Summary
Early footage fromAlien: Romulusstrongly echoes the originalAlienfilms. The gritty aesthetic, confined spaceship environment, sense of claustrophobia, and weaponry all harken back toAlienandAliens, underscoring the film’s effort to reconnect with the franchise’s roots. While the latest trailer forAlien: Romulushighlights numerous connections to the initial films in the series, its most significant link might not be to another movie but rather anAlienproject that might be unfamiliar to fans who have only watched the movies.
Alien: Romulusappears to be a promising return to the franchise’s roots, capturing the formula and essence that made the original films successful, especially afterthe shortcomings of Ridley Scott’s two prequels,PrometheusandCovenant. Notably, this approach also reveals a deeper connection, as the film draws inspiration from one of the most acclaimed recent entries in the series: the hit horror video gameAlien: Isolation. Director Fede Alvarez previously mentioned that the game significantly influenced the film, and now fans believe they’ve uncovered an Easter egg fromAlien: Isolationin the latestAlien: Romulustrailer. And Alvarez appears to have confirmed these fan theories on the X platform (formerly Twitter).
In a recent online interaction with Alien enthusiasts, director Alvarez reached out to fans via his X platform to seek their insights on a subtle Easter egg featured in the latest trailer for Alien Romulus. Alvarez posed the intriguing question, “If while watching #AlienRomulus, you see one of these (and there are many…) what do you think it means?” He accompanied his query with an image of a phone booth marked “Emergency.” This phone booth is a nod to the save point station from the hit horror gameAlien: Isolation. Keen-eyed viewers of the new trailerquickly identified this familiar element, which appears momentarily in the background as the central characters traverse through a shadowy corridor.
Released in 2014,Alien: Isolationremains a standout title in the horror game genre, captivating players with its intense and immersive experience. The game follows Amanda Ripley, the daughter of the iconic Ellen Ripley, as she delves into her mother’s mysterious disappearance aboard the ominous Sevastopol space station.Alien: Isolationis frequently lauded as one of thescariest horror games set in the future, and many consider it the pinnacle of stealth-survival horror. While the design elements of Romulus clearly echo the aesthetic of bothAlienandAliens, it bears a striking resemblance to the 2014 Creative Assembly game, particularly in its depiction of claustrophobic environments.
For instance, the first corridor scene showcased in theRomulustrailer closely mirrors the eerie corridors of the Sevastopol station fromIsolation. Furthermore, the film’s use of a creeping, first-person perspective is reminiscent of the tense, immersive experience thatAlien: Isolationis known for. This alignment suggests that, much like the game, the movie will stay true to the traditional survival horror elements, offering a more grounded and atmospheric approach compared to the sci-fi direction of Ridley Scott’s controversial Alien prequels. Overall, it’s evident thatAlien: Isolationhas significantly influenced the film, making it a key reference point alongside the classic movies.
The link betweenAlien: RomulusandAlien: Isolationis both logical and compelling.Isolation, the most acclaimed entry in the Alien franchise sinceAliens, garnered widespread praise for its visuals and atmosphere—areas where recent Alien projects have faltered. This makesRomulus’ connection toIsolationa smart move. Narratively, both projects are set during a crucial period in the series' overalltimeline between the originalAlienandAliens, providing a coherent backdrop. Consequently, the visual similarities are striking, withRomulusfeaturing a spaceship and space station reminiscent ofIsolation’s vessels, like the Torrens and the Anesidora, including a matching off-white room color scheme. Director Álvarez’s incorporation ofIsolation’sdetailed design choices intoRomulussuggests a deliberate homage rather than a mere nod.
