The following is an interview with clinical psychologist Dr. Drea Letamendi as part of Fanbase Press’ #AlienDay 2024 coverage. In this interview, Fanbase Press President Bryant Dillon chats with Letamendi about her experiences in filming for the upcoming Aliens: Expanded documentary, her own connections to the Alien fandom, and more!
Bryant Dillon, Fanbase Press President: Can you tell us about your personal fandom story when it comes to the Alien franchise? When were you first exposed to the Xenomorph and the stories surrounding it, and what effect did that have on you?
Drea Letamendi: I grew up watching a ton of sci-fi, thriller, and fantasy themed films, and although I was probably a little too young to understand them, I absolutely loved the first two Aliens films. There was something about the vastness and creepiness of space itself, the idea that humans were in a territory not their own, realizing the dread surrounding the notion that anything can happen in such vulnerability and lawlessness. I was drawn to suspenseful sci-fi because there was something fascinating and unsettling to me about the unknown. I actually never got into the schlock and slash horror of the ’80s, but, early in my life, I knew I was a fan of sci-fi horror because of Alien. Now, anytime I see a trailer for a scary story set in space? I’m down.
BD: You recently revealed that you had the opportunity to take part in the upcoming Aliens: Expanded as the documentary’s psychology expert. For those unfamiliar, Aliens: Expanded is an in-depth and innovative documentary that explores the story behind James Cameron’s beloved sci-fi epic, Aliens (1986), and its incredible impact.
What can you tell us about your involvement in Aliens: Expanded and your experience filming?
DL: About a year ago, I was asked to contribute to the project, Aliens: Expanded, as a psychology expert. (The day I filmed my segment, I actually had the pleasure of meeting Jenette Goldstein who plays Private Vasquez in Aliens, easily one of the members of the crew I instantly connected to in my youth.) I had been a part of the doc series, In Search of Tomorrow, so the director of that series asked me to participate in this new project in order to lay down some thematic connective tissue throughout the new doc. We filmed in a studio for a couple of hours on one day. You never really know how these doc projects shake out and whether they’ll even launch, but I have a feeling that including James Cameron on the project helped to raise the bar. My segment was a delight to film because I was asked to explore and examine everything from Ripley’s tenacity, to the concepts of PTSD in sci-fi, to Xenomorph’s maternal instincts. I loved being a part of it and I’m thrilled to have made the final cut.
BD: Are there psychology elements of the other films in the franchise that you’d potentially have interest in exploring in the future, should the opportunity present itself? How physiologically “juicy” are these films in you opinion?
DL: The Xenomorph is a horrifying and gruesome figure itself, but the creature also represents a psychologically riveting idea. It symbolizes destruction. Savagery. Chaos. And in Aliens, we learn about the full life cycle of such barbarism. The creature can procreate by conquering and colonizing our bodies. Without knowledge of the species, humans are situated as ignorant, helpless, and desperate to find solutions. The battle against the unknown and undefeated is a tale very critical for us to consider. It lends itself to a sense of discomfort and self-doubt, emotions that are necessary for character building and fortitude. Alien films are all humbling but also motivating–even if the odds seem against us, we seem willing to preserve what is most important to us. Later films in the franchise actually explore other psychological themes that, in my opinion, move beyond the threats of the real and allegorical monster and focus more directly on the threats of human society (ALIEN 3). If CREATORVC develops a complete Alien anthology, I’d gladly participate!
BD: Given the Xenomorph has been an established presence in pop culture since the first film released in 1979, why do you think this creature and these stories endure decades later?
DL: The Alien films have longevity because of the iconography of the franchise. Thanks to H.R. Giger, the art style of fantastic realism has remained an influence throughout the franchise. The bizarre and psychosexual elements are alluring and yet repulsive. There are elements that are recognizable and familiar about the visage, but our brains also register the grotesque. The feeling of Alien/Aliens is constantly unsettling and cold, but the character Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) introduces sentiments like reason, humanity, altruism, and warmth, and these features offset the terrors of the landscape.
BD: Do you connect with the character of Ellen Ripley, and how important do you believe she is to the franchise’s success and to pop culture as a whole?
DL: Ripley was one of the first characters on-screen who taught me that women can be emotionally tough and strongminded. (Others included Mrs. Brisby from The Secret of NIMH and Princess Leia from Star Wars.) Ripley is able to exercise her determination and leadership without compromising her compassion and care for others. She shows us that we (women) can be complicated but not constantly hysterical or uselessly decorative. Ripley isn’t devoid of emotions; when she raises her voice it matters, it means something. When she’s wronged, she speaks up. When she’s undercut, gaslit, dismissed, and discredited, she refuses to give up on her self-conviction. She represents feminism in that she isn’t solely a female body to be gazed upon; her body is used to protect others, to attack enemies, and to command a Power Loader. She’s a fighter, a laborer, a strategist, and a mother. I can only dream of mastering so many roles, but Ripley shows us that it is possible.
BD: The latest entry of the Alien franchise, the feature film Alien: Romulus, releases this August in theaters. Are you excited for Romulus, and what are you hoping for when it comes to the newest chapter in the Alien franchise?
DL: I will happily watch anything related to Alien and Predator, with only an expectation to be horrorstruck.
BD: As always at Fanbase Press, when discussing stories, we always like to take time to address the company’s Stories Matter initiative. Stories Matter is Fanbase Press’ specific focus on how universal communication through stories allows us to examine the essentials of human existence, to understand ourselves better and to grow and/or heal, to pass on importance values, knowledge, and lessons to the next generation, and to connect with one another through empathy and compassion.
So, with that in mind, I pose to each of you, beyond the simple entertainment factor, what value or understanding does the Alien franchise offer in regards to our world or the human condition?”
DL: In my work, I use media literacy and media engagement to teach people about issues related to mental health and well-being. Storytelling is a way to usher in ideas and discoveries, and by way of internalizing the emotions of characters, to process and explore our own challenges and triumphs. What stands out for me as a psychologist is that people in the film, the female protagonist in particular, face incredible challenges and horrors. Ripley is a character who restarts her journey in Aliens following a huge traumatic event. She’s struggling with post-traumatic stress reactions such as nightmares and flashbacks, self-doubts and depression, and thoughts about her purpose in (her new) life. The film conveys Ripley’s ability to overcome setbacks and to challenge those who do not know her lived experience. Over time, the creature becomes something believable, less insurmountable, and we start to negotiate with it just as she does. Surviving becomes an active choice. It’s an amazingly powerful story for anyone trying to overcome traumatic grief in their own lives.
BD: Finally, where can our readers find out more about you and your work online?
DL: I would love folks to check out my work on my website, drdreapsychology.com, check out my Instagram page (drdreapsychology), and listen to my podcast, The Arkham Sessions.
