As a lifelong connoisseur of cinema, particularly those that send shivers down one’s spine and leave an indelible mark on the psyche, I must say that Fede Álvarez has truly outdone himself with Alien: Romulus. The man is a modern-day H.R. Giger, crafting terrifying creatures that are as visually stunning as they are nightmarish.
The following article contains spoilers for Alien: Romulus.
Director Fede Alvarez, who helms the latest installment of the “Alien” franchise titled “Alien: Romulus,” has shared insights about the shocking twist ending of the recently released horror-sci-fi movie. As viewers may think the film is concluding, they discover it’s a misleading finale and there’s more in store – a chilling new monster; this daring choice by Alvarez aims to pay tribute to every “Alien” film in the series.
In an interview with Variety, Álvarez explains that the final monster in the film is a homage to significant moments in the Alien franchise’s history. He also discusses the unexpected and unconventional cameo in the movie. The monster’s appearance differs from typical xenomorphs because it resembles a humanoid instead. This creature is born from a terrifying scene where Ripley gives birth to what appears to be a baby inside a cocoon, but it soon transforms into something else: a hybrid of human and alien DNA. The resulting creature bears a striking resemblance to the Engineers, first introduced in Scott’s Prometheus, with hints of xenomorph DNA, as well as the offspring that Ripley gives birth to in Alien: Resurrection.
Álvarez mentions that his son was the one who noticed the similarity first: “He had just watched the Alien movies with a friend, and when the creature appears, he says, ‘This reminds me of Resurrection.’ I hadn’t made the connection before — but it’s accurate, it’s like an abomination emerging.” The director notes that this wasn’t the angle he initially intended to convey: “I wanted people to grasp the Engineer aspect of it” (referring to the creatures in Prometheus and Alien: Covenant). Instead, the focus seemed to be on the monster-like appearance.
He explains, “The black goo is the fundamental origin of everything presented in Prometheus. It’s the source of all life, and more specifically, it’s what spawns the xenomorphs. So, it must be present within them. It’s like the xenomorphs’ reproductive essence. Given that it alters DNA and the Engineers share this common origin of life, it seemed logical to me that their hybrid offspring would resemble what was described.” He expresses:
It’s probably a new species, because that mix never happened before.
Alien: Romulus: The Very Definition of a Potent Sequel
Composed by Álvarez along with frequent partner Rodo Sayagues, the movie titled “Alien: Romulus” has garnered international attention, earning a B+ from CinemaScore. Critics have also praised it, giving it an 81% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In terms of box office success, it displaced Deadpool and Wolverine from the number one spot and has earned over $100 million globally, with this figure expected to increase in the near future.
In a follow-up to the “Alien” series without Ridley Scott as director (he’s contributing as a producer this time), the movie’s success is undeniably significant, even if it can’t compete with the superhero genre. This achievement serves as a clear reminder to those who tend to underestimate horror films. Interestingly, another major milestone in the horror genre was reached this weekend: the horror sensation “Longlegs” surpassed $100 million at the box office, making it the highest-grossing independent film of 2024. This shows that horror movies are thriving now more than ever.
The movie “Romulus” serves as an excellent illustration of what a sequel ought to be. It should maintain the essence of being a standalone production while adhering to certain guidelines. Director Álvarez has accomplished this task flawlessly by creating a compelling space horror film that is raw, gruesome, intense, and unrelenting.
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2024-08-19 06:04