Romulus Unveils A New, Gnarly Aspect Of Xenomorph Life Cycle

In space, no one can hear you spoil the latest “Alien” movie. This article discusses major spoilers from “Alien: Romulus.”

After over 40 years of seeing the “perfect organism” in its various forms on the big screen, including the convoluted origin story in Ridley Scott’s prequels, “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” it was fair to wonder how “Alien: Romulus” could make the dreaded Xenomorph frightening again. Every possible facet of this sentient, mechanical-biological weapon seemed to have been explored.

From its flawless introduction in the 1979 original film to the queen in “Aliens” and the animal hybrid in “Alien 3,” so much ground had been covered. (The less said about “Alien Resurrection” and its unique addition to Xenomorph lore, the better.) This raised a crucial question: what was left for director Fede Álvarez to explore?

Luckily for fans, “Romulus” returns to the franchise’s roots, drawing from what the first “Alien” movie left to the imagination and expanding on Xenomorph lore. The story follows a new cast led by Cailee Spaeny’s Rain, her synthetic “brother” Andy (David Jonsson), and a group of friends who soon become victims.

They trespass onto a derelict space station and unleash the same horror that Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley narrowly survived. Álvarez’s script, co-written with Rodo Sayagues, makes a bold move, expanding the Xenomorph life cycle in chilling new scenes.

Despite all the ground covered in “Alien” and its sequels, one significant aspect of the Xenomorph life cycle has remained hidden. Through the deaths of Kane (John Hurt) in the original movie, Navarro (Aileen Wu) in “Alien: Romulus,” and many others, we know the cycle begins with a facehugger implanting victims so a chestburster can emerge.

In a short time, these chestbursters grow into full-sized Xenomorphs, but we’ve never seen how that happens. “Romulus” changes that when Bjorn (Spike Fearn) and Kay (Isabela Merced) stumble upon a gruesome sight. After Navarro’s chestburster kills her, wreaking havoc, the survivors find a massive cocoon.

Against better judgment, Bjorn uses his stun baton to try to kill whatever is inside. This seems to work until he gets a face full of acid and dies a painful death. Out of the cocoon comes a full-grown Xenomorph, linking the chestburster to the adult creature.

This transformation is like a twisted butterfly emerging from a cocoon, filling in the missing link in the Xenomorph life cycle. “Alien: Romulus” is now playing in theaters.

Source: SlashFilm