As a seasoned gamer and avid sci-fi enthusiast who has braved the treacherous terrains of LV-426, Hadley’s Hope, and the Nostromo, I can confidently say that “Alien: Romulus” has truly outdone itself in the horror department. The movie has managed to make me question my lunch choices for days after watching it – a true testament to its gruesome brilliance.
Contains spoilers for “Alien: Romulus”
As a die-hard movie enthusiast, I must admit that the reign of Deadpool and Wolverine at the box office has finally been dethroned, and it’s all thanks to a rather squirm-inducing sci-fi flick that might just be the most unsettling film of the year. With an impressive Rotten Tomatoes rating (despite that quite controversial cameo), Fede Álvarez’s “Alien: Romulus” has left audiences and cinema personnel alike stunned, marking a terrifying new chapter in the “Alien” saga. However, there was one particularly harrowing scene in this chilling cosmic tale that even the cast and crew found challenging to shoot. If you managed to make it through to the movie’s gruesome finale, then you likely have a good idea of which scene I’m referring to.
Prior to the resumption of space screams in cinemas last February, Isabela Merced discussed with The Hollywood Reporter a particularly disturbing sequence from the movie she was involved in, which left even the crew looking away. Without revealing details about the scene, Merced hinted, “There’s a scene I’m in that caused everyone to look away. No one kept watching on their iPads because it was so revolting.” With a brief analysis, Álvarez’s creature feature seems to be pointing towards the scene where Kay, played by Isabela Merced, has minimal but significant screen time and likely leaves an indelible impression.
Alien: Romulus delivers and revamps a classic franchise trope
Following my rescue from the ruthless xenomorphs, I find myself diving headfirst into peril once more, injecting myself with the mysterious fluid from “Prometheus.” I hold out hope that it will mend my wounds, but instead, it accelerates and transforms my pregnancy. The result is a shocking birth of a human-xenomorph hybrid that seems to mature at an alarming rate as soon as it enters the world. This gripping scene serves as a stunning climax for Fede Álvarez’s direction, showcasing his mastery over horror while keeping the haunting essence of the franchise alive and terrifying.
Starting from 1979, these films in this series have been linked to an unsettling body horror theme, offering a grim view of childbirth. In Álvarez’s recent interpretation, the fear of the xenomorph is made eerily similar to this allegory than ever before. Consequently, during filming this sequence, both actors and crew members went out of their way not to watch the proceedings as much as possible. This ‘birthing’ scene seems more like an exorcism than a product of scientific aberration. However, Álvarez discovered that some viewers, including his own son, linked this sequence to a different “Alien” movie installment rather than the one he intended as a reference point.
Fede Álvarez didn’t see the Alien: Resurrection similarities until his son did
Fede Álvarez shared with Variety a detailed analysis of some shocking scenes in his film, revealing that while he drew inspiration from “Prometheus” for his monster, his son perceived something quite different – creatures resembling those seen in the ‘Alien’ series’ Resurrection. This revelation came as a surprise to Álvarez, as he hadn’t intended to reference the poorly-received sequel while making his movie. However, he admitted that there were similarities, particularly in the grotesque creature that appears on screen, which he hoped would be linked to the Engineer aspect of it.
It’s certainly the most horrid highlight of the entire film and an impressive feat to have it strike out on screen as the franchise’s newest villain while paying homage to its predecessors, even if it was unintentional. The challenge now, though, rests with FX’s “Alien: Earth,” a show set to arrive in 2025 that will make its mark as the first television series to explore the xenomorph mythology. We can only imagine whether it’ll be able to top the recent blood-chilling debut of the Offspring. On second thought, maybe we’d prefer not to imagine that at all.
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2024-08-19 19:59