Alien Romulus: 10 Best References and Hidden Details

Highlights

Alien: Romulus
pays homage to the entire franchise, featuring references that resonate with fans of all generations.
The movie seamlessly connects to previous Alien installments, embracing elements from the games, movies, and expanded universe.
Fusing elements from
Alien
and
Aliens
,
Alien: Romulus
introduces new ideas while staying true to the iconic Xenomorph franchise.

As a lifelong fan of the Alien franchise, I must say that ‘Alien: Romulus’ has certainly delivered a thrilling and engaging continuation of the saga. The subtle nods to earlier films, such as Andy’s corny jokes and Rain’s space suit battle, brought a smile to my face, reminiscing the good old days of Ripley.

Romulus” is directed by Fede Alvarez, who’s a dedicated fan of the entire Alien series. This admiration is evident in the movie as it serves as a loyal sequel to the original Alien, while also incorporating numerous references and callbacks to earlier films and the broader universe of the franchise.

The intricate details in the backdrop and significant storylines make Alien: Romulus a heartfelt tribute to the entire Alien series. It subtly acknowledges even the films that were criticized or disliked by fans, demonstrating the enduring appeal of this franchise across multiple generations since its inception more than forty-five years ago.

Major story spoilers ahead for Alien: Romulus

10 Emergency Telephone Stations

Even The Video Games Get Love

Alien Romulus: 10 Best References and Hidden Details

Alien: Isolation was also a sequel to the first Alien, focusing on Amanda Ripley encountering a Xenomorph while searching for her mother Ellen.
Alien: Isolation was the first game to be considered canon in the franchise.
Alien: Isolation would even be referenced in another canon video game, Aliens: Fireteam Elite.

The video game series based on the Alien franchise boasts a history nearly as rich as its film counterpart. Games like the critically-acclaimed Alien: Isolation, for instance, follow the storyline between the original Alien and Aliens. In this game, players must save their progress at scarce telephone booths mounted on walls.

Upon entering the Renaissance station within Alien: Romulus, a familiar ambiance reminiscent of Alien: Isolation greets the characters. The telephone stations strewn about bear striking resemblance to their origins in the game, yet have undergone a revamp courtesy of Weyland-Yutani. Director Fede Alvarez has openly admitted that these stations were strategically placed in certain scenes as a warning signal to the audience, foreshadowing imminent Xenomorph attacks.

9 Remnants Of The Nostromo

Back To The Beginning

The Nostromo was a hauling ship for minerals and other resources.
Originally, the ship was going to be named the Snark and Leviathan, but Ridley Scott named it after the hero of the 1904 novel Nostromo
The shuttle Ripley uses to escape is named the Narcissus.

Right from the get-go in Alien: Romulus, I found myself drawn back to the chilling atmosphere of the original Alien. The scene opens on a space station that echoes the design of the old, reminding me of the Nostromo. And wouldn’t you know it? Among the wreckage of the U.S.C.S.S. Nostromo, there floated a Xenomorph encased in an organic cocoon – a clear sign that the strain in Alien: Romulus is a direct descendant of the one from the first movie.

Besides linking to the earlier films, the beginning of “Alien: Romulus” showcases melodies from the initial movie and a new take on the title unveiling. This introductory segment not only establishes the film’s mood and ominous sci-fi tone but quickly delves into what fans eagerly anticipated.

8 The Eerie And Mysterious Arrival

Mixing Alien And Aliens Together

The planet in Alien: Romulus is never given a name.
The only other station seen in previous Alien movies is the Gateway Station in Aliens.
The Renaissance is split into two sections: Romulus and Remus.

In the sci-fi series Alien: Romulus, the characters find themselves at a derelict Renaissance station. This location offers them the resources necessary for escaping their stagnant existence within the Weyland-Yutani colony. Upon arrival, they discover that the station is in ruins, with no signs of life and evidence suggesting it had suffered from past Xenomorph attacks.

In this setting, Fede Alvarez combines elements from both the films “Alien” and “Aliens”. The characters are ordinary workers, much like those in the first movie. However, instead of these workers exploring a mysterious spacecraft as in “Alien”, they are inspecting a decayed urban landscape, which generates tension about what catastrophic event might have transpired here, echoing the colonial marines’ investigation into Hadley’s Hope from “Aliens”.

7 Science Officer Rook

A Familiar Face On A New Character

Every single Alien movie has featured at least one android character.
No AI was used to bring Ian Holm’s likeness to life again.
Rook wears the same science officer uniform as Ash.

Onboard the Renaissance space station, there’s an unexpected unveiling – android Rook, who shares the same model as Ash from the initial film. Using a digitally recreated likeness of the late Ian Holm’s face, approved by his family, and enhanced by an exceptional mimic, it feels like encountering Ash once more in the movie Alien: Romulus.

The nostalgic return of a familiar face is not just for a cameo either, with Rook becoming an essential part of the plot throughout Alien: Romulus. Similar to Ash, Rook has an agenda with the Xenomorphs for Weyland-Yutani, but it is something new and unexpected, keeping the fans of the franchise on their toes.

6 The Alien’s Designation

Fede Alvarez Really Did His Homework

The name ‘Xenomorph’ was not introduced until James Cameron’s Aliens.
The Xenomorph strain was created by the android David.
In Alien: Romulus, the first Xenomorph still has the grappling harpoon in its stomach from fighting Ripley.

In the movie “Alien: Covenant”, the main creature of the Alien franchise has traditionally been known as either a Xenomorph or simply an alien. But additional sources like comics, novels, and video games have provided an official name for these creatures from Weyland-Yutani – Subject XX121.

