InAlienable 2008

Guilt over a family tragedy

Dr. Eric Norris is wracked with guilt after a terrible tragedy that costs him his family. He struggles with grief while continuing his medical research and trying to move forward with his life.

Discovery of the alien parasite and DNA link

Norris discovers that an alien parasite is growing inside him and that it shares his DNA. This revelation forces him to reassess his own humanity and the possibility that life can come in a form unknown to him.

Bonding with Benjamin

Initially horrified by the parasite, Norris gradually comes to love the creature and accepts it as a surrogate son. He even gives the infant the name Benjamin, marking a radical shift in his sense of family and purpose.

Dr. Shilling's antagonism

Dr. Shilling, the institute administrator, dislikes Norris and revels in insulting him. He blames Norris for his own bleak life and resents the bond Norris forms with the alien child.

The defense team forms

Norris, together with his new love Amanda and attorney Howard Ellis, decides to defend Benjamin from imprisonment or destruction. They begin coordinating their legal strategy and preparing their public case.

The trial begins

A courtroom trial opens over Benjamin's status, with habeas corpus and miscegenation as central issues. The defense faces political pressure and a hostile government.

Debate on the meaning of 'alien'

As arguments unfold, the meaning of 'alien' is dissected on philosophical and legal terms. The courtroom debate challenges conventional definitions of family, kinship, and what it means to be a person.

Escalation: the courtroom is breached by violence

A disturbed man named Emil interrupts the proceedings, enters the courtroom, and shoots Benjamin, causing chaos and ending the immediate crisis.

Immediate fallout

Benjamin is wounded by Emil's gunfire, leaving Norris, Amanda, and Ellis to confront personal and legal devastation. The crisis immediately complicates any hopes of a swift resolution.

The end of the trial's momentum

With Benjamin gravely harmed, the future of Norris's family hangs in the balance. The film underscores the fragility of the new kinship and the high stakes of redefining family.

A personal reckoning after loss

Norris reaffirms the paternal bond with Benjamin and contemplates what it would mean for the alien life inside him to become part of his family. The experience leaves him changed, still hopeful but wary of the costs.