This article contains spoilers for Alien: Romulus.
The bloody trailers of Alien: Romulus teased a more violent installment in the franchise. Director Fede Álvarez confirmed that they relied heavily on practical effects, resulting in one of the most graphic body horror scenes in the film series.
The audience had a visceral experience watching Alien: Romulus in theaters; the film captured the tone and imagery of the original, which many still consider the franchise's benchmark. Director Fede Álvarez, however, delivered on the promise of a terrifying installment. His sequel had elements of cosmic horror while still being rooted as a sci-fi slasher. The Chestburster scenes are staples of Alien film, and Álvarez gave his all with his Alien: RomulusHe told Entertainment Weekly that his version of the iconic sequence was shot with practical props and sets.

Related
“I Really Love Them All”: Alien: Romulus Director Explains Why No Previous Sequel Was Ignored
Director Fede Álvarez explains how Alien: Romulus unified the Alien franchise.
Alien: Romulus kicked off the tension when its protagonists unknowingly thawed out the Xenomorph Facehuggers, who began hunting down its human hosts. One managed to implant an embryo into Navarro (played by Aileen Wu), who survives and retreats to their shuttle. The embryo rapidly develops and burrows its way out of Navarro's chest; Álvarez ensured that every frame of that scene was intricately filmed using practical effects. Taking advantage of the technique used in Alienused two dummy bodies for Wu, one larger and more anatomically detailed. “She had to be a little bit bigger to see more details, like her reproductive valves and her hands and everything,” he explained. “So, they were two different versions, but all optical visual effects were done on camera. I'm really proud of it.”
We literally made the set vibrate.
Álvarez said there was “not a single frame of CGI” in the sequence, which was also shot on a practical set. Stunt doubles guided shots of characters being thrown all over the shuttle. “We literally vibrated the set,” he confirmed. “The entire cockpit was built on a huge gimbal. So every time there was a moment where the shuttle was crashing into the station, the entire gimbal was shaking. When the character falls, it’s super violent. We had to work with stunt doubles, obviously, to do it safely. During the whole birth and everything else, all the shaking is real.…It was the best ride in the theme park.”

Related
Where Alien: Romulus Fits Into the Franchise Timeline
The Alien film franchise has a long and sprawling timeline, with the upcoming Alien: Romulus taking place between two of the most notable installments.
It's more creepy and perverse
Alien fans might have noticed Alien: Romulus' version of the birth of the Xenomorph. In Ridley Scott's original, the newborn immediately disappeared from view after exiting John Hurt's character; Álvarez opted for a more realistic (and disturbing) depiction. “When babies are born, they are exhausted,” he explained. “So it would be this slow burn that comes out of the body. I think that's more creepy and perversebut it doesn't betray reality. I approached it as if it were a nature documentary.” There is another birth scene that occurs towards the end of the film, which hauntingly echoes the final sequences of Prometheus AND Alien: Resurrection.
Alien: Romulus It's in theaters now.
Source: Entertainment Weekly

Alien: Romulus
Alien: Romulus follows a team of space explorers who discover an uncharted planet with a dark secret. As they investigate, they are hunted by deadly xenomorphs and discover ancient ruins that reveal the planet's terrifying history. The crew must use their skills and technology to survive the relentless attacks and find a way to escape the hostile environment.
- Director
- Faith Alvarez
- Release date
- August 16, 2024
- Launch
- Isabela Merced, Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux
- Writers
- Fede Alvarez, Rodo Sayagues, Dan O'Bannon, Ronald Shusett