Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the water. If you don’t know that phrase, kids, it was the tagline for 1978’s Jaws 2. But it can now be applied to the final trailer for 20th Century Studios’ Alien Romulus. You dive. You die.
Following last week’s IMAX teaser, this new two-minute trailer is packed with fresh footage, extended scenes, underwater horrors, and a gruesome chest-burster moment that’s definitely not for the squeamish.
Alien: Romulus takes the franchise back to its roots: While exploring a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers encounters the universe’s most terrifying life form. The trailer gives a detailed look at the eerie interiors of the abandoned Romulus Space Station, which has become a breeding ground for the iconic biomechanical creatures and their facehugger spawn. Watch below:
REELated:
The film stars Cailee Spaeny (Civil War), David Jonsson (Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy), Archie Renaux (Shadow and Bone), Isabela Merced (The Last of Us, Superman), Spike Fearn (Aftersun), and Aileen Wu. Directed by Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe) and co-written with frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues (Don’t Breathe 2), it’s based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett.”
The visuals, crafted by Mexican cinematographer Galo Olivares (Gretel & Hansel), echo the atmospheric style of the original Alien cinematographer, Derek Vanlint. The use of deep shadows, reflective surfaces, and splashes of saturated color heightens the tension and horror.
A notable detail is a computer interface showing the name MU/TH/UR 9000. Fans of the franchise will remember the Nostromo’s AI mainframe in Alien, nicknamed “Mother,” with the designation MU/TH/UR 6000.
20th Century Studios enjoyed a horror success earlier in the year with The First Omen, so this should follow up nicely. Since Alien: Romulus is set between the events of Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986), this updated model hints at the passage of time, adding depth for devoted fans.
The film starts screaming in theaters on Aug. 16.
This article was brought to you for FREE. Independent Journalism is not. Please support Reel 360 News and Reel Chicago by donating here.
The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.