In a testament to his affection for the series, director Fede Alvarez marks an exclusive cinematic moment by having Rook refer to the Xenomorphs using their Weyland-Yutani designation on screen for the first time in any film. This underscores the passion and commitment that comes from allowing fans to helm a production in their beloved franchise.

5 The Pathogen Returns

Small Beginnings Have Come Full Circle

The Pathogen was created by the Engineers and it possibly created human life.
The Pathogen once created a different breed of monsters known only as Neomorphs.
The Pathogen is a major threat to the colonial marines in Aliens: Fireteam Elite.

In a surprising twist, both “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant” left fans divided, but here’s an intriguing turn: “Alien: Romulus” not only fits into the established timeline, but it seamlessly links back to its predecessors without altering the original storyline. With Rook’s guidance, the characters uncover a laboratory on Romulus where scientists were conducting experiments on Xenomorphs.

In the thrilling world of Alien, I found myself immersed in an exciting new mission – harvesting a mysterious, black goo-like substance, dubbed The Pathogen, from Xenomorphs and Facehuggers. This venture transformed Alien: Romulus into a continuation of the tales spun in Alien, Prometheus, and Alien: Covenant. In a nod to the series’ creator, I occasionally mentioned Peter Weyland, and I even unveiled the top-secret project to develop a compound from The Pathogen as the “Prometheus file.”

4 Prototype Pulse Rifle Training

Iconic Weapons For An Iconic Franchise

The Pulse Rifle was first introduced in James Cameron’s Aliens.
The Pulse Rifle in Aliens was made from three different real-world firearms.
The Pulse Rifle in Alien: Romulus maintains the famous sound of the original, which James Cameron spent two days making.

In Alien: Romulus, set thirty-seven years prior to Aliens, viewers get a glimpse at an early model of the famous Pulse Rifle. Although its design isn’t as polished, fans of the franchise can recognize that the guns wielded by Rain and Tyler will later transform into the legendary weapon synonymous with the series.

Tyler teaches Rain to handle the pulse rifle much like Hicks trained Ripley in Aliens. He also mentions the Colonial Marines, stating it’s their standard equipment even in their era. As an added detail, this version of the pulse rifle comes equipped with a computer-assisted aim function similar to the Smartguns from Aliens, combining both advantages into a single weapon.

3 “Get Away From Her…”

Andy Has The Best Quotes In Romulus

Sigourney Weaver originally spoke the line in James Cameron’s Aliens.
Andy is the first android in the movies to kill a Xenomorph.
Andy features many of the same human-like qualities that Walter had in Alien: Covenant.

As an ardent fan, I can’t help but notice that some clever lines from previous Alien films have been artfully incorporated into Alien: Romulus. A fair share of these witty remarks are attributed to Rook, but the standout for me is a gem delivered by the novel android, Andy. Many of these references are subtle enough to bring a smile or a chuckle from fellow fans, but one in particular was so blatantly on-point that it had audiences erupting with delight.

In my Alien: Romulus adventure, I, Andy, am dedicated to doing what’s right for Rain, whom I view as my sister. I even crack a few corny jokes along the way, like when I save her from a Xenomorph by shooting it down and quipping, “Scram, you creep!” It’s a line that echoes Ripley from Aliens, but with my stutter and timid voice, it feels unique.

2 Human And Xenomorph Hybrid

The Creature That Succeeded Where Resurrection Failed

The Offspring feeds off Kay because of the Pathogen in her system, making it grow a tail like a Xenomorph.
The Offspring was a mix of practical and digital effects and was portrayed by 7’7″ actor Robert Bobroczkyi.
The Offspring design is similar to the creatures seen in H.R. Giger’s famous artwork.

In the film “Alien: Romulus,” Rook’s concoction unexpectedly gets administered to Kay, who was previously discovered to be expecting. This twist in the final act takes fans by surprise as Kay delivers a chilling hybrid creature, referred to as The Offspring. This fearsome being possesses traits of both humans and Xenomorphs, but it also exhibits characteristics of an Engineer from the prequels.

Essentially, the movie “Alien: Romulus” deviated dramatically from “Alien: Resurrection,” introducing another human-Xeno hybrid character called the Offspring. However, this sequel managed to enhance the cosmic horror aspect of the universe more effectively than its predecessor. The final scenes in “Alien: Romulus” where Rain confronts the Offspring were particularly terrifying, surpassing the fear factor of the Newborn. Yet, it also honored the legacy of “Alien: Resurrection.”

1 Final Fight In A Space Suit

Ellen Ripley Would Be Proud

Ellen Ripley’s helmet at the end of Alien is the same as Lambert’s but painted white for reuse.
The style of the suit was never seen again in future movies, but was featured in Alien: Isolation.
The suit in Alien: Romulus can withstand cryogenic freezing.

As a die-hard Alien fan, I must say that the climactic showdown in Alien: Romulus onboard Corbelan IV against the Offspring reminded me strikingly of the original Alien movie, where Ripley fought the Xenomorph aboard the Nostromo’s escape shuttle. To outlive this harrowing ordeal amidst the ship being flooded with coolant, Rain had to suit up in a space attire that bore a striking resemblance to Ellen Ripley’s when she expelled the creature into the infinite blackness of space.

In Rain’s last fight, the Xenomorph proves to be much stronger than usual. To deal with this, she resorts to a dramatic tactic – blasting a hole into space with acid, a nod to “Alien: Resurrection”. Despite its similarities to “Alien: Romulus”, it still feels new and exciting.

2024-08-19 13:14