A group of scientists are sent on a mission to destroy unstable planets. Twenty years into their mission, they have to battle their alien mascot as well as a "sensitive" and intelligent bombing device that starts to question the meaning of its existence.
Practical Effects
Beach ball alien puppet is peak low-budget genius.
Writing
O'Bannon's script asks 'what if HAL 9000 was depressed?'
Direction
Carphet's student film debut, made for $60k somehow.
Director
John Carpenter
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Dan O'Bannon expanded his 'beach ball alien' and ship computer concepts into Alien and the Nostromo's MOTHER system.
This started as a USC student project that Carpenter and O'Bannon stretched to feature length—explaining the padded runtime and surreal detours.
US
