Despite a few missteps here and there, Alien: Romulus gets the franchise formula right and, more importantly, is just fun.
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The Alien movies have had the fortune of featuring some of the most talented directors in Hollywood such as Ridley Scott, James Cameron, David Fincher, and Jean Pierre Jeunet. So when Fede Alvarez, director of Evil Dead (2013) and Don’t Breathe, was tasked to help the latest Alien movie, it was exciting to see how he’d put his spin on the franchise. The end product is evident that it was a labor of love from someone who understands the franchise. You get the horror thrills of Alien with the more action-oriented vibe of Aliens as told through the POV of a new set of young characters.
BACK TO ITS ROOTS
From the title, the film plays on sibling dynamics which is the film’s heart. The main setting is split into two: Romulus and Remus station, which fans of mythology would immediately know what it means. Even our characters are mostly siblings from Tyler and Kay to new protagonist Rain and her synthetic brother Andy. We feel for Rain as she yearns for a better life off her colony planet, and we sympathize with Andy who only wants what’s best for his sister despite him being comprised of old and broken technology. It’s characters like these that have made the franchise so memorable; giving us heroes to root for.
But most audiences came for the carnage and spectacle. So did Alien: Romulus deliver on that aspect? The answer is yes.
Fede Alvarez has said that he wanted to bring the movie back to the franchise’s horror roots. And he mostly succeeds on that front. There are multiple sequences involving the facehuggers that will put you on the edge of your seat, and disgusting new scenes that will leave you sick. This is a thrilling ride from start to finish, with scenes that serve as callbacks to some of the franchise’s best moments and new takes on horror staples.
Another strength of the film is its effects. Due to Fede Alvarez’s commitment to practical effects, he employs model ships which makes the settings feel tactile and real and best enjoyed on the biggest screen you can watch it on. In terms of production design, the film, true to franchise roots, captures the retro technology aesthetic of the 1979 original with analog buttons and CTR monitors. Finally, the creature effects are well-made with the Xenomorph and facehuggers looking as good as they did during the series’ heyday.
A FEW MISSTEPS
That’s not to say that the film is without flaws as one failing of Romulus is its rather forgettable side characters. Despite the cast’s best efforts to bring life into these roles, our supporting players feel underdeveloped which is a shame as the Alien films have always featured memorable personalities like Yaphett Kotto’s Parker, or Hudson and Vasequez from Aliens.
Finally, the callbacks and easter eggs are also a mixed bag with some feeling earned for longtime fans while others can leave you cringing in your seat. It’s unfortunately a trend that has plagued modern blockbusters with gratuitous callbacks and unneeded fan service that feel distracting rather than organic to the narrative. While it is appreciated that the film surprisingly manages to tie the entire franchise into one neat bow and honors even the less beloved entries, bringing back dead actors through CGI or saying iconic lines are face-palm-inducing rather than the intended positive effect.
BURSTING WITH ENERGY
All in all, Alien: Romulus is a fun relaunch of a beloved series that captures the essence of what makes an Alien film so enjoyable. Fans of the movies have a lot to chew on here, but casual viewers can also enjoy Romulus as a straight-up horror action thriller that doesn’t burden viewers too much with deep lore. It does for the Alien franchise what Prey did to Predator in 2022. Despite its hiccups and weaknesses, the movie is a great watch for audiences and is a captivating ride that is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant with its lead protagonists.
Alien: Romulus is now showing in cinemas nationwide
Photos courtesy of 20th Century Studios
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