Alien: Romulus Chestburster Scene Was Inspired by Nature Documentaries

Alien: Romulus Chestburster Scene Was Inspired by Nature Documentaries

As a long-time fan of the Alien franchise and an avid gamer with a soft spot for horror games, I’m beyond excited to see Fede Alvarez’s unique take on the classic chestburster scene in Alien: Romulus. The director’s decision to draw inspiration from nature documentaries like Blue Planet and Planet Earth adds an intriguing layer to the already terrifying experience of encountering one of cinema’s most iconic monsters.


As a gamer, I’d put it this way: In an exclusive interview, Fede Alvarez shared that one pivotal moment in Alien: Romulus was influenced by my favorite nature docs, like Blue Planet and Planet Earth. The intricacies of the natural world have always inspired me, and it’s amazing to see those elements woven into this game.

As a gamer, I’d put it this way: In an exclusive interview for the next issue of Total Film mag, Alien: Resurrection director Fede Alvarez shared an intriguing detail. He revealed that on set, we joked about the chestburster scene as if filming a nature doc. And guess what? We ended up directing it just like that!

“During filming, it felt much like watching a nature documentary unfold. We’d joke amongst ourselves, ‘The monster is emerging slowly, searching for its mother’s scent…’ The monster doesn’t aim to frighten. Instead, it’s in a rush to escape its cocoon, which just so happens to be a person. It’s as if this portrayal adds an element of realism while still preserving the original designs’ beauty.”

As a gamer, I can tell you from my experience, controlling that chestburster puppet was no small feat – it took a team of nine skilled puppeteers working in unison to bring it to life. So it’s not surprising that the direction felt like an expertly narrated documentary, reminiscent of Sir David Attenborough’s soothing and informative voiceovers.

Who stars in Alien: Romulus?

In Alien: Romulus, I’ll be following the vision of director Fede Alvarez. The talented ensemble includes Cailee Spaeny from Civil War, David Jonsson from Rye Lane, Archie Renaux known for Morbius, Isabela Merced starring in Migration, and newcomer Spike Fearn, as well as Aileen Wu.

Covenant” takes place between Ridley Scott’s original “Alien” film from 1979 and James Cameron’s “Aliens” released in 1986.

In the abandoned depths of a decaying space station, a band of adventurous young colonists encounter the most frightening creature in the cosmos.

Fede Alvarez aims to create a genuinely terrifying experience with “Alien: Romulus” based on his expertise in the horror genre. In 2013, he breathed new life into the Evil Dead series, which had been dormant for nearly two decades. His accomplishments don’t stop there; Alvarez also directed the critically acclaimed horror film “Don’t Breathe.” In this movie, a band of young intruders underestimated their target – an elderly blind man who turned out to be a formidable adversary when they broke into his home. Instead of a simple heist, they found themselves in a desperate struggle for survival.

Alien: Romulus releases in United States theaters on August 16, 2024, from 20th Century Studios.

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2024-07-16 16:14