When fans of the Alien franchise think about what makes the series so iconic, it’s the attention to detail and the practical effects that often come to mind. Director Fede Alvarez took this commitment to another level in Alien: Romulus, ensuring that even the smallest creatures onscreen were tangibly real.
On June 17th, during a private screening in London, Alvarez shared his passion for the project. He emphasized the importance of practical effects and how they contribute to the authenticity and immersive experience that fans expect from an Alien film. Every creature you see is real—no frames of CGI for the aliens themselves
, he revealed.
Focus on Practical Effects
Throughout the presentation, Alvarez highlighted several scenes where practical effects took center stage. For instance, The chestburster was a practical effect created by Studio Gillis;
it took a team of eight people to puppeteer the creature during a critical scene.
A New Look at Facehuggers
The preview footage showcased extensive scenes featuring facehuggers, emphasizing their often-underutilized role in the Alien life cycle. Viewers saw the creatures in various states of motion, including underwater and traveling along ceilings. This was achieved using animatronic models developed by WETA.
The Iconic X-Ray Wand
In one memorable sequence, Navarro discovers an x-ray wand aboard their spacecraft. After some initial experimentation, she quickly understands its function and uses it on herself during one of the film’s most intense scenes, trying to see the horror unfolding within her.
Cocooning of Chestbursters
The preview introduced viewers to a new aspect of the Alien lifecycle—the cocooning of chestbursters as they mature into adult Xenomorphs. In a particularly gripping scene, Spike Fearn’s character Bjorn finds such a cocoon and attempts to destroy it with an electric prod. This encounter backfires when he is suddenly attacked by the emerging creature.
A Homage to Classic Films
Alvarez expressed his admiration for past directors like Ridley Scott while infusing his own distinct style intoAlien: Romulus. He emphasized visual continuity with previous films while introducing new elements that contribute something unique to the franchise.
I try not to make it about myself. It’s about the movies, characters, and everything I love from previous ones plus new things we introduce that naturally make it something new,
he explained.
An Authentic Experience for Fans
The goal for Alien: Romulus, according to Alvarez, was to respect the established canon while bringing something fresh and engaging for both long-time fans and new audiences alike.
If it can be done practically,it will be done practically,
; echoed throughout his presentation as a rule of thumb for production.
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