Synopsis:

"Alien: Romulus" is a 2024 science fiction horror film directed by Fede Álvarez, positioned chronologically between the original "Alien" (1979) and "Aliens" (1986). The narrative centers on Rain Carradine (Cailee Spaeny), a 25-year-old orphan laboring under harsh conditions in the Weyland-Yutani mining colony on Jackson's Star. Her constant companion is Andy (David Jonsson), an android programmed by her father to act as her protective brother.

Intentions:

My intention was to craft a standalone horror experience that captures the raw terror and isolation of encountering the Xenomorph for the first time, with a focus on building fresh characters, new lore, and an atmosphere of relentless dread without relying on nostalgia. I also aimed to remove any fan service or callbacks to Alien and Aliens that felt jarring. This approach ensures that Alien: Romulus stands on its own as a terrifying sci-fi horror film rather than a tribute to past entries. The goal is to make audiences feel the unknown again, just as they did in 1979, while allowing this film to serve as a 1.5 bridge between the two classics.

Change List:

• Add new shadow MRDb intro animation by Maddog • Add MRDb fanedit disclaimer • Add MRDb 18 rating card intro • Add a Movies Remastered fanedit text to opening credits • Reverse and slow down the Alien Romulus opening title logo so it’s more in keeping with the original Alien title card that builds tension. • Remove scene of Rain looking at the Sun. (This feels like a misdirect and I felt it much better to open with the bleak world instead of a dream). • There is a continuity error with Bjorn holding a cigarette after he smoked it but I couldn’t find a way around it. If anyone does, please let me know. • Remove Navarro smiling and looking at the sun. (I’m removing any sign of happiness or innocence from this movie to keep it tonally accurate to OG) • I decided to keep “I prefer artificial person, myself” (Many will disagree but I feel it would be within droid programming as a response). • Retime the shot of Andy seeing Rook for the first time. (Slowing this shot down by 15% adds more tension and builds suspense for those who don’t know who Rook is). • Remove Rook’s line “You don’t help her, you run!” • Remove as all close-ups of Rook talking. (Not only does not seeing Rook build more mystery but it also covers the awful VFX they used when recreating him. I held out of the Blu-Ray updated VFX but they weren’t worth readding after I edited the digital version. • Retime other cut away shots to hide Rook close-ups. • Fix all audio timing and room echo during this scene. • Retime to disclosure of the Xenomorph to hide Rook close-ups. (This also gives us a much better look at what’s happened prior). • Retime shots a Rain and Navarro to hide Rook close-ups. • Cut back to Navarro on the floor to hide Rook close-up • Remove shot of Andy having super strength while holding the door open when chasing Tyler. (I could be wrong but this felt out of place as I’m not sure if droids are having been this strong in other movies?) • Remove second shot of Andy holding the door. (This just seemed to slow down pacing). • Remove scene with Rook crawling and asking about the compound. (Another odd VFX shot and an unusual introduction to the compound. It’s much better to be left for a later reveal). • Fix audio during transition to remove above scene. • Remove Andy’s interaction with Rook. (This just feels like an exposition dump of things we already know. It’s just better to leave it more ambiguous so the audience finds out at the same time as the crew). • Remove Tyler saying “Kate” • Remove Tyler saying “I’m here” • Remove Tyler saying “The lever with the red button. There’s a key…” • Retime shots to build tension and cover dialogue removal. (We’ve been told that the facehugger will react to any noise so keeping this scene completely silent works way better for suspense and tension). • Remove Tyler saying “It has to be there?” • Just keeping Kay panicking and talking to herself for reassurance help build tension • Remove close-ups of Rook in chamber when introducing the compound. • Retime B-roll shots to cover Rook being removed. • Add underwater bubble sound FX during compound close-up. • Change timing of Rain seeing Alien on monitor. (First shot, nothing moves. • Make second shot where alien moves. • Remove close-up of Tyler saying “Fucking things hunting us” (Facial acting felt odd so covering it with the second alien monitor shot worked for me). • Remove Tyler saying “Yes, I fucking can”. (An odd line that feels better revealed when he talks about his passion for weapons in the next shot). • Remove close-up of Rain saying “Andy! Are you there?” (Felt a little on the nose and cringe to have her say this). • Remove close-up of alien jaw opening. (This just felt like fan service as there was no need for the alien to do this within that shot). • Remove Rain shooting the monitor when angry at Rook. (This breaks suspense of Rain not being about to shoot at the aliens but it also covers a continuity error later in the movie where the monitors haven’t been shot at). • Remove shot of Rook talking as the monitor glitches due to being fired at. • Fix Rooks audio to play over Rain’s close-up • Remove Andy saying “You bitch!” (Not only does this take away from Ripley saying it in the future but it seems extremely out of place for Andy to say such a thing). • Cut close-up of Andy. (I originally retimed this close-up to pause for dramatic effect but it really didn’t need it at this point seeing as I removed the classic line. • Remove the odd acting of Rain seeing like she’s having a stroke. (I know she is supposed be acting like she is freezing but it felt very odd and she recovered pretty quickly so I removed it). • Retime to Alien Romulus outro logo • Add “a Movies Remastered fanedit” outro credit text. • Retime outro credits to fade in a little later. • Retime outro music • Add extreme reverb to final note of outro score. • Add new shadow MRDb intro animation by Maddog

Additional Notes:

Released only on MR Discord to initiate members who own a digital version or the original Blu-ray. Invite link here: https://discord.gg/EBdQVXhDUh