Dan O'Bannon's fascination with the macabre began at a tender age, as he was deeply inspired by the EC Comics of his youth, such as Tales from the Crypt, and the old horror films that haunted the cinemas of St. Louis. His creative inclinations soon found expression in the form of written stories, which were eventually published in the esteemed Heavy Metal magazine. These tales would later find their way into the film adaptation of Heavy Metal.
O'Bannon's journey as a filmmaker began with a collaborative effort alongside John Carpenter, resulting in the cult classic sci-fi film Dark Star, released in 1974. Following a failed attempt to bring Frank Herbert's Dune to life under the direction of the enigmatic Alejandro Jodorowsky in Europe, O'Bannon returned to the United States and embarked on a new project, Star Beast, which would later be retitled Alien and released in 1979. This endeavor was undertaken in conjunction with Ronald Shusett, with whom he would later collaborate on the 1981 horror film Dead & Buried.
Throughout his career, O'Bannon has primarily worked within the sci-fi and horror genres, often serving as a script doctor. However, his directorial debut, The Return of the Living Dead, released in 1985, has earned a reputation as one of the greatest zombie movies ever made, with two sequels already produced and a third in development. As of this writing, O'Bannon has been actively involved in various DVD documentaries, reflecting on his body of work and the influences that have shaped his artistic vision.
It is also noteworthy that each of O'Bannon's films has been imbued with intriguing psychological undertones, reflecting his fascination with the human psyche. Moreover, his affinity for bow ties has become a distinctive aspect of his public persona.
