Alien: Romulus Trailer features a hidden ripley reference.
Although the last Alien: Romulus trailer is causing buzz and controversy, its sound design has a remarkable detail. Though it may expose too much of the scares, the trailer promises a return to the horror roots of the original Alien, which excites viewers let down by the recent franchise arrivals.
Song Reference In Alien: Romulus Trailer "You Are My Lucky Star"
Originally sung by Gene Kelly in the musical Singin' In The Rain, the eerie, echoing song "You Are My Lucky Star" runs through the trailer. As the crew investigates the abandoned Romulus space station, the vocals have been separated to create an echo and a radio-like crackle mixed with sinister bass synths. Seeking to correct Prometheus's and Covenant's design flaws, this song adds to the retro-futuristic look of the movie. Still, its importance goes beyond the disturbing environment and acts as a faint link to the roots of the franchise.
References to Ellen Ripley in Alien: Romulus subtly
This song hints subtly toward the original Alien film. Ellen Ripley runs through portions of the song to herself, trying to relax before facing the Xenomorph. Amanda Ripley, her daughter, also whistles it in Alien: Isolation. The trailer gains complexity and suspense from this relationship to Ripley, a central character in the Alien universe.
Given Alien, the lyrics of "You Are My Lucky Star" take on a terrible connotation. The line "You've opened heaven's portal here on earth for this poor mortal," for example, captures Weyland-Yutani's covert scheme to seize the Xenomorph for the 1979 movie.
The Song's Use's Consequences for Alien Romulus
Using "You Are My Lucky Star" in the Alien: Romulus teaser links the characters to their past, mirroring the effective strategy followed in Prometheus and Covenant. Reflecting his challenges with identity, loyalty, and humanity's colonial aspirations, David often quotes from the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia in Prometheus. Shaw's "Take Me Home, Country Roads" distress signal in Covenant contrasts sharply with the future environment and the inexperienced Romulus characters' trip into the unknown.
Honor the Original Alien Films.
One could also read this subdued nod to Ripley's resilience as an homage to the original Alien films. Romulus is not totally cut off from Scott's prequels, thus director Fede Álvarez, a known fan of Alien and Aliens, may be gently referencing the roots of the franchise while also praising the Prometheus duology.
Potential foreshadowing for Alien: Romulus
The usage of the song might also have another secret meaning. "You Are My Lucky Star" is sung in Singin' In The Rain to unveil Kathy as the actual star. This might hint to Álvarez's aim to once more center the Xenomorph in the story. The teaser emphasizes that Alien: Romulus seeks to be a significant reworking of the franchise, balancing out the intense spectacle with more deep human themes.
