DN:FILM Memory: The Origins of Alien
Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic, “Alien” has an indisputable place in the pantheon of touchstone films. Its fans always go back to the movie’s standout “chestburster” scene, when the toothy titular xenomorph pops out of John Hurt (spoiler: things don’t go well for his character afterward). In Alexandre O. Philippe’s MEMORY: THE ORIGINS OF ALIEN, the scene is credited not only with being the film’s most memorable, but indeed for ensuring its existence: Without it, “Alien” might never have been green-lit.
Philippe dives deep into the scene, employing the strategy he used to great effect in his 2017 festival-circuit hit “78/52,” which deconstructed and examined the 78 setups and 52 cuts that made up the iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's “Psycho” The analytical lens is open wider in “Memory,” with Philippe examining swaths of the history behind how “Alien” was made and uncovering the source influences—going as far back as Egyptian and Greek mythology—that inspired the film’s team. Hardcore fans will relish the multifaceted plunge into all things “Alien,” and even less-obsessive viewers will gain enlightening insight to aspects of the film.
Take Dan O’Bannon, for instance: Philippe gives this under-heralded “Alien” screenwriter overdue credit, exploring the range of influences—writers, artists, films, and sci-fi and fantasy comics—that influenced this Midwestern, tv-deprived boy. (Jot down the cited films for a solid set of sci-fi recommendations.) Philippe demonstrates how O’Bannon’s early script, “Memory,” became the near-verbatim first 30 minutes of “Alien.” After opening with O’Bannon’s key role, Philippe goes on to examine the film’s source stories and to investigate details like Ridley Scott’s use of cuts and wide angles to create tension; artist HR Giger’s influence and how his futuristic, corporeal and sexualized style impacted the look of the film; the inspiration wasps provided for the look and behavior of the monster; further literary references including Joseph Conrad and H.P. Lovecraft; and the way the film reflected contemporary coverage of topics ranging from serial killers to gender and socio-economic politics. Not surprisingly, the downside to stepping into such a massive array of contributing elements is that few get the attention that many seem to deserve.
The chestburster scene, however, gets its due: Phillipe closes out his doc with its close examination, looking at the technical and historical aspects that led to the birth of the sequence. Myriad anecdotes from cast and creators are likely to influence more than a few re-watchings of the film, as certain moments from the film can now be appreciated in new lights. Francis Bacon would be proud of what he wrought.
In Select Theaters and On Demand