“I Hate That So Much”: Ridley Scott’s Post-Production Change To 1 Prometheus Scene Criticized By VFX Artists 13 Years Later

Ridley Scott's post-production change to one scene from Prometheus is being criticized by VFX artists 13 years after premiering. Set before Alien, the sci-fi movie explores a team of scientists and researchers on board the eponymous ship who follow a star map to a foreign moon, seeking knowledge about humankind and their creation. Introducing Engineers and a black substance, which leads to the genesis of Xenomorphs, Prometheus features several shocking and visually memorable moments. The cast of Prometheus includes Noomi Rapace, Logan Marshall-Green, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, Charlize Theron, and Guy Pearce.

During Corridor Crew’s recent “VFX Artists React to Bad & Great CGi” video, members looked at, and praised, various sequences from Prometheus, explaining how Scott practically crafted most elements, and employed special effects when needed. In one instance, as an Engineer tried to fight off a large, tentacled creature, wires were used for the actor, while CGI brought the horrifying organism to life, although earlier shots of it may have been real. For the post-credits scene of a Xenomorph-like alien, there was tangible puppetry with some VFX eventually added.

Corridor Crew took issue, however, with a particular scene, where the drastically mutated Fifield (Sean Harris) targets the remaining Prometheus crew members. At first, they watched a version that never made it to screen, then compared it to the final product. As Jordan revealed, the more CGI-heavy Fifield appearance was removed by Scott in post, even though VFX artists had finished it. Because all the work ultimately went unseen, Wren remarked: “I hate that so much.” Read more of his comments below:

Having watched both sequences a few times now, I can kind of see him making the right call on this, where it’s like, the one that’s in the final movie does feel more visceral. It feels more realistic. And, it’s at a stage in the process where it’s like, ‘well, this was the idea, but it’s just not working. I’m sorry, but we have to cut it.’ It makes sense. I get it. It’s just, I hate wasted work.

What The Post-Production Change Meant For Prometheus

Ridley Scott Wanted That Scene To Look A Certain Way

Prior to his transformation, Fifield encountered the black goo, later known as Chemical AO-3959X.91-15 in the Alien franchise, and creatures bearing some semblance to snakes, one of which burned his protection upon being cut. After immediately falling in the liquid, his helmet begins melting into his face in one terrifying shot. Later, returning to Prometheus, Fifield exhibites superhuman strength and is almost in the same contorted position as in the unused footage, but his head is severely disfigured, with a massive lump on top.

Compared to what he looked like in Prometheus, Fifield appeared even more unrecognizable, and actually less human, in the scene Corridor Crew analyzed. This version of Fifield seemed to be another creature altogether and the special effects, while impressively done, were noticeable. Changing the sequence in post-production likely suggests that Ridley Scott had an idea in mind for that whole reveal, and that practical effects fit it better. But as Niko mentioned in the video, “I think you could make the decision to make the right decision without having to do this amount of wasted work.”

Our Take On Changing That Prometheus Scene

The Unused Version Would Have Been Less Effective

A monster mutated by the Black Goo in Prometheus.

From what Prometheus revealed about the black goo, it has the ability to rapidly evolve hosts, but seeing remnants of the human being it has infected, as in Fifield’s case, makes the experience more horrifying. Using the original, less digitally enhanced version of this character allows his crewmates to still identify him, amid significant concern. In the unused sequence, it is hard to see Fifield, and although that ghastly, alien-like form would shock audiences, it would also feel less convincing.

Source: Corridor Crew/YouTube