Back in the 90’s a little attraction called “Alien War” revolutionized the themed adventure concept. Based around the “Alien” franchise and sporting some technical innovations such as “sound fire”, the experience began with a tour of a company-sanctioned alien research facility. Things soon took a dark when the xenomorphs broke free and began roaming the halls. Your group, lead by a colonial marine, had to navigate the pitch black halls of the laboratory with dangers lurking around each bend.

Alien War met an untimely end due to flooding and for quite some time it looked as if there would be no return to the glory days of one of the most original concept attractions in recent memory. All of that is about to change as the original producers are preparing to relaunch the attraction.

We spoke with Gary Giles about the details.

ILLUSION: Where did the original concept come from?

GG: John Gorman and I were fans of the movies and we had a couple of props and film stills so we did a small exhibition in a cinema in Glasgow where they were showing Alien and Aliens and when it was over we were sitting in the exhibition in the dak as it was closing time and we thought it would be great if rather that looking at things in a glass case it would be better to have them “live” all around you and thats where the idea came from.

ILLUSION: How involved is Fox in Alien War’s development?

GG: In the past Fox were no help at all they gave us nothing, no help, no props, nothing we had to do everything now we are still talking about new developments with them?

ILLUSION: I first found out about the original attraction on Beyond 2000 many years ago and there were a number of technological developments, are there any new gadgets in the rebirth of Alien War?

GG: We have to move with the times and our sound system is amazing along with a few other scares, although the most terrifing thing still is everyones own imagination so we will never get carried away with effects and let “you” do all the work!

ILLUSION: It takes a lot of love to put something like this together. Tell me about the first time you saw Alien and why it made such an impact on you.

GG: I saw it with my Mum who was a “cool Mum” and loved films like this and I remember thinking that for the first time this “Alien” looked real not your typical monster but something different which made the movie even more terrifying, and the whole concept of Gigers vision was amazing!

ILLUSION: I’ll be honest, I do have recurring nightmares about the Alien franchise. Have ever had a nightmare featuring your pet xenomorphs?

GG: No, never.

ILLUSION: What is so magnetic about these characters that keep us coming back to them for decades?

GG: It all comes back to the design from Giger and the whole life circle of the Alien, egg, Facehugger, cheastbuster, everything is so unique, and then you have great characters played by Sigourney Weaver and the cast from Aliens everyone in that was perfect!

ILLUSION: Let’s talk sets and costumes. You guys always do an amazing job with the details, who’s in charge of the art direction?

GG: John Gorman is the main guy and working with him is John Riddel of the “Quickening”.

ILLUSION: I remember the old version had some very cool Alien props on display, is there going to be any movie memorabilia in the new incarnation?

GG: We have a number of rare props at our disposal and might have them in the shop area?

ILLUSION: When is the new attraction opening?

GG: A good question… we have a number of problems we are working through just now and we are aiming for July 2008 in central London.
Thanks….Commander….out……..

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