Oct 11, 2019
Memory: The Origins of Alien premiered at Fantastic Fest 2019 from director Alexandre Philippe, known for 78/52. In Memory, Philippe explores the origins of one science fiction's most iconic films, Ridley Scott's Alien. But, this isn't just a production history, instead he discusses the myths and culture that formed the story of the film and how it could have only happened with the trio of Dan O'Bannon, H.R. Giger, and Ridley Scott. Beyond this, Philipped maps the history of the iconic "chestburster" scene, where it came from and how it was made.
I was lucky enough to get to speak with Philippe at the festival and discuss why he chose the "Chestburster" scene, the role that myth plays in film, what sparked him to include some of the more emotional moments with his interviewees, and why making the film accessible to non-fans was important.