Dan O'Bannon(1946-2009)
- Writer
- Additional Crew
- Actor
Dan O'Bannon was inspired at an early age by EC Comics like Tales from
the Crypt and old horror films that he saw in St. Louis. He even wrote
a few stories for Heavy Metal magazine (which also showed up in the
film).
O'Bannon got his start when he and John Carpenter collaborated on the cult
sci-fi film Dark Star (1974). After a failed attempt to make "Dune" with bizarre
surrealist Alejandro Jodorowsky in Europe, O'Bannon returned to the US and began
work on "Star Beast" (later retitled Alien (1979)) with Ronald Shusett (with whom
he later worked again on Dead & Buried (1981)). He continued working in the
Sci-fi/Horror genre mostly as a script doctor, but his directorial
debut, The Return of the Living Dead (1985) is known as one of the best zombie movies ever made (and
as of this writing two sequels with another in production). Lately
O'Bannon has been appearing in a lot of DVD documentaries discussing
his work and his influences. It is also worth noting that all of his
films have interesting psychological interpretations. He has a tendency
to appear in bow ties.
the Crypt and old horror films that he saw in St. Louis. He even wrote
a few stories for Heavy Metal magazine (which also showed up in the
film).
O'Bannon got his start when he and John Carpenter collaborated on the cult
sci-fi film Dark Star (1974). After a failed attempt to make "Dune" with bizarre
surrealist Alejandro Jodorowsky in Europe, O'Bannon returned to the US and began
work on "Star Beast" (later retitled Alien (1979)) with Ronald Shusett (with whom
he later worked again on Dead & Buried (1981)). He continued working in the
Sci-fi/Horror genre mostly as a script doctor, but his directorial
debut, The Return of the Living Dead (1985) is known as one of the best zombie movies ever made (and
as of this writing two sequels with another in production). Lately
O'Bannon has been appearing in a lot of DVD documentaries discussing
his work and his influences. It is also worth noting that all of his
films have interesting psychological interpretations. He has a tendency
to appear in bow ties.