Space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life-form in the universe while scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station.
Director: Fede Álvarez
Cast: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu
Release Date: August 16, 2024
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Rated R for bloody violent content and language.
Runtime: 1h 59m
Review:
Fede Álvarez's Alien: Romulus is a bloody love letter to the first two films in the long running series, bringing back the retro futuristic aesthetic, a bevy of Easter eggs and delivering some truly thrilling sequences. Álvarez's love of the series is readily apparent from the opening sequence with the look and feel immediately echoing Ridley Scott's original with its grimy, lived in version of space travel that was missing from the last two prequels. It plays like cinematic comfort food for long time fans who have been waiting for something like this since the late 80's as every subsequent sequel has veered further away from the feel of those original films. Everything has a palpable sense of reality with CGI used sparingly throughout which is a welcome change of pace. It’s an impressive bit of alchemy which leaves you wondering why other directors hadn't leaned into more in the past. The story is straight forward even if does leave you asking a ton of questions if you think about it too much. Logic isn't the biggest concern as it's mostly interested in placing the characters, some far more brain dead than others, into specific situations for the mayhem to begin. It’s all easier to digest since the cast is totally onboard from the opening scene. Cailee Spaeny does well in the lead in an understated turn that does well to avoid direct comparison to Sigourney Weaver's Ripley. Her central relationship with David Jonsson's synthetic Andy is an interesting slant on the usual survivor trope that runs across these films. Jonsson and Spaeny have a strong chemistry together which gives their characters some emotional weight to their relationship, something sorely missing from the supporting characters who are little more than meat for the grinder. It’s a testament to Álvarez that it’s not a huge drawback since the construction of the big sequences are so well done that you don’t really care that the majority of characters are one note or make some truly stupid decisions. Alien: Romulus works best when its creativity is on full display such as a fraught trek through a face hugger infested hallway or an anti gravity Alien battle which brings a renewed sense of energy to the creatures and franchise.
B
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