Romulus continues a horrific franchise trend that’s been going on for 38 years

Fede Alvarez’s Alien: Romulus Returning to the important point alien While the timeline has many fans hopeful that the series will finally return, there are also signs that the film’s broader context will be important, but it will also connect to older franchise tropes in more subtle ways. Alien: Romulus bring about alien Back to the roots. alien and alienThe film marks a fresh start following the lukewarm response to Ridley Scott’s prequel. But the filmmakers are no doubt Romulus Even as they move the franchise forward, its success will be rooted in its connection to the past.

Fede Alvarez has explicitly acknowledged the influence of other films as part of the promotion of his new film. alien Regarding the influence of film on his creative endeavors, he said in an interview: Thursday:I love all of these movies, and I didn’t want to skip or ignore any of them in terms of the connections on a story, character, technology, creature level. From Alien to Alien: Covenant, there are always connections.This attitude is Romulus other alien References and allusionsJudging from the Alien: Romulus Although it’s a preview, what’s particularly interesting is the return of one particular trend.

Alien: Romulus features facehuggers that attack underwater

That is a horrible sight

Without revealing too much of the story, of Alien: Romulus The trailer highlights a few key points: Ahead of the upcoming sci-fi horror film, new revelations about the existence of the Romulus lab and the fate of the support crew offer a glimpse of what’s to come, but another subtle moment hints at the extent to which other elements may come into play. alien The DNA of film flows through it Romulus.

At about 1 minute into the trailer, Alien: Romulus‘ We see the young cast member splashing around frantically in a dingy, flooded room, as his compatriot hesitantly asks him,what’s happening?The man replies:There’s something in the water“As he becomes more and more aroused, suddenly a facehugger leaps out of the murky depths, attaches itself to his face and attempts to impregnate him with a chestburster. This brief scene has already Alien: Romulus It’s full of the intense horror that fans have come to expect. alien movieHowever, the presence of aquatic life alien The attacks actually link Romulus Some of the franchise’s previous works.

Romulus’ facehugger attacks continue a trend established in Alien

The water attack scene was legendary

The Facehugger popping out of the water without being seen is a new innovation for the series, It’s not the only opportunity alien Water has been used in movies to heighten scaresThe most famous example is undoubtedly alienAs Ripley, Hicks and Newt desperately try to escape the oncoming alien horde, Newt slips and falls into an underground river. While Ripley and Hicks rush to find her, Newt crawls through the water, trying to avoid being seen, but suddenly he realizes he’s not alone.

Just as Ripley and Hicks attempt to save her, an alien emerges from the water behind Newt, grabs her and takes her to the alien nest and its queen, in one of the most terrifying scenes in the film. The initial shock scene blends perfectly with the horrifying uncertainty of what has happened to Newt.The different races alien They are often seen camouflaged to blend into their surroundings, but this water-based attack marks the first time they have been seen so blatantly using water to ambush prey.

nevertheless alien The film was the first to feature a surprise water attack, but it wasn’t the last. Alien Resurrection It received middling reviews from fans and critics. One of the most effective scenes in the film was another underwater scene.Here, alien invaders are seen pursuing the crew of the Betty as they desperately try to swim to safety. Alien: Romulus Bringing back this attack method not only shows a willingness to get creative when it comes to scaring audiences, but also an awareness of where the series has come from.

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This looks like the alien movie I’ve been waiting for

The Alien: Romulus trailer does a good job of setting up the horror vibe of the film, and it looks set to be the best alien movie in decades.

Every alien movie features water to some extent.

It’s a significant symbol throughout the franchise.

It looks like this Alien: Romulus join alien and Alien: Resurrection the only alien In the film, the aliens are featured attacking directly from the water. But while this detail is characteristic of these series, Water has actually played an important symbolic role throughout the franchise.In fact, all alien Water features in films to one degree or another, and its importance is emphasised as a recurring motif.

Ridley Scott’s original alienFor example, the first fully-grown xenomorph attack on Brett takes place in a room filled with chains with water dripping from the ceiling. Alien 3A key part of the prisoners’ plan to combat the xenophobic threat is the combined use of fire and sprinkler systems. Prometheus‘ A deadly hammerpeed emerges from the mysterious black current, contract The brutal murder scene in the shower is memorable. alien, revivaland Romulus, These moments highlight how water flows throughout the franchise.

Why Alien Movies Are Obsessed with Water

Serves multiple functions in the series

There are several reasons why water appears everywhere. alien Movies. On the surface, It’s easy to create a creepy, unsettling atmosphere.Water in space automatically feels unnatural, subconsciously unsettling to the viewer, and there’s something sinister about its inviolability, evoking a primal response in characters and audience alike, the fear that some monster might rise from the depths to pounce.

However, beyond this point, water A powerful symbol alien A film that explores the dark heart of natureIts existence marks a return to a natural order in which human technological capabilities matter little. The alien itself is the embodiment of this theme, as Ash memorably puts it:The perfect creature“Water is a recurring theme as a way of connecting the human characters to their evolutionary past, when they were simply part of the food chain. Alien: Romulus It shows that Alvarez’s film will continue to explore this existential theme.

sauce: Thursday

Alien: Romulus

director

Fede Alvarez

release date

August 16, 2024

cast

Cailee Spaeny, David Johnson, Archie Renaud, Isabella Merced, Eileen Wu, Spike Fern