It’s all lights, cameras, and a palpable sense of excitement on the set of Alien: Romulus as director Fede Alvarez steps into the world of xenomorphs, acid blood, and intergalactic terror. Known for redefining horror with Evil Dead and Don’t Breathe, Alvarez is now taking on one of sci-fi’s most iconic franchises. From behind-the-scenes glimpses of terrifying new creature designs to practical effects that have the cast and crew jumping out of their seats, it’s clear that Alvarez is pulling out all the stops to make Alien: Romulus an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride.

Capturing the Unrelenting Fear of Giger’s Monsters

In the middle of a chaotic set filled with dripping ceilings and shadowy corridors, Alvarez leans in with a grin, clearly in his element. “The thing about the xenomorphs,” he begins, “is that they don’t just scare you—they haunt you. The original designs by Giger are the stuff of nightmares, and I’m not interested in softening that. I want to bring back the terror that made people afraid to go into space.” His excitement is contagious as he talks about bringing that raw, primal fear to life. The crew members, peeking over at the monstrous props scattered around, seem just as thrilled—and maybe a little on edge.

Channeling the Greats: An Homage to Horror Legends

But Alvarez isn’t just recycling old scares; he’s infusing the new film with a fresh take while staying true to the spine-chilling spirit of the originals. “I did my homework,” he says with a gleam in his eye, gesturing to a collection of Alien memorabilia on set. “Ridley Scott, James Cameron, David Fincher—they all brought something unique to this universe. My job is to build on that and create something that both honors their vision and pushes it into new, terrifying territory.” As he says this, the clatter of a xenomorph tail being adjusted nearby only amps up the sense that something big is brewing.

Practical Effects: Fear You Can Feel

The excitement on set reaches a fever pitch when Alvarez starts discussing his commitment to using real, tangible effects over CGI whenever possible. “There’s just something about feeling the creature on set,” he explains as a team of effects artists tweak a life-sized xenomorph puppet behind him. “It’s all about that physical presence—the slimy, dripping fangs, the weight of it when it moves. You can see the actors react because it’s real to them. And that’s what’s going to make this film terrifying to audiences.” As if on cue, one of the animatronic facehuggers twitches, drawing startled gasps from onlookers. It’s clear that Alvarez’s insistence on practical effects is already making an impact.

The Master’s Touch: Ridley Scott’s Involvement

And then, there’s Ridley Scott—the godfather of the Alien saga—who’s been keeping a close eye on the production. “Having Ridley involved is surreal,” Alvarez admits with a mixture of awe and gratitude. “He’s given me the freedom to make this film my own, but he’s always there with a nudge or a piece of advice that hits just right. His philosophy is simple: never underestimate the audience. Keep them guessing, keep them tense. And that’s exactly what we’re doing here.”

Alvarez points to a script covered in Scott’s handwritten notes, a testament to the ongoing collaboration between the two visionary filmmakers. “Every time he drops by set, the energy changes,” Alvarez says, grinning. “It’s like the xenomorphs themselves walk in with him. You can feel the weight of his legacy, but also this excitement—this drive to break new ground.”

Breathing New Life into a Classic Nightmare

As the day’s shooting wraps, the cast and crew gather around a dimly lit console room, staring at monitors showing playback of a freshly shot scene—a figure creeping through a maze of industrial piping as the shadow of a towering xenomorph looms just out of frame. Alvarez watches intently, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile. “This is going to be brutal,” he murmurs, almost to himself. “I want people to feel the same fear they felt when they first saw Alien. But I want them to leave the theater thinking, ‘I haven’t seen anything like that before.’”

With Alien: Romulus, Fede Alvarez isn’t just paying tribute to a genre-defining masterpiece—he’s setting the stage for a new era of terror. And from what we’ve seen on set, it’s going to be a wild, pulse-pounding ride that will have fans gripping their seats, peeking through their fingers, and walking out of theaters wondering what horrors could be lurking in the dark corners of space.

If you thought you knew the Alien franchise, get ready to rethink everything. Fede Alvarez is about to take you on a trip that’s scarier, bloodier, and more intense than ever before.