Horror History: David Fincher’s ALIEN 3 is Now 29 Years Old
Josh Millican
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The third installment in the Alien franchise launched by Ridley Scott in 1979 Alien 3 was released on this day in 1992.
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While stories of director David Fincher’s struggles with 20th Century Fox while filming Alien 3 are epic, and though the film was not as well-received as the original or James Cameron’s 1986 sequel, Aliens, it has nonetheless gained both respect and appreciation in the years since it’s release.
The most enduring complaint, however, is that Newt and Corporal Hicks (played by Carrie Henn and Michael Biehn respectively) died in the opening minutes of Alien 3. It’s a brutal blow, considering what the characters went through just to survive Aliens! Neill Blomkamp promised to retcon this aspect of the franchise’s storyline in his never-made sequel (often referred to as Alien 5).
Even with its faults, Alien 3 is perhaps the gloomiest installment in the franchise and the most Gothic in tone and aesthetic. The climax will knock your socks off! If it’s been a while, or if you’ve yet to experience Alien 3 for yourself, check out the trailer and synopsis below.
Synopsis:
Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is the only survivor when she crash lands on Fiorina 161. It’s a bleak wasteland inhabited by former inmates of the planet’s maximum-security prison. Once again, Ripley must face skepticism and the alien as it hunts down the prisoners and guards. Without weapons or modern technology of any kind, Ripley leads the men into battle against the terrifying creature.
Trivia:
The film’s production process was chaotic. And its reception by fans and critics so unfavorable. It nearly ended David Fincher’s career before he ever had a chance to gain momentum as a director. But two things ended up saving Fincher from permanent “Movie Jail”.
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The first thing was that Sigourney Weaver publicly (and often angrily) sided with Fincher against 20th Century Fox. She told journalists that the studio had made decisions that resulted in an impossible situation for the young director. And that he would have an excellent career if given further chances. The other thing was that producer Arnold Kopelson knew and didn’t respect the management at Fox. That was part of the process where he ultimately offered Fincher a new project a few years later; that project was Se7en (1995). And its massive success re-ignited Fincher’s career, making him one of the most respected directors of his time. (Source)
Goof:
There is no logical explanation for how the Alien egg appears on the Sulaco at the beginning of the film. Although it has been speculated that the Queen Alien laid the egg when she was hiding in the landing gear of the drop ship, the Alien Egg is clearly not inside the landing gear after it has hatched. It appears to be somewhere either inside the drop ship or elsewhere in the Sulaco. Since Queen Alien was never in the interior compartment of the drop ship and certainly never made past the cargo bay of the Sulaco, there is no explanation for how the egg got where it is. (Source)
Are you a fan of Alien 3? Can you believe it’s been 29 years since the film was released? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.
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