Alien: Romulus – A Terrifying Love Letter to the Original Film
Alien: Romulus is set to hit theaters this week, promising to be a terrifying love letter to the first film in the Alien series, released in the late ’70s. Directed by Fede Alvarez, the movie is drawing inspiration not only from the original Ridley Scott film but also from a surprising source – the fan-favorite video game Alien: Isolation.
Inspiration from Alien: Isolation
In a recent interview with Inside Total Film podcast, director Fede Alvarez revealed that Alien: Isolation played a significant role in inspiring him to create Romulus. The survival horror game, released in 2014, showcased the terrifying nature of the Xenomorph creature in a way that reignited Alvarez’s passion for the Alien franchise.
Alvarez explained, “Alien: Isolation was kind of what made me see that Alien could truly be terrifying and done well [today]. I played it a few years after it came out. Don’t Breathe was coming out. Or was I waiting for Don’t Breathe to come out, and I was playing the game.”
He continued, “That’s why, at the time, I was like, ‘If I could do anything, I would love to do Alien and scare the audience again with that creature and those environments.’ I was playing, and realizing how terrifying Alien could be if you take it back to that tone.”
Save Stations in Romulus
One of the most intriguing aspects of the influence of Alien: Isolation on Romulus is the inclusion of save stations in the film. In the game, players must locate and activate emergency phones to save their progress, often in moments of intense danger.
Alvarez incorporated this concept into Romulus, strategically placing emergency phones throughout the movie as a warning sign to the audience. According to the director, “The movie is set up in a way [that] every time something bad is about to happen, you will see [an emergency] phone.”
He added, “In the game, every time you knew there’s a phone you’d go, ‘I’m about to go into some bad set-piece.’ It’s the same thing here. You’ll see they’re planted strategically throughout the film. When you see the phone, it’s like: Brace for impact.”
Alien: Romulus – A Return to Terrifying Sci-Fi Horror
With its roots deeply entrenched in the original Alien film and drawing inspiration from the successful Alien: Isolation game, Romulus aims to bring back the terror and suspense that made the franchise a classic. By focusing on a small crew facing off against a deadly, relentless alien, the movie captures the essence of the original film while introducing new elements to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
As Alien: Romulus prepares to make its debut in theaters, fans of the franchise can look forward to a spine-chilling experience that pays homage to the series’ roots while offering a fresh perspective on the iconic Xenomorph creature. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the terrifying love letter to the first Alien film and see how the influence of Alien: Isolation shapes the narrative of Romulus.
