Fede Álvarez’s Inspirations for Alien Romulus
Fede Álvarez, director of Alien Romulus, has shared some intriguing details about the inspirations behind his movie. It turns out that The Last of Us Part II heavily influenced not just the storyline but also the characters in his film.
Álvarez revealed that while working on the script, he was immersed in playing the game, and it left such a strong impression on him that he decided to incorporate elements from the game into his movie. The character of Kay, portrayed by Isabela Merced, is a testament to this influence; her pregnancy in the movie was directly inspired by Dina’s pregnancy in The Last of Us Part II.
Did you basically write an Alien movie but with TLOU2 characters?
— Giulio Scanferlato (@giulio_sca) August 25, 2024
This wasn’t just a minor detail as it became a central part of Kay’s storyline in the film. The connection between the two characters grew even more interesting when Merced was later cast to play Dina in the HBO adaptation of The Last of Us’s Season 2. This casting decision created an unexpected overlap between the two roles, making it a full-circle moment. Fans have also noticed that Cailee Spaeny’s look and appearance in the movie sometimes resemble Ellie’s, which wasn’t a coincidence but rather a deliberate choice by Álvarez to capture some of the intense, gritty atmosphere that made the games so memorable.
These decisions just show how deeply The Last of Us Part II influenced the director’s vision for his movie, mixing the horror and survival themes that both franchises are known for.
A Tribute to Survival Horror: The Influence of Alien: Isolation
Isolation is easily one of the scariest games ever made, with a terrifying atmosphere and a faithful recreation of the original Alien film’s tension. Álvarez has mentioned that playing Alien: Isolation made him realize how truly terrifying the Alien franchise could be if it returned to its roots of survival horror.
This realization led him to incorporate some of the game’s elements directly into the movie, making this movie not just a sequel but also a homage to the survival horror genre in general. One of the most obvious examples of this influence, as revealed by Álvarez himself in previous interviews, is the inclusion of the Emergency Phone kiosks. These kiosks act as save points and hint at danger in the game, and Álvarez has translated this concept into the movie, using the phones as a visual cue that imminent danger lurks.
This clever nod to the game does make it more suspenseful for viewers, especially those familiar with the source material. Fans should be sure to look out for this nice little easter egg when watching the movie.
What do you think of these two video games being so influential to the movie? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Leave a Reply