David Cronenberg Despises This Cult 94%-Rated Horror: "Just a $300,000 B-Movie"

David Cronenberg is more than just a director, he's the founder of an entire subgenre. In the 1970s, he developed body horror, making viewers feel uncomfortable in their own skin – he explored social themes through the lens of bodily transformation.

Shivers and The Fly became classics, earning Cronenberg a reputation as a provocateur with a philosophical bent.

Therefore, his attitude toward Ridley Scott's Alien is unsurprising. While the rest of the world considers it a masterpiece, Cronenberg sees Alien as nothing more than an expensive B-movie devoid of philosophy.

David Cronenberg Has No Praise for Ridley Scott's 'Alien'

In a 1979 interview, Cronenberg said:

“It has no metaphysics, no philosophy. The creature winds up as a man in a crocodile suit who chases a bunch of people around a room.

I think that my own films do a lot more in touching a deep-seated nerve, more than the simple reaction that you don't want a crocodile to eat you. Alien was just a $300,000 B-movie with a $10million budget.”

Even decades later, the director hasn't softened his stance. In a 2015 interview with Collider, he openly accused screenwriter Dan O'Bannon of plagiarism:

“The writer of the script, Dan O'Bannon, had seen Shivers, we know that he had seen my movie and, shall we say, appropriated it.”

What Is 'Shivers' About, Which Cronenberg Places Above 'Alien'?

In a residential complex on an island near Montreal, a mad scientist tests a genetically engineered parasite on his lover.

Believing that humans are overthinking creatures, the scientist designed the parasite to increase human violence and sexual desire. However, the infection spreads uncontrollably, soon infecting other residents of the complex.

David Cronenberg and Ridley Scott Have Different Views on the Nature of Horror

The conflict between the two directors is a debate about what constitutes true horror. For Cronenberg, horror is always internal, stemming from how external circumstances change a person from within – his monsters don't come from outer space, they are born within us.

For all its perfection, Alien remains an external threat to him: terrifying, yet mechanical. The xenomorph is frightening but doesn't make you think. Time has shown that each approach has its own army of fans.

Alien became a cult classic, spawned a universe, and inspired dozens of imitations. Shivers remains the gold standard for intelligent horror, celebrated for its depth rather than its special effects.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Alien'?

• Alien has 93% from critics and 94% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 8.5/10.

• On Letterboxd, Alien scored 4.3/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Alien'?

Alien is available to stream on Disney+.