While the facehuggers have historically been a terrifying aspect of the Alien franchise, their portrayal in the upcoming movie, Alien: Romulus, has not met expectations. Set to release in 2024, this midquel seamlessly bridges the narratives established by Ridley Scott and James Cameron in their respective films. The plot centers around a group of space colonists attempting to escape a Weyland-Yutani work planet, only to encounter deadly xenomorphs and facehuggers upon arriving at a space station to salvage cryopods for interstellar travel.
The Legacy of Facehuggers in the Alien Franchise
The Finality of a Facehugger Attack
Throughout the original seven films, facehuggers have consistently served as primary antagonists, alongside the iconic xenomorphs. The only exceptions include the hybrid creatures featured in Alien: Resurrection, Prometheus, and the closing scenes of Romulus itself. Notably, the presence of facehuggers has diminished over recent installments, with only fleeting appearances in Resurrection and Covenant, and a complete absence in the 2012 prequel due to its chronological context.
Shortcomings of Facehuggers in Alien: Romulus
The Overwhelming Numbers of Facehuggers
One standout moment in Alien: Romulus features Aileen Wu’s character, Navarro, encountering a facehugger in a scene reminiscent of John Hurt’s iconic death in Scott’s original film. However, this moment highlights a significant flaw in the film’s treatment of facehuggers: their rampant overuse. The narrative’s climax features an overwhelming number of these creatures pursuing the lead characters, which diminishes their previously established menace. In earlier films, the lethal potential of a singular facehugger elevated the stakes; now, a swarm undermines that tension.
While the film does succeed in showcasing the horror of Navarro’s death, along with impressive practical effects and effective suspense in scenes where characters navigate past lurking facehuggers, it ultimately lacks the innovative approach that defined previous films. The depiction of multiple facehuggers ineffectively conveys a sense of danger, as many fail to ensnare any characters, raising questions about their intelligence and effectiveness.
As the Alien series progresses, it would be beneficial for future films to return to the narrative strength of previous installments, emphasizing that the true power of facehuggers lies not in their numbers but in their singular, terrifying threat.
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