Cut shot of xenomorph hanging up high waiting to kill Brett because it spoils the surprise to come

Additions:

1:02:11 to 1:05:58 - used theatrical version for Brett-looking-for-cat scene
49:20 to 50:19 - used theatrical version of Ripley-arguing-with-Dallas scene (adding back Ripley not trusting Ash)

Fixes:

14:39 to 14:42 - stabilised shot of Nostromo approaching LV-426
36:08 to 36:48 - regraded shot of Lambert slapping Ripley outside surgery
1:15:50 to 1:15:53 - reframed shot of Ripley looking at Lambert to match the previous shot
1:21:51 to 1:22:04 - regraded shots of Ash’s head being prepped for interrogation
1:25:29 to 1:25:35 - replaced shot of ship being prepped due to last frame turning green
1:40:55 to 1:40:59 - regraded part of shot of ship window as Ripley escapes Nostromo

Shots replaced with theatrical transfer:

7:46 to 7:52 - Parker telling Dallas he’s finishing his coffee
9:37 to 9:39 - Lambert in cockpit
12:32 to 12:39 - Dallas asking Parker “you got that?”, Parker responding “yeah” and Dallas saying “we’re going in”.
12:51 to 13:02 - Ash and Dallas on ship
13:10 to 13:16 - Dallas and Ripley on ship
13:29 to 13:31 - Dallas on ship
13:50 to 13:52 - Dallas disengaging ship
14:01 to 14:05 - Dallas starting ship up
23:02 to 23:28 - Ripley on the ship with her cat
24:19 to 24:22 - Ash observing alien ship on monitor
24:25 to 24:29 - Ash observing alien ship on monitor
25:12 to 25:23 - Ash talking to crew and observing alien ship on monitor
25:29 to 25:36 - Ash viewing crew camera footage
25:54 to 25:57 - Ash viewing crew camera footage
29:34 to 30:02 - Ripley telling Ash that Mother deciphered the transmission
36:05 to 36:08 - Dallas and Ash in surgery
36:48 to 36:57 - Dallas and Ash in surgery
36:57 to 37:00 - crew observing surgery
37:00 to 37:31 - Ash and Dallas operating on Kane
41:48 to 45:41 - Ash and Ripley in surgery
45:24 to 45:49 - Dallas being told by Ash to check on Kane
50:43 to 50:48 - Parker and Brett on ship during take off
50:59 to 51:06 - Lambert and Ripley on ship during take off
51:16 to 51:20 - Ripley on ship during take off
51:31 to 51:35 - Parker, Brett and Ripley on ship during take off
51:42 to 51:48 - Parker, Dallas and Ripley on ship during take off
51:57 to 52:54 - Crew discussing what to do with Kane
56:07 to 56:20 - Ash and the crew watching the baby Alien escape after killing Kane
1:05:58 to 1:06:41 - cat about to be caught and xenomorph coming up behind Brett
1:06:58 to 1:07:23 - cat watching after Brett was killed and Parker telling crew what happened to Brett
1:08:30 to 1:08:48 - Lambert and crew being instructed by Dallas
1:14:52 to 1:15:43 - Parker, Ripley and Ash talking after Dallas was killed by alien
1:15:46 to 1:15:50 - Ripley and Lambert looking at each other
1:15:57 to 1:17:45 - Ripley speaking to Mother and Ash surprising her
1:17:45 to 1:18:26 - Ripley trying to escape Ash
1:22:04 to 1:22:07 - Ripley slamming on table to wake up Ash
1:24:41 to 1:27:12 - Ripley, Parker and Lambert prepping for escape
1:40:11 to 1:40:55 - Ripley taking off from Nostromo
1:40:59 to 1:41:02 - Ripley looking at Nostromo
1:41:10 to 1:41:23 - Ripley being blasted with light from the destruction of Nostromo
Trailer

Faneditor Name:
Original Movie/Show Title:
Franchise:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1979
Original Running Time:
115 minutes
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
114 minutes
Time Cut:
2 minutes
Time Added:
1 minutes
Subtitles Available:
Available in HD:
Synopsis:
This is the director’s cut with some stuff taken out that always bugged me and adding back some stuff back from the theatrical cut. I also fixed the very inconsistent colour grading which varied from shot-to-shot in a few scenes.
Intention:
I have always wanted a hybrid of the theatrical and extended cuts of each Alien film that had the best parts of both so I no longer had to decide on which one to watch.
Additional Notes:
As I got deeper into the edit I realised how terribly inconsistent the colour grading was on the blu-ray. It seemed more apparent in the director’s cut. Basically they reframed quite a few shots and changed the colour grading in the process, so you would have the colour changing as the scene is going. I decided to restore a lot of shots from the theatrical cut and occasionally colour match them myself to keep it as consistent as possible.
Special Thanks:
I want to personally thank ArtIsDead for being so incredibly patient with me throughout the process of having my first fan edit approved. It has not been an easy road travelled getting a handle on my ADHD whilst helping my pregnant partner who just gave birth to my first child in January 2023.
Release Information:
Digital
Editing Details:
I strived to not make any edits that have not already been done officially. Any editing change from the director's cut was originally done in the theatrical cut. I ensured that any shots throughout a scene were consistent with their colour timing, as some shots were reframed and recoloured in the director's cut.
Cuts and Additions:
Cuts:

