Zach Cregger’s ‘The Flood’ Blends Elements of ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ and ‘Aliens’

Zach Cregger has been establishing himself as one of the most exciting new voices in horror, thanks to his acclaimed works like ‘Barbarian’ and ‘Weapons.’ His upcoming project, however, is set to challenge the boundaries of his reputation as he ventures into science fiction.

‘The Flood’ marks Cregger’s first significant shift into the sci-fi genre, and early insights suggest it won’t simply be a horror director’s take on space. The thriller follows a crew aboard a remote space station that encounters an alien object capable of distorting time, reality, and the human psyche.

Cregger has made it clear that he wants to differentiate this film from his previous works, emphasizing that while it has an unsettling tone, it is not a horror movie. In an interview with Men’s Health, he described ‘The Flood’ as “disturbing, but it’s not a horror movie, although there are horror scenes in it,” citing Stanley Kubrick’s ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ as a significant influence on the film.

The concept for ‘The Flood’ emerged from a uniquely compressed creative process. Cregger reportedly had just five days to develop the idea while collaborating with producer Steven Spielberg, during which he entered a focused mental state that allowed him to visualize the entire film in one intense session.

Inspiration also came from a personal source, as Cregger credits his wife, actress Sara Paxton, for igniting the idea after they watched a film about an abandoned spaceship. Paxton suggested that being trapped in space is one of the scariest scenarios, which evolved into the story of a female captain and her crew discovering a mysterious signal from a distant planet.

Cregger has been vocal about how ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ has influenced his approach, describing Kubrick’s film as “a really thrilling horror movie about human nature.” This perspective hints at how ‘The Flood’ intends to utilize its sci-fi backdrop to delve into larger philosophical themes rather than relying solely on traditional scares.

The film’s narrative structure reportedly plays with time in unconventional ways, featuring jumps and loops that reveal events unfolded differently than they initially seemed. This ambitious storytelling, combined with visuals reminiscent of Kubrick’s slow-burn cosmic dread, explains why comparisons to both ‘2001’ and ‘Aliens’ have surfaced since details about the project began to circulate.

‘The Flood’ has experienced a notably complex journey toward its release. Initially set up before Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ reboot, Netflix held the distribution rights but ultimately opted out of guaranteeing a theatrical release.

This decision allowed Warner Bros. to step in, with the film now being produced through Amblin Pictures, Warner Bros., and New Line Cinema. ‘The Flood’ is currently scheduled for theatrical release on August 11, 2028, giving Cregger ample time to realize his ambitious vision.

The involvement of Amblin adds an intriguing element, considering Spielberg’s own legacy of blending sci-fi with elements of wonder and dread. Having a producer of his caliber attached only heightens expectations for a project already being likened to two of the most influential sci-fi films in history.

Cregger has also hinted at at least one particularly intense sequence inspired by Gaspar Noé’s ‘Irréversible,’ although he has acknowledged it might ultimately prove “a bridge too far” and could be revised before the film’s completion. This willingness to push boundaries, tempered by his own second-guessing, suggests that ‘The Flood’ is still evolving as Cregger hones in on how disturbing he wants the final product to be.

No official cast has been confirmed yet, but Cregger has frequently collaborated with Sara Paxton, Austin Abrams, and Justin Long in his recent projects. Given the personal nature of the film’s origins, it wouldn’t be surprising to see familiar faces when casting announcements are eventually made.

The film’s central mystery, an alien signal from a distant world that warps perception, offers Cregger ample opportunity for visual and narrative experimentation. Coupled with a plot that loops back on itself and reveals earlier events in a new light, ‘The Flood’ appears to aim for something far more cerebral than a straightforward space creature feature.

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