Beneath London: The Story of Alien War – New Short Documentary Releasing in April!

Alien War is one of those attractions that many Alien fans have heard about, but far fewer seem to have had the pleasure of attending. It’s a curiosity amongst the Alien fandom that those of us who didn’t get to experience absolutely love to be able to hear about. Such is the appeal that director Paul King, the man behind Shine On: The Forgotten Shining Location, has turned his attention to Alien War to put together a new documentary in the iconic Alien attraction.

Fans of sci-fi, horror and immersive experiences are in for a thrilling journey back in time with the upcoming documentary BENEATH LONDON: The Story of Alien War. Opened by Sigourney Weaver, Alien War took London by storm in the 1990s and is often referred to as the most terrifying walkthrough attraction ever created.

First launched in Glasgow in 1992 before making its mark in London’s Trocadero in 1993, Alien War was an unprecedented immersive experience that transported visitors into the world of James Cameron’s Aliens, becoming London’s number one tourist attraction at the time. Created by film enthusiasts John Gorman and Gary Gillies, Alien War was more than just a haunted house—it was a cinematic horror simulation, featuring actors, cutting-edge effects and pulse-pounding set pieces that left guests breathless.

The upcoming documentary by Paul King (director of Shine On: The Forgotten Shining Location) features exclusive interviews with the creators and former cast members who reveal how this innovative attraction redefined immersive entertainment and inspired a new wave of horror experiences worldwide. It also examines the attraction’s unfortunate closure.

“Alien War was truly ahead of its time,” says Paul King. “Long before escape rooms and VR horror, this was the closest you could get to stepping inside a real-life sci-fi nightmare. We’re excited to share the incredible story of how it came to be and why it left such a lasting impression”.

“It’s been over 30 years since Alien War opened” says Gary Gillies, Alien War co-creator. “Even now when people find out I was involved with it, I can see the excitement and fear in their eyes. It really did blur the lines between cinema and reality and after all this time, it’s still remembered”.

Alien War co-creator John Gorman – “The media and press attention at the time was unbelievable. We had documentary crews following us, but nothing really happened with that footage. It’s amazing that the story of Alien War is finally being told”.

Colonial Marine performer Doug McCarthy – “Alien War was never not busy and playing one of the marines was a dream job. We managed to create a perfect environment of horror and entertainment, but with the emphasis heavily on horror”.

BENEATH LONDON: The Story of Alien War is set to be released exclusively on YouTube in April 2025 as a short documentary, with plans for a feature length version already in the works. For those who remember the heart-pounding terror of dodging xenomorphs in dimly lit corridors – or for those curious to learn about one of the most ambitious horror attractions ever conceived, this is one documentary you won’t want to miss.

Be sure to head on over to director Paul King’s YouTube page to subscribe and keep an eye out in April for the release of the documentary!

While we wait for the release of Beneath London, Alien vs. Predator Galaxy had the opportunity to chat to several of the performers who worked on Alien War across several venues, including the Trocadero back in 2021 for the 131st episode of the AvP Galaxy Podcast. You can check that out here!

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