Romulus’ Unique Ending: How It Stands Out from Other Blockbusters

• “Alien: Romulus” is set on a derelict space station where a group of scavengers face the Xenomorphs.
• The final act of the film cranks up the horror with a stunning twist.
• Here’s the ending of “Alien: Romulus,” explained.

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for “Alien: Romulus.”

“Alien: Romulus” takes place between the original “Alien” (1979) and “Aliens” (1986). In this installment, a group of scavengers from the Jackson’s Star mining colony make the mistake of raiding a derelict space station in a desperate bid to escape their grim reality.

As expected, their actions awaken something sinister. A young woman named Navarro (Aileen Wu) is attacked by a Facehugger, leading to a brutal fight for survival as the Xenomorphs overtake the station.

Director Fede Alvarez, known for “Evil Dead,” takes a unique approach in “Alien: Romulus” by linking it to the 2012 film “Prometheus.” Alvarez heightens the horror with a twist that is both surprising and gruesome.

Rain (Cailee Spaeny) and her crew, including her adopted android brother Andy (David Jonsson), arrive at the “Renaissance” station, divided into two sections. They explore “Remus,” where Facehuggers are in cryo-storage.

When their ship, the Corbelan IV, is moved to the station’s “Romulus” section, Rain and Tyler (Archie Renaux) struggle to reach the other half. During their journey, they find out that Weyland-Yutani has synthesized a transformative black serum from the Xenomorphs and Facehuggers. This serum, similar to the black substance in “Prometheus,” profoundly alters DNA, evolving organisms into monstrous forms. Weyland-Yutani hopes to use this for creating a more resilient workforce for their off-world operations.

As they attempt to escape, Kay (Isabela Merced), who is pregnant, is captured by a Xenomorph. Despite being injured, she injects the serum in an effort to save her unborn child. The serum accelerates the baby’s growth, resulting in a horrific birth. Kay delivers an alien egg containing a Xenomorph/human hybrid.

The hybrid, termed “Offspring” in the credits, rapidly grows and feeds on Kay, whose body secretes more of the gooey substance seen earlier in the lab. This creature resembles the towering Engineers from “Prometheus,” who played a role in the creation of mankind.

While the Offspring is occupied, Rain dons a spacesuit and attempts to lure it into the ship’s cargo container. She successfully detaches the container, sending the hybrid into an asteroid field. The creature makes a final menacing appearance before seemingly being destroyed.

Unlike many blockbusters with predictable CGI-heavy sequences, this film’s intense practical effects deliver a true adrenaline rush.

Rain and Andy are the only survivors of the mission. They place themselves in stasis pods and set a course for Yvaga III, a supposedly tranquil planet. In a closing narration reminiscent of Ripley’s (Sigourney Weaver) in the original “Alien,” Rain expresses hope for the future despite her earlier fears.

While the movie doesn’t feature a post-credits scene, it leaves ample opportunity for a sequel. Rain and Andy’s journey to Yvaga III and the potential pursuit by Weyland-Yutani offer fertile ground for future stories. Fans know well that even a single misplaced Facehugger could reignite the chaos.

Moreover, Yvaga III’s prohibition on androids could present challenges for Rain and Andy, if they manage to reach their new home.

Source: Business Insider