Fede Alvarez, the director of Alien: Romulus, is bringing the Alien film franchise back to its roots with a new instalment that hits theatres worldwide this week. In an interview with AFP, Alvarez shared how the early chapters of the series had a significant impact on him as a child growing up in Uruguay. Following in the footsteps of Ridley Scott, who launched the saga in 1979, Alvarez hopes to capture the essence of the first two Alien films, which he considers to be fundamental to his work and for cinema in general.
Disney has entrusted Alvarez with this latest instalment of the franchise, marking a significant moment in his career. The film, set in the same time period as the first films, follows a group of space travellers who encounter deadly xenomorphs on a drifting spaceship. Alvarez aims to bring back the gore and horror of the original film, faithfully reproducing familiar motifs and scenes, including the iconic hatching of the alien parasite in its human host.
Drawing inspiration from the visual style of Ridley Scott, Alvarez immersed himself in the futurism of the 1980s, using puppeteers to control mythical Alien specimens. The director’s commitment to practical effects and minimal CGI sets this film apart from modern sci-fi movies, creating a more immersive and authentic viewing experience. Alvarez believes in generating real emotions in audiences, aiming to evoke a rollercoaster-like effect on viewers when they watch the film.
In line with the tradition of the Alien franchise, the film features Cailee Spaeny as the protagonist, a young orphan trapped in a dystopian world controlled by a private conglomerate. When a group of rebels offers her a chance to escape, she seizes the opportunity, unknowingly entering a spaceship inhabited by deadly xenomorphs. The film captures the essence of early Alien films while introducing new elements and characters to the story, creating a thrilling and immersive experience for fans of the franchise and new audiences alike.
