Disappointment Over Xenomorph Not Using Vent Portals in Alien: Romulus After Alien: Isolation

The recent installment, Alien: Romulus, successfully bridged elements of the franchise’s original lore with Ridley Scott’s prequel narratives. However, I found it disappointing that a notable spinoff, along with one of its key components, seemed to be overlooked entirely. Following the lukewarm receptions of both Prometheus and Covenant, co-writer and director Fede Álvarez made a strategic decision to simplify the storyline, discarding the complex plot threads involving humanity’s creators, the Engineers, and the origins of Weyland Corp. Instead, the focus shifted to a more direct engagement with characters confronting the menacing xenomorphs and facehuggers.

That said, Alien: Romulus retained some intriguing connections to earlier films. The planet and the eponymous space station featured in the narrative are owned by the infamous Weyland-Yutani conglomerate. Additionally, the iconic black goo from Prometheus reappears, revealed to be a substance harvested from facehuggers. However, the film also hinted at more obscure Easter eggs within the broader Alien universe, and while I anticipated a certain element from a lesser-known branch of the franchise making a comeback, it ultimately did not materialize.

The Role of Vent Portals in Alien: Isolation

The Thrill of Uncertainty

Alien: Isolation stands out as one of the most underrated expansions of the sci-fi horror genre. Set 15 years after the original film and 42 years before James Cameron’s sequel, this video game immerses players in the role of Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Ellen Ripley. Amanda arrives at the Seegson Corporation space station, Sevastopol, seeking information about her mother’s disappearance, only to confront malfunctioning androids, facehuggers, and of course, xenomorphs.

Developed by Creative Assembly, Alien: Isolation delivers a heartfelt tribute to franchise fans and is widely regarded as the pinnacle of video game adaptations of the series. The game employs classic elements, such as the iconic motion tracker that detects xenomorph movements, and the flamethrower for defense. It achieves remarkable immersion, particularly through the utilization of vent portals scattered throughout the Sevastopol space station.

Players often navigated these vents with heightened trepidation, aware that a lurking xenomorph could be waiting to ambush them. Fingers poised over the trigger, players prepared to deploy flares or flamethrowers at a moment’s notice, amplifying the tension of traversing through the vents.

The Unused Potential of Vent Portals in Alien: Romulus

Missed Opportunities in Tension Building

In Alien: Romulus, the film introduced the tension of vent portals, allowing characters like Andy, Tyler, and Bjorn to crawl through them in pursuit of cryopods. Despite this setup and a fleeting encounter with unleashed facehuggers, the anticipated return to the suspenseful vent corridors was ultimately underutilized, leaving audiences wanting more.

Both the original Alien and Isolation masterfully leveraged vent sequences to build significant suspense. A prime example includes Tom Skerritt’s Dallas, who enters the vent with a flamethrower and motion tracker, intending to flush the xenomorph toward an airlock. The shocking confrontation within the vent offered a cinematic jump scare that contributed to the horror genre’s evolution.

Regrettably, Alien: Romulus did not capitalize on the opportunity to engage the xenomorphs in the vents, diminishing the potential for thrilling encounters. The narrative featured several scenarios where tension could have been heightened through vent sequences, especially as characters Rain and Andy became trapped in a segment of the station while Rook undermined their escape attempts. While Álvarez and co-writer Rodo Sayagues devised an exciting zero-gravity sequence, a return to the vent portals could have built an even greater atmosphere of dread.

Exploring Future Installments of the Alien Franchise

Vent Portals: Beyond Just Xenomorphs

With Alien: Romulus demonstrating both critical and commercial success, the future of the franchise appears promising. 20th Century Studios has confirmed plans for a sequel and a new project from Ridley Scott, creating fertile ground for further exploration of vent portals as a tool for suspense and horror. While Romulus encapsulated the essence of survival against alien threats, future installments could leverage the vents more effectively to raise the stakes.

Furthermore, it would be intriguing for upcoming films to explore additional threats emerging from the vent portals beyond the xenomorphs. Given the persistent menace of the Weyland-Yutani corporation, envisioning scenarios where a reactivated MU/TH/UR deploys the sharp design of portal shutters to trap characters or, in a visit to another abandoned facility, presents compelling storytelling possibilities. Future filmmakers have a wide array of creative opportunities that should not be overlooked as they aim to reintegrate vent sequences into exciting new narratives.

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