Memory: The Origins of Alien
Memory: The Origins of Alien

Memory: The Origins of Alien

2019Movie95 minEnglish

The untold origin story behind Ridley Scott's Alien - rooted in Greek and Egyptian mythologies, underground comics, the art of Francis Bacon, and the dark visions of Dan O'Bannon and H.R. Giger. A contemplation on the symbiotic collaborative process of movie-making, the power of myth, and our collective unconscious.

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Insights

IMDb7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes90%
Metacritic71/100
Google Users92%
Director: Alex ScarpaGenres: Documentary, Horror, Sci-Fi

Plot Summary

This documentary delves into the creation of the iconic film 'Alien', tracing its origins from the dark imaginations of its creators to the groundbreaking production. It explores the influences of H.R. Giger's biomechanical art and the collaborative genius of the filmmakers and artists involved. The film reveals the challenges and triumphs in bringing the terrifying Xenomorph and its universe to the screen.

Critical Reception

Memory: The Origins of Alien was generally well-received by critics and audiences for its in-depth look at the making of a sci-fi classic. Reviewers praised its comprehensive exploration of the artistic and conceptual foundations of 'Alien', particularly focusing on the contributions of H.R. Giger and the early creative team. The documentary was lauded for its thoroughness and for offering new insights into the development of the film's iconic creature and atmosphere.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its deep dive into the artistic and psychological origins of 'Alien'.
  • Applauded for its comprehensive exploration of H.R. Giger's influence and the film's production.
  • Seen as essential viewing for fans of 'Alien' and science fiction filmmaking.

Google audience: Google users overwhelmingly appreciate this documentary for its fascinating and detailed exploration of how 'Alien' was conceived and brought to life. Many highlight the in-depth segments on H.R. Giger's unique artistic vision as particularly compelling, and commend the film for providing significant background and context for one of cinema's most influential horror films. Viewers found it insightful and a valuable addition to understanding the 'Alien' legacy.

Fun Fact

The documentary reveals that H.R. Giger's original Xenomorph design was so disturbing and complex that it initially faced skepticism from the film's producers, who were unsure if it could be realistically realized on screen.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
Sheldon Nylander

Sheldon Nylander

Honestly, there's not much to say about "Memory." Or rather, there isn't much to say about "Alien" that hasn't really been said before. Most of the information is stuff that's been talked about before. It was interesting to see some more in...
SWITCH.

SWITCH.

What makes ‘Memory: The Origins of Alien’ interesting is the way, as one critic puts it, “it was a synthesis that wasn’t done consciously“ of Giger’s biomechanical designs, Scott’s eye for striking compositions and O’Bannon’s fear of insect...