12:39 - Cut crew listening to transmission scene
1:06:47 - Cut shot of xenomorph hanging up high waiting to kill Brett because it spoils the surprise to come

Additions:

1:02:11 to 1:05:58 - used theatrical version for Brett-looking-for-cat scene
49:20 to 50:19 - used theatrical version of Ripley-arguing-with-Dallas scene (adding back Ripley not trusting Ash)

Fixes:

14:39 to 14:42 - stabilised shot of Nostromo approaching LV-426
36:08 to 36:48 - regraded shot of Lambert slapping Ripley outside surgery
1:15:50 to 1:15:53 - reframed shot of Ripley looking at Lambert to match the previous shot
1:21:51 to 1:22:04 - regraded shots of Ash’s head being prepped for interrogation
1:25:29 to 1:25:35 - replaced shot of ship being prepped due to last frame turning green
1:40:55 to 1:40:59 - regraded part of shot of ship window as Ripley escapes Nostromo

Shots replaced with theatrical transfer:

7:46 to 7:52 - Parker telling Dallas he’s finishing his coffee
9:37 to 9:39 - Lambert in cockpit
12:32 to 12:39 - Dallas asking Parker “you got that?”, Parker responding “yeah” and Dallas saying “we’re going in”.
12:51 to 13:02 - Ash and Dallas on ship
13:10 to 13:16 - Dallas and Ripley on ship
13:29 to 13:31 - Dallas on ship
13:50 to 13:52 - Dallas disengaging ship
14:01 to 14:05 - Dallas starting ship up
23:02 to 23:28 - Ripley on the ship with her cat
24:19 to 24:22 - Ash observing alien ship on monitor
24:25 to 24:29 - Ash observing alien ship on monitor
25:12 to 25:23 - Ash talking to crew and observing alien ship on monitor
25:29 to 25:36 - Ash viewing crew camera footage
25:54 to 25:57 - Ash viewing crew camera footage
29:34 to 30:02 - Ripley telling Ash that Mother deciphered the transmission
36:05 to 36:08 - Dallas and Ash in surgery
36:48 to 36:57 - Dallas and Ash in surgery
36:57 to 37:00 - crew observing surgery
37:00 to 37:31 - Ash and Dallas operating on Kane
41:48 to 45:41 - Ash and Ripley in surgery
45:24 to 45:49 - Dallas being told by Ash to check on Kane
50:43 to 50:48 - Parker and Brett on ship during take off
50:59 to 51:06 - Lambert and Ripley on ship during take off
51:16 to 51:20 - Ripley on ship during take off
51:31 to 51:35 - Parker, Brett and Ripley on ship during take off
51:42 to 51:48 - Parker, Dallas and Ripley on ship during take off
51:57 to 52:54 - Crew discussing what to do with Kane
56:07 to 56:20 - Ash and the crew watching the baby Alien escape after killing Kane
1:05:58 to 1:06:41 - cat about to be caught and xenomorph coming up behind Brett
1:06:58 to 1:07:23 - cat watching after Brett was killed and Parker telling crew what happened to Brett
1:08:30 to 1:08:48 - Lambert and crew being instructed by Dallas
1:14:52 to 1:15:43 - Parker, Ripley and Ash talking after Dallas was killed by alien
1:15:46 to 1:15:50 - Ripley and Lambert looking at each other
1:15:57 to 1:17:45 - Ripley speaking to Mother and Ash surprising her
1:17:45 to 1:18:26 - Ripley trying to escape Ash
1:22:04 to 1:22:07 - Ripley slamming on table to wake up Ash
1:24:41 to 1:27:12 - Ripley, Parker and Lambert prepping for escape
1:40:11 to 1:40:55 - Ripley taking off from Nostromo
1:40:59 to 1:41:02 - Ripley looking at Nostromo
1:41:10 to 1:41:23 - Ripley being blasted with light from the destruction of Nostromo
Trailer

User reviews

7 reviews
 
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7-9 stars
 
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5-7 stars
 
0%
3-5 stars
 
0%
1-3 stars
 
0%
Overall rating
 
9.9
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.9(7)
Audio Editing
 
10.0(7)
Visual Editing
 
10.0(7)
Narrative
 
9.7(7)
Enjoyment
 
9.7(7)
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(Updated: August 28, 2024)
Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
Great edit. I originally enjoyed both the theatrical and directors cuts, however the directors cut on DVD was my first experience with Alien. I was a bit sceptical about removing the "dangling alien" scene because I always thought that was a unique and surprising way to reveal the xenomorph, but I have to admit this version really works well.

