Romulus Featurette Goes Behind the Scenes of Monstrous Practical Effects

The upcoming Alien: Romulus is bringing fans back to the roots of sci-fi horror with a focus on practical effects and immersive sets. A new exciting behind-the-scenes featurette offers a look into the making of the film, highlighting the dedication to creating a tangible, terrifying experience reminiscent of the classic original movie’s horror feel. Fan excitement is through the roof, and this feels like it is going to be something special.

Alien: Romulusfollows a group of young space colonizers who, while scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe. The film is set in the timeline between the events of Alien and Aliens.

Director Fede Álvarez, known for his work on Evil Dead and Don’t Breathe, is leading Alien: Romulus with a commitment to practical effects, following in the footsteps of Ridley Scott’s approach when he made Alien in 1978. The video, packed with twelve minutes of on-set footage, showcases how Álvarez is striving to maintain the authenticity and tactile horror that made the original film a classic, while still taking advantage of modern visual effects when they are needed.

In the featurette, star Cailee Spaeny, who plays the lead role in the film, shares her thoughts on the impact the practical sets have on her performance.

““These sets really help with the acting, because you’re really just reacting to what’s in front of you. And they’re absolutely incredible and massive and so immersive. So every single set I’ve been on is impressive. It’s such a gift to be filming on sets like this and also to be filming chronologically. It does a lot of the work for you,”

Her comments emphasize how much the films’ environments ground the actor’s reactions in real, physical spaces. Co-star Isabela Merced also praises the practical effects and how they contribute to the authenticity of the film, saying,

“It really feels like we’ve traveled through time. And I’m getting to experience for the first time being on a movie set where they use pretty much all practical effects, but we get all the perks of a modern-day filming experience.”

The monstrous highlight of the behind-the-scenes footage has to be the reveal of some of the franchise’s iconic monsters, including Xenomorphs, Face Huggers and Chest Busters. These creatures have been brought to life again with practical effects, also staying true to the terrifying designs of H.R. Giger that have haunted fans for decades. This very impressive dedication to using real physical effects that take up real space adds a layer of believability that CGI often struggles to achieve, promising a visceral viewing experience for fans.

Alien: Romulus is shaping up to be a thrilling return to the claustrophobic horror roots of the Alien series. The commitment Fede Álvarez and all the crew have to practical effects, coupled with the talent of the film’s fantastic cast, promises to deliver a gripping experience for both new viewers and longtime fans.