The Alien Franchise Creators Reteamed for an Underrated ’80s Horror Movie

The Alien Franchise Creators Reteamed for an Underrated '80s Horror Movie

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  • Dead & Buried Was Deceptively Advertised
  • The Return of the Living Dead Was Inspired by Dead & Buried
  • Dead & Buried Has Gained a Large Cult Following in Its Post-Theatrical Life

As a die-hard horror movie enthusiast and someone who has spent countless nights huddled under blankets while watching terrifying films, I must admit that “Dead & Buried” is one of those hidden gems that deserves a second look. Despite its rocky production history and the unfortunate fallout between its creators, Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett, this film stands out as a testament to their undeniable talent.


The movie script for the iconic 1979 science fiction horror film Alien was primarily attributed to Dan O’Bannon, who shared a story credit with Ronald Shusett. However, the script was also significantly shaped by several significant creative collaborators beyond O’Bannon. For instance, producers David Giler and Walter Hill made substantial changes, including the introduction of the antagonistic android Ash. Additionally, artist Ron Cobb envisioned the creature’s acidic blood trait. It’s challenging to overstate the impact of artist H.R. Giger on the Alien franchise, as his original creature design not only contributed to the horror and science fiction genres but also played a pivotal role in the franchise’s growth and success.

Irrespective of other factors, the pairing of Alien creators Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett significantly shaped the science fiction genre. This became particularly evident in their subsequent joint project, the 1981 horror film “Dead & Buried”, where a serene coastal town is plagued by the resurrected remains of murder victims. Known as “Dead & Buried”, this film was advertised as a production by the minds behind “Alien”. However, contrary to the assumed value of O’Bannon and Shusett’s names, “Dead & Buried” – which earned only $296,000 at the box office compared to its $5 million budget – was a commercial flop.

Rather than gaining momentum due to the acclaim of “Alien”, “Dead & Buried” was overshadowed by it, leading to unrealistic audience expectations that overshadowed the film’s unique qualities. Despite this, the movie stands as an engaging horror film in its own right, skillfully combining a chilling ambiance with striking special effects, and culminating in a surprising twist ending that is truly shocking.

Dead & Buried Was Deceptively Advertised

Resuscitated & Concealed

Unlike the movie “Alien”, which was based on a story by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett, the film “Dead & Buried” was developed by writers Jeff Millar and Alex Stern. Interestingly, it was Ronald Shusett, who also produced the film, who wrote the script for “Dead & Buried” before involving O’Bannon. Although O’Bannon’s name on the project was crucial for the film’s marketing tagline (“The creators of Alien bring a new terror to Earth”), he actually joined the project after Shusett had already completed significant work on it.

The Production and Sales Company responsible for the movie, often referred to as Alien’s creators, heavily capitalized on the Alien theme before shooting began, raising a significant portion of the film’s budget. However, O’Bannon insisted that Shusett incorporate certain alterations from his script for Dead & Buried, a demand Shusett agreed to. Upon viewing the completed movie and realizing none of his suggested changes were implemented, O’Bannon, who later distanced himself from the project, unsuccessfully attempted to have his name taken off the film.

The Return of the Living Dead Was Inspired by Dead & Buried

The Alien Franchise Creators Reteamed for an Underrated '80s Horror MovieThe Alien Franchise Creators Reteamed for an Underrated '80s Horror MovieThe Alien Franchise Creators Reteamed for an Underrated '80s Horror MovieThe Alien Franchise Creators Reteamed for an Underrated '80s Horror Movie

The biggest similarity between Alien and Dead & Buried is related to the fear of the unknown, specifically in terms of a fate that’s worse than death. In Alien, this involves the unspeakable thought of being cocooned and then turned into an alien egg by the film’s slimy creature, while the ultimate horror of Dead & Buried involves people being murdered and then turned into reanimated corpses.

Although many of O’Bannon’s ideas for Dead & Buried didn’t make it to the movie, its undead corpse storyline influenced O’Bannon, who later used this concept in his directorial debut, the 1985 comedy horror film The Return of the Living Dead. In this film, a clandestine military experiment leads to an unintentional release of a harmful gas that rejuvenates corpses and transforms them into ravenous zombies.

In the zombie portrayals from “The Return of the Living Dead” and “Dead & Buried”, there’s a significant difference, yet the humorous tone and punk vibe of “The Return of the Living Dead”, which was both commercially and critically more successful than “Dead & Buried”, gives us an interesting peek into what “Dead & Buried” could have been like if O’Bannon had a bigger role in its creative development.

Dead & Buried Has Gained a Large Cult Following in Its Post-Theatrical Life

The Alien Franchise Creators Reteamed for an Underrated '80s Horror MovieThe Alien Franchise Creators Reteamed for an Underrated '80s Horror MovieThe Alien Franchise Creators Reteamed for an Underrated '80s Horror Movie

Since its debut, the movie “Dead & Buried” was more recognized for its notable background, such as featuring Robert Englund, a horror legend, and early special effects by Stan Winston, a renowned name in the field, rather than for the film itself. However, over the last 20 years, “Dead & Buried” has gradually moved away from being associated with other works, particularly “Alien“, and has developed a reputation as one of the most under-appreciated horror films of its time.

Although “Dead & Buried” has gained a significant viewership beyond its initial theater release, it doesn’t significantly impact the esteemed careers of Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett, whose third and final joint project was the 1990 sci-fi film “Total Recall,” often regarded as one of the greatest sci-fi films ever. You can stream “Dead & Buried” on platforms like Tubi, Peacock, Pluto TV, and AMC+. The latest installment in the Alien series, “Alien: Romulus,” is set to hit theaters on August 16th.

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2024-08-14 01:01