Fede Alvarez's Alien: Romulus has arrived, and it's weaving together threads from across the Alien saga, offering surprising connections to both Ridley Scott's prequels, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, and the original films. While initially billed as a return to the franchise's roots, Romulus delves into the mythology established in the prequels, particularly the mysterious black goo, and even draws a parallel with the much-maligned Alien: Resurrection.
Bridging the Gap: Romulus and the Prequels
One of the most significant aspects of Alien: Romulus is its attempt to reconcile the divisive prequels with the established Alien universe. Where Prometheus introduced the Engineers and the black goo, a substance capable of creating and mutating life, Alien: Covenant left many questions unanswered. Romulus seeks to provide some clarity, exploring the origins of the xenomorphs and the Engineers' connection to them.
Alvarez has stated that the inclusion of the Engineers' mythology was a deliberate choice, aiming to bridge the gap between the two eras of Alien films. This is achieved, in part, through the black goo, which is revealed to be intrinsically linked to the xenomorphs' creation.
The Black Goo: Xenomorph Semen?
The film presents the black goo not just as a catalyst for life, but as something akin to the xenomorphs' "semen," a substance that alters DNA and gives rise to the terrifying creatures. This concept suggests that the Engineers, who share a common origin with humanity, were also susceptible to the goo's transformative effects, potentially explaining their connection to the xenomorphs.
Human-Xenomorph Hybrids: Echoes of Resurrection
Interestingly, Alien: Romulus also features a human-xenomorph hybrid, a concept previously explored in Alien: Resurrection. While Alvarez has admitted that the parallel wasn't immediately apparent to him, the film's hybrid shares similarities with the creature seen in the fourth Alien film. It's an "abomination," a result of tampering with the xenomorph's lifeblood.
The Plot Thickens: A Derelict Space Station
The narrative of Alien: Romulus unfolds on a derelict space station, where scientists have been attempting to synthesise the black goo and create the "perfect" human. This station, it's revealed, houses remnants of the xenomorph from the U.S.S. Nostromo incident in the original Alien film. Unsurprisingly, their experiments go horribly wrong, leading to a fresh outbreak of facehuggers and xenomorphs.
A New Xenomorph Emerges
Alien: Romulus doesn't just rehash familiar xenomorph designs. It introduces a new iteration of the creature, one that promises to be particularly terrifying. This new xenomorph adds another layer of dread to the film, showcasing the creature's adaptability and evolution.
Character Sacrifices and Transformations
The film features a dramatic turn of events when one of the characters, Kay, injects herself with the Prometheus strain of the black goo to prevent her death. This act transforms her baby into a human-xenomorph hybrid, mirroring the Engineers from the prequel films. The hybrid then drains Kay of her blood to fuel its growth. As another character, Rain, attempts to eject the hybrid, its face begins to melt, a visual callback to the opening sequence of Prometheus.
Unanswered Questions Remain
Despite its efforts to connect the prequels and originals, Alien: Romulus doesn't answer all the questions raised by Prometheus and Alien: Covenant. The fates of characters like David and Daniels remain unresolved. However, the film does offer a deeper understanding of the black goo's nature and Weyland-Yutani's motivations, enriching the wider Alien lore.
Ian Holm's Return (of sorts)
The film also incorporates a CGI recreation of Ian Holm as a synthetic human named Rook, a decision that has divided some fans.
The Significance of Romulus
Alien: Romulus represents a significant attempt to reconcile the different eras of the Alien franchise. By delving into the mythology of the prequels and connecting it to the original films, it offers a more cohesive understanding of the xenomorph's origins and the forces that drive the Alien universe. While some questions remain unanswered, Romulus provides a welcome addition to the saga, promising a terrifying and thought-provoking cinematic experience.
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