Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Battlefield 6 Classes - Support trailer image

    Battlefield 6 Really Wants You To Play Support (But Knows You Won’t)

    07/31/2025
    Battlefield 6 Multiplayer Reveal promotional image

    Battlefield 6 Classes, Maps, And More: Everything You Need To Know

    07/31/2025
    A glimpse at all the upcoming Star Wars stories coming to the galaxy

    Star Wars Stories: What We Learned At SDCC 2025

    07/25/2025
    Blindspot episode still

    It’s been 5 years since ‘Blindspot’ ended. Why haven’t you watched it yet?

    07/24/2025
    Strange Scaffold

    Strange Scaffold Summer Showcase Delivers Bizarre And Brilliant Games

    07/22/2025
  • Fantasia Festival
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
But Why Tho?
Home » Film » Fantastic Fest 2019: ‘Memory: The Origins of Alien’ is Beautiful Look Into an Iconic Moment

Fantastic Fest 2019: ‘Memory: The Origins of Alien’ is Beautiful Look Into an Iconic Moment

Kate SánchezBy Kate Sánchez10/05/20194 Mins ReadUpdated:04/11/2023
Memory - But Why Tho
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Memory The Origins of Alien

There are scenes in cinema that shape pop culture, entering our collective memories and defining a genre. Memory: The Origins of Alien chronicles one of those scenes: the “Chestburster.” Without ever having seen Ridley Scott’s Alien, it’s safe to say that you still know the scene in question. In the scene, a crew member of the ship lies on a table, writhing in pain, only to have an alien burst from his chest in a fountain of blood to the horror of his shipmates. It’s been replicated, spoofed, and ingrained in our collective pop-culture memory. But getting there, getting to Alien, was a journey of aligned stars and a milieu of stories that came before.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

In Memory, director Alexandre O. Philippe takes fans on an exploration of the mythical underpinnings of Alien. Where other Alien documentaries have focused on the production and the history of the film, the stumbles, and ultimately the mechanics of it, Philippe opts to tell the story of the lore and ultimately the magic of the film. This dive into the myth that Alien comes out of and ultimately creates for its own franchise is supported by exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, interviews from scholars, fans, and those close to the visionaries behind the film.

In Memory: The Origins of Alien, Philippe is able to unearth the largely untold origin story behind the film by revealing a treasure trove of never-before-seen materials from the archives of the creators Dan O’Bannon and H.R. Giger. While you may think you know everything about Alien and don’t need to watch this documentary, you’re still in for phenomenal reveals including original story notes, rejected designs, storyboards, and O’Bannon’s original 29-page script from 1971, which was titled Memory, where the documentary gets its name.

The documentary dedicates focus on the film’s iconic “Chestburster” scene, detailing its creation, the effects magic behind it, and dispelling the myth that no one in the room knew what was going to happen. That said Memory: The Origins of Alien’s strength is that it also goes into detail the cultural consciousness that gave birth to Alien. 

The documentary works by showcasing not how original Alien was but rather how it was able to bring together decades of stories into one beautiful film. Philippe chronicles the origins of the story in its barest of forms from pulp comics to H.P. Lovecraft while ultimately highlighting the importance of having the trilogy of creative minds O’Bannon, Scott, and H.R. Giger. Philippe explains how Alien, as we know it hinges on the confluence of this trio, writer, director, and artist.

Philippe does this by highlighting the times that Alien, its themes, and even O’Bannon himself, had failed to succeed. Through interviews, Memory: The Origins of Alien also shows how each piece of the Alien puzzle was reliant on another. Budget, artist approval, actors coming to the project, all came together because of the individual parts of the film.

The beauty of Memory: The Origins of Alien is that anyone, with any knowledge of the Alien franchise can enter the film and have a full comprehension of its message. In fact, for those who love the franchise it gives you more reasons to do so and for those who have never seen an Alien film, it serves as a primer for becoming a fan. This is a film that I can see bringing in new fans to the fold with ease. Additionally, of all the documentaries I have seen, I have never once seen such a passionate display of emotion from the people interviewed. In one sequence, discussing the misogyny of Ash, the interviewee shifts in her seat, gets heated, and explains how much it impacts her to imagine the implications of his programmed misogyny. This works to great effect, and for me, as a female fan, made me feel seen.

Overall, Memory: The Origins of Alien is a documentary that goes deeper than most in the genre. The film seems to be a simple documentary on the production history of Alien. That said, when it begins, it’s clear that Philippe’s focus is less about the production and more about looking at the magic that brought the “Chestburster.” to life as well as explaining how the scene helped build the franchise. While it’s hard to spoil a documentary, Memory: The Origins of Alien is a story that is best left explained to the film itself, a magic that is only felt through Philippe’s work.

Memory: The Origins of Alien is available on VoD.

Memory: The Origins of Alien
  • 10/10
    Rating - 10/10
10/10

TL;DR

Memory: The Origins of Alien is a documentary that goes deeper than most in the genre. The film seems to be a simple documentary on the production history of Alien. That said, when it begins, it’s clear that Philippe’s focus is less about the production and more about looking at the magic that brought the “Chestburster.” to life as well as explaining how the scene helped build the franchise.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Joker’ Feels Subpar Despite A Stellar Lead Performance
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Seis Manos’ Offers Up Magic, Music, and Martial Arts
Kate Sánchez
  • Website
  • X (Twitter)
  • Instagram

Kate Sánchez is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of But Why Tho? A Geek Community. There, she coordinates film, television, anime, and manga coverage. Kate is also a freelance journalist writing features on video games, anime, and film. Her focus as a critic is championing animation and international films and television series for inclusion in awards cycles. Find her on Bluesky @ohmymithrandir.bsky.social

Related Posts

Simon in An Honest Life But Why Tho
3.5

REVIEW: ‘An Honest Life’ Is Terribly Dishonest About Its Own Politics

08/02/2025
Brandon Routh and co in Ick
9.0

REVIEW: ‘Ick’ Is A Near Perfect Horror-Comedy

07/29/2025
Bad Bunny and Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore 2
5.0

REVIEW: ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Earns More Shrugs Than Laughs

07/29/2025
Hi-Five
6.5

FANTASIA 2025: ‘Hi-Five’ Introduces A Scrappy, Superpowered Team Up

07/28/2025
Still from Haunted Mountains The Yellow Taboo
5.5

FANTASIA 2025: ‘Haunted Mountains: The Yellow Taboo’ Gets A Little Lost In The Weeds

07/26/2025
Dakota Gorman in HELLCAT
6.5

FANTASIA 2025: ‘HELLCAT’ Runs High In Tension But Loses Steam

07/25/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Wildgate promotional key art
9.0
PC

REVIEW: ‘Wildgate’ Is Co-Op Space Mayhem Done Right

By Adrian Ruiz07/25/2025Updated:07/30/2025

Built for friends and tuned for competition, Wildgate is messy in the best way: smart, surprising, and bursting with room to grow.

Glass Heart
7.0
TV

REVIEW: ‘Glass Heart’ Offers Messy, Musical Catharsis

By Allyson Johnson07/22/2025

The musical drama series ‘Glass Heart’ soars when it focuses on the epic performances of it’s fictional band, TENBLANK.

Simon in An Honest Life But Why Tho
3.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘An Honest Life’ Is Terribly Dishonest About Its Own Politics

By Jason Flatt08/02/2025

An Honest Life is an overly severe misfire about a law student who falls in with anarchist burglars that can’t decide who it resents more.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here