Alien Romulus: A Mixed Bag of Excellence and Distraction
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| Alien Romulus Review |
Introduction: A Return to Form for the Alien Franchise?
When it comes to the Alien franchise, many fans hold the first two films—Ridley Scott's 1979 Alien and James Cameron's 1986 sequel Aliens—in the highest regard. These two films are often considered some of the most perfectly conceived and executed blockbusters of all time. However, the sequels that followed have been a mixed bag, ranging from the underrated Alien 3 to the unwatchable Alien Resurrection. Even the Alien vs. Predator films and Ridley Scott's Prometheus and Alien: Covenant have left fans divided.
Alien Romulus Trailer
Alien Romulus: A Cause for Celebration
Director Fede Alvarez's Alien Romulus marks a
significant return to form, offering a slambang sequel that nearly rivals the
first two films in the franchise. While the movie suffers from some illadvised
connections to Ridley Scott's Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, the good far
outweighs the bad, making it one of the best Alien movies in decades.
A Hopeless Future: Unique WorldBuilding
One of the standout elements of Alien Romulus is its
portrayal of the grim future world. Álvarez effectively conveys the
hopelessness of life in this universe, focusing on a group of young colonists
who are little more than indentured workers for WeylandYutani. The film
introduces us to Kayy Span's Rain, an orphan who toils under harsh conditions,
with only her malfunctioning synthetic brother, Andy (David Johnson), for
company.
The Plot: A Terrifying Secret Unveiled
Rain soon joins a crew of scavengers led by an old
flame, Tyler (Archie Renaux), who hopes to provide a better life for his
younger sister, played by Isabella Merced. The group discovers a derelict space
station, hoping to salvage life pods, but they soon uncover a terrifying secret
that threatens to pick them off one by one. The action is brutal, with Álvarez
delivering some of the goriest scenes in the franchise's history.
Character Performances: A New Generation of Icons
The cast of Alien Romulus is uniformly excellent. Kayy
Span's Rain is far from the Ripley clone some might expect; she's a vulnerable,
relatable protagonist who rises to the occasion without becoming a superhero.
Renaux's Tyler, while initially seeming like a slimy crook, proves to have pure
intentions and a heroic streak. Isabella Merced's character, though put through
the physical wringer, makes a huge impression with some of the film's most
terrifying moments.
David Johnson's performance as Andy, the synthetic
brother, is particularly noteworthy. His character evolves from a simple, sweet
robot to a more complex figure as he wrestles with conflicting programming.
Johnson's portrayal is a standout, offering a fresh take on the franchise's
tradition of iconic android characters.
Cinematography and Score: A Visual and Auditory Treat
Alien Romulus also benefits from superb cinematography
by Galo Olivares, who captures the bleak, atmospheric visuals reminiscent of
the original Alien. The score by Benjamin Wallfisch is equally impressive,
marking the best soundtrack the franchise has seen since James Horner's work on
Aliens.
The Downside: Clunky Mythology and Distracting Elements
Unfortunately, Alien Romulus is not without its flaws.
The film suffers from the inclusion of clunky elements that feel lifted from
another movie or director. A poorly realized CGI character, which serves as a
callback to earlier films, stands out as a particularly bad decision. This
character's introduction immediately detracts from the otherwise impeccable
practical effects.
Moreover, the movie's connection to Prometheus and Alien:
Covenant feels like a distraction from an otherwise excellent Alien film. These
added elements make the Xenomorphs—the creatures fans love—feel secondary to
another, less compelling threat.
Conclusion: A Strong Entry with Room for Improvement
Despite its flaws, Alien Romulus is still a strong
entry in the Alien franchise. When Alvarez is allowed to do his own thing, the
film shines as one of the best Alien movies ever made. However, the shoehorned
mythology detracts from the overall experience. If Álvarez is given the chance
to make a followup, fans can only hope it will be a pure Álvarez vision without
the distractions of Ridley Scott's ideas.
Summery
Alien Romulus is a thrilling return to form for the Alien
franchise, delivering intense action and strong performances, particularly from
Kayy Span and David Johnson. Director Fede Alvarez crafts a bleak, atmospheric
world that effectively captures the hopelessness of life in the future.
However, the film stumbles with unnecessary connections to Prometheus and Alien:
Covenant, along with a poorly executed CGI character that detracts from its
otherwise excellent practical effects. Despite these flaws, Alien Romulus
stands as one of the best entries in the series since the original two films,
earning a solid 7/10.
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