SAN DIEGO, Calif. (AP) 鈥� While filming 鈥淎lien: Romulus,鈥� didn鈥檛 have to dig too deep to muster up sheer terror. She was often facing off against real creatures on set 鈥� or as close to real as they could get.
Under , a prominent horror filmmaker, the actors played opposite animatronic and puppet alien creatures, including the famed 鈥渇ace huggers鈥� and the dreaded xenomorph.
鈥淔rom an acting standpoint, it鈥檚 such a gift because you鈥檙e not having to act against a tennis ball, so it鈥檚 right there. There鈥檚 less work you have to do,鈥� Spaeny said in a recent interview.
Spaeny said using practical effects whenever possible was a priority for 脕lvarez from the beginning of the film鈥檚 production.
鈥淚t needed that kind of close encounter feeling of seeing that the actors are in the same environment with whatever鈥檚 the threat,鈥� 脕lvarez, known for 鈥淓vil Dead鈥� and 鈥淒on鈥檛 Breathe,鈥� said. 鈥淚t works not just for the audience, but for us, as well. When it comes to making the movie, it just makes everything way more complicated, but I think it makes for better movies.鈥�
The lifelike creatures and commitment to practical effects proved to create a chilling final product 鈥� at least for those in the crowd at International, who were treated to some extended scenes and clips during a panel promoting the movie. The audience of over 6,000 people gasped and cheered during the scenes, which 脕lvarez said he edited deceptively to avoid spoilers ahead of the Aug. 16 theatrical release.
To accomplish the practical effects, 脕lvarez enlisted a team of filmmakers who have worked with the infamous Stan Winston, the special effects artist known for his work in the 鈥淭erminator鈥� series, the first three 鈥淛urassic Park鈥� films and, of course, 鈥淎liens.鈥� Several of the behind-the-scenes creatives on 鈥淩omulus鈥� have worked on previous 鈥淎lien鈥� movies 鈥� including , who is a producer on the upcoming movie.
鈥淔rom a film lover鈥檚 standpoint, these guys 鈥� they鈥檙e responsible for some of the best creatures in Hollywood, so to have them around it sort of adds to the joy of what filmmaking and entertainment is all about. That was just a real treat,鈥� Spaeny said. 鈥淚 think it makes such a difference, not just for the actors and the crew making the movie, but hopefully for the audience, as well.鈥�
Despite recruiting 鈥淎lien鈥� alums behind the scenes, casting fresh actors who aren鈥檛 readily associated with larger-than-life characters was important to 脕lvarez. 鈥淩omulus鈥� is nestled between 鈥淎lien鈥� and its sequel, 鈥淎liens,鈥� but 脕lvarez has made clear that the new film is a standalone. He said he valued giving every audience member, regardless of whether they鈥檝e seen any other 鈥淎lien鈥� movies, a 鈥渇ull meal鈥� as they watched 鈥淩omulus,鈥� ensuring no one felt like they were missing any key details.
Still, as someone who grew up watching the 鈥淎lien鈥� movies and admires the franchise deeply, 脕lvarez had to include some nods to his predecessors.
鈥淲hen certain things happen that tie in with the other movies, if you鈥檙e an older audience, or even if you鈥檙e younger and you鈥檙e a fan and have seen all of them, you鈥檒l get that pleasure of discovering and finding and connecting 鈥� and also sound like a smart ass next to your non-fan friend,鈥� 脕lvarez continued.
With 脕lvarez鈥檚 eye for detail, cast member Isabela Merced said much of the production process was 鈥渕eticulous,鈥� down to the specks of fake blood on her face that had to be applied in the same exact spots for continuity. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a perfect pattern,鈥� she said.
As anticipation for 鈥淎lien: Romulus" grows and the response to clips at Comic-Con and online continues to be overwhelmingly positive, 脕lvarez said he and his collaborators are finally getting to feel their work paying off after the long creative process, which he calls 鈥渢orture.鈥�
鈥淵ou do it for that audience. You do it to cherish that moment,鈥� he said. 鈥淔or me, to watch the movie that you made with an audience that is enjoying it is the biggest gift you can get.鈥�
Spaeny said she hopes audiences will appreciate how 鈥渟pecial鈥� it is to watch a movie like this on a big screen.
鈥淭o get to sort of walk into a theater and have that experience with a group of strangers is one of the many beauties of movies.鈥�
Kaitlyn Huamani, The Associated Press
