Though we still have a bit of time before the Halloween season, I found myself looking forward to the newest entry in the Alien franchise, especially after seeing the initial trailer which promised a return to the simple plotline of the original film. Alien: Romulus is directed by Fede Alvarez and stars Cailee Spaeney and David Jonsson.

Alien: Romulus certainly delivers on the idea of a legacy sequel as the plot is virtually the same as the original 1979 film. A small crew of miners raid a decommissioned space station in search of tools to escape to a more prosperous colony. However, they soon fall prey to the Xenomorphs who were the object of the station’s research mission.

Although the story plays out following the same beats as the original film, it manages to keep your interest with some excellent direction and some new world-building elements. Alvarez knows exactly where to place the camera for maximum drama: Individual scenes are constructed in a way that allows for truly unnerving shots that take full advantage of the horrific biology of the parasitic Xenomorph.

Tense set pieces take center stage here and allow for some creative action sequences in the later half of Alien: Romulus. I also enjoyed how the film paid homage to the iconic scenes from the original film. Rather than shot for shot remaking the scene, Alvarez brings his own spin by adding in elements and changing up the sets and character motivations to make the scene feel new.

However, by far my favorite aspect of the film comes within the final act. Alvarez adds to the mythos of the Xenomorphs by introducing a new breed that is truly sinister and bone-chilling. This is only further enforced by the excellent cinematography and stomach-churning gore.

In an age of sequels and remakes, Alien: Romulus feels less like a cheap cash grab and more like a satisfying tribute to what made the series great in the first place. It captures the core themes surrounding the dichotomy between nature and science and the dangers that each can pose. We also have a strong focus on common science fiction themes such as classism and corporate greed. Finally, the story has some intriguing symbolism which is an essential aspect of the franchise in my eyes.

In terms of weaknesses, the core cast gives solid performances but our main hero, Rain, is nowhere near as memorable as Ellen Ripley. The supporting cast is more interesting with standouts being the outspoken Bjorn and the synthetic Andy played by David Jonsson. He is easily the most likable android character the franchise has introduced. The chemistry between him and the main cast certainly helps you to care a little bit more than usual about them as individuals, rather than simply pieces of meat who will meet unfortunate ends for the sake of entertainment.

As is the case with most horror films, you can also expect a fair bit of plot armor. Alien: Romulus certainly doesn’t break the mold here. There’s a sequence in an elevator that while visually quite engaging, doesn’t make sense from a logical standpoint. The characters can neatly move to wherever the script needs them to be without the care given to how they could have feasibly ended up there. For the most part, though, these moments are few and far between allowing for a solid viewing experience from beginning to end.

While Alien: Romulus never truly reinvents the series like James Cameron’s original sequel managed to accomplish, it’s clear that it understands what makes the franchise and the monster itself scary. That being: Invasive, body horror within an isolated and barren environment. It’s a film that like the original, captures the imposing dread inspired by the unknown expanse of space while delivering some new material that I feel is still worth your time. If you are an Alien fan you’ll especially not want to skip this.

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Alien: Romulus

7.5

Score

7.5/10

Pros

• Great cinematography
• Creative new worldbuilding
• Strong themes

Cons

• Some plot holes
• Main cast can be weak
• Plot is nothing new