IMDB
The newest sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1979 monster flick masterpiece “Alien” follows the basic formula of the original film. A crew of space travelers ends up trapped on a ship with a nearly unkillable alien, known as a xenomorph, as it slowly hunts down the crew, killing them one by one. Despite the same basic concept being identical to the original film, it still managed to keep me on my toes and constantly guessing what turn the movie would take.
“Alien: Romulus” takes place roughly 20 years after the original “Alien” and contains a completely new cast of characters, all fresh to the franchise. David Jonsson has the standout performance as Andy, a damaged android. Jonsson has a subtle yet physical performance — portraying all of the thoughts of his character through his facial expressions rather than words. Cailee Spaeny also turns in a solid performance as the orphaned miner Rain, continuing to build on an impressive resume that includes her starring role in A24’s “Civil War” earlier this year.
You don’t need to have seen any of the other “Alien” movies to understand this one (although if you haven’t seen “Alien” or its sequel “Aliens,” then really, what are you doing? Go watch them!). This movie is to “Alien” what “Creed” is to “Rocky”: a continuation of the original story that further expands the universe’s lore. It simultaneously caters to fans of the original and provides a self-contained story so as to not alienate (ha, get it?) new viewers.
While the film does follow the same general structure as most of the other “Alien” films, it does so in a unique style that makes it feel distinct from the rest of the franchise. This approach works well for the film, though I do have an issue with the setup of the plot, particularly how the crew ends up on the ship.
The circumstances surrounding this situation are somewhat difficult to believe and feel a bit contrived. While the film manages to get away with it to some extent by keeping the details vague, the setup still comes across as awkward and unconvincing. This lack of clarity in the plot’s foundation makes it harder to fully immerse oneself in the story, as the initial premise already feels a bit shaky.
One of my biggest gripes with this film, which has unfortunately become a trend in Hollywood, is how poor the CGI can be at times. It feels as if CGI technology peaked in 2019 and has consistently been getting worse since the pandemic. It was extremely noticeable when the movie opted to use a computer render, and it often interfered with my engagement with the film.
This is especially disappointing considering how well-executed the other technical aspects of the film are. The set design of the ship is fantastic, making you feel totally immersed in the world. The practical effects look extremely convincing too, as well as the makeup and costumes. This makes the poor CGI work even more noticeable and jarring when it arises.
But with the exception of the initial premise, the plot is very solid. The film is able to adequately set up a lot of moving parts in a way that is not confusing to the viewer and is consistently able to play off of those setups. It is able to take the original concept of the first “Alien” film and make the circumstances unique enough to be interesting yet still remain familiar.
Character-wise, everyone’s motivations, strengths and weaknesses were well-defined, which helped build suspense and understanding of the characters.
While not perfect, “Alien: Romulus” is a fun and worthwhile watch. If you like horror, monster or science fiction films, this movie is for you.