Alien: Romulus Rotten Tomatoes Score Smashes Into All-Timer Territory
Summary
A behind-the-scenes video reveals a look atAlien: Romulus' amazingly practical Xenomorph effects during the creature’s development. Directed by Fede Álvarez, the latestAlienmovie is set between the events of the franchise’s first two films and follows a group of young space colonists who, while scavenging an abandoned space station, come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe – a Xenomorph. Cailee Spaeny leadsAlien: Romulus' castalongside David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.
On Instagram,Alien: RomulusdirectorFede Álvarezshared a video revealing a behind-the-scenes look at the film’s amazingly practical Xenomorph effectsduring the creature’s development. Check it out below:
The short BTS video shows the first test of the amazing Xenomorph animatronic that was created by Legacy Effects forAlien: Romulus.
Alien: Romulus Returns To The Franchise’s Horror Roots With Amazing Practical Effects
Later Alien Movies Relied Too Heavily On CGI
Much of the movie’s marketing has centered around its return to the franchise’s horror roots, as seen in Ridley Scott’s originalAlienmoviefrom 1979.Romulusintentionally has a lot in common with the original movie, such as its setting and premise, following a crew who comes across a derelict space station, returning strictly to the claustrophobic confines of a spaceship.Romulusalso introduces a new Ripley-like figure in Spaeny’s lead character, Rain, who serves as the film’s final girl.
Álvarez, known forEvil DeadandDon’t Breathe, is the perfect director to take theAlienfranchiseback to its horror roots. Other than its premise and setting, one of the main waysRomulusachieves this is througha reliance on practical effects. The originalAlienis renowned for its practical effects, especially regarding the Xenomorph, which was brought to life through a combination of costumes, puppetry, and animatronics using H.R. Giger’s designs. The use of practical effects allowed the actors to interact with actual physical elements, creating a gritty realism that made the horror feel immediate and visceral.
Alien: Romulus' Creature Update Solves 1 Of The Big Problems With Ridley Scott’s Prometheus
Alien: Romulus is promising to make several exciting innovations to the franchise, yet one update suggests a return to what worked so well before.
In contrast,the latterAlienmovies, particularly Scott’s prequel films, increasingly relied on CGIto depict theXenomorph and other creatures. While this certainly allowed for the creatures to move more fluidly, they often lacked the tactile presence that made the originalAlienso unsettling. This over-reliance on CGI in the later films is often cited as the reason for the franchise’s inability to evoke the same level of fear and tension as the original. WithAlien: Romulusonce again prioritizing practical effects, it should deliver the same raw, horrifying impact as the original.
Alien: Romulus
Cast
Alien: Romulus is the seventh film in the Alien franchise. The movie is directed by Fede Álvarez and will focus on a new young group of characters who come face to face with the terrifying Xenomorphs. Alien: Romulus is a stand-alone film and takes place in a time not yet explored in the Alien franchise.