One nitpick that I always thought could improve the original Alien would be reducing the number of explosions at the end. This version is very faithful to the original viewing experience, and doesn't change the aesthetics of these kinds of things. The Darksteel cut feels like the original vision, and probably only die-hard fans will really notice the subtle additions and changes.

The cocoon scene I feel is very important, really emphasising the HORROR aspect of Alien, and without it I don't feel there is much dread during the countdown section, so I am very satisfied with the way it has been included here.

Audio and video quality are on point!

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
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Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
This edit is fantastic. On a technical level, it's beyond professional! The theatrical and director's cuts are blended seamlessly through expert level sound mixing and color correction, and minor trims throughout are made to effectively enhance pacing and maintain suspense.

Combining the best scenes from both movies provides better character development throughout. Kane pulling his blaster out makes the character feel more prepared and on edge before he continues examining an alien egg.

The inclusion of the director's cut scene where Lambert slaps Ripley, while also keeping the dialog from the theatrical cut where Ripley questions Davis about Ash, helps us understand Ripley's motivations and cement's her as the lead character earlier on.

Brett's death scene is enhanced by the removal of the shot of the alien hanging in chains from the director's cut, but also by keeping the extended ending of the scene where Ripley and Parker run in and find his blood, which isn't present in the theatrical cut.

I'm quite glad you kept the cocoon scene. This scene is the primary reason that I have almost exclusively watched the director's cut over the last 20 years. Now, the Darksteel Cut will be my go to version!

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 2 0
(Updated: June 04, 2024)
Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
This is a superb edit; technically impeccable, it takes out the unnecessary stuff from the director's cut, while at the same time it keeps the better stuff (the removal of the crew listening to the transmission was a welcome modification, as it breaks the mystery that's part of the film's atmosphere).

It also re-adds material from the theatrical release to enhance the atmosphere, alongside some nicely done cleaning of the footage (Blu ray disc transfers these days aren't 100% reliable); overall this is my new definitive version of an all-time horror sci-fi classic that was already perfect, an amazing edit that combines the best of both worlds and removes the worst.

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Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
(Updated: May 02, 2024)
Overall rating
 
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
Darksteel has blended everything needed from both theatrical and director's cuts to give viewers the best version of this sci-fi classic.

Everything needed to help the viewer bond to the crew is present, every necessary scene is here, trimmed to keep the surprises coming.

I feel that the inclusion of the cocoon scene was well implemented, inserted before the point of no return so it did not interfere or hinder the natural fast pacing of the finale.

The only thing I felt was missing was the inclusion of the crew's reaction to the signal, which I admit is a personal preference, and I also understand that it was removed to keep the build up to the mystery.

Subtitles to help with the select few instances when the score overwhelms a character when they're speaking quietly would have been appreciated, but that's only a very minor gripe in an otherwise fantastic experience.

I'll be coming back to this version whenever I rewatch this movie. It's an incredible fan edit and I applauded Darksteel for his phenomenal work.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
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Overall rating
 
9.7
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
This edit of the Alien movie was nearly the perfect version of it. The audio quality was solid and consistent the entire movie. The editor really nailed it here with the color corrections along with using the theatrical version of shots to maintain consistent quality throughout. I definitely did not notice anything off here. Well done here.

It was an excellent choice to add in more content from the theatrical edition while cutting portions of the director's cut. This helped improve both the narrative and increase my enjoyment.

On the flip side, I do partially agree with another reviewer that the cocoon scene was best left out of the movie. Personally, I actually really like the scene myself. However, the placement in the movie is very disruptive to the pacing. Ripley is supposed to think she is alone and trying to escape from a ship about to explode. This would would not be the best moment for her to come to a complete stop.

Other elements I would have liked to see were some of the more extended shots from the the theatrical edition that were removed from the director's cut. Other than those minor issues, the edit itself is effectively flawless and maximizes the potential of the movie.

I want to thank darksteel1335 for sharing this edit with me. This will be my go-to version going forward and I do recommend others to give this a chance - particularly those who are interested in a hybrid version of the theatrical and director's cut.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
Owner's reply May 04, 2024

Thank you so much for your feedback. If or when I release my Aliens edit, I plan on removing the cocoon scene for continuity reasons. I plan on doing edits for each film in the Alien Quadrilogy.

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