“Alien: Romulus” continues the saga that began 45 years ago with Ridley Scott’s horror classic, “Alien.” Over the years, the franchise has seen the Xenomorph—designed by H.R. Giger—become a versatile antagonist for various directors. James Cameron, David Fincher, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet have all offered their distinct takes on the creature, known for its phallic appearance, corrosive blood, and gruesome reproduction.
Ridley Scott returned to the franchise with the prequels “Prometheus” (2012) and “Alien: Covenant” (2017). Now, it’s Fede Alvarez’s turn, known for his successful “Evil Dead” reboot and less well-received “The Girl in the Spider’s Web.” Alvarez brings a fan’s enthusiasm to his projects, which can be both a strength and a weakness.
In “Alien: Romulus,” Alvarez’s fan service is palpable, sometimes to the point of overshadowing the film itself. The result often feels like a lesser tribute to the franchise’s greatest moments.
Filmmakers often overlook the risks of echoing beloved moments from past films. While Easter eggs can be enjoyable, excessive reliance on familiar quotes or resurrecting fan-favorite characters can diminish their impact and feel like constant nudges saying, “Look at what I did!”
For instance, when a character in this film delivers Officer Ripley’s iconic line from the climax of “Aliens,” it made me want to revisit Sigourney Weaver’s superior performance. (To be fair, my audience did cheer at that moment.)
Even more problematic is the return of a character—whose identity I’ll keep under wraps—rendered with such poor CGI that it became a major distraction.
On the bright side, the film maintains a brisk pace, featuring several engaging action sequences and some character-driven drama. The visual design is impressive, especially in the IMAX format I watched. Practical effects help offset the less convincing CGI, and Naaman Marshall’s production design for the planets and spaceships is strikingly gritty and detailed.
“Romulus” is set roughly 20 years into the 57-year span between “Alien” and “Aliens.” The malevolent Weyland-Yutani corporation has condemned its miners to indefinite indentured servitude by canceling their original work release dates. Trapped on a ringed mining planet with no daylight, the workers face a grim existence.
Rain (Cailee Spaeny from “Priscilla”) is among those trapped, forced into another decade of labor after being promised early retirement. Her hopes of relocating to a sunlit planet are dashed by this unexpected extension.
Having lost her family, Rain’s constant companion has been an android named Andy (David Jonsson from “Rye Lane”), whom she views as a brother. With a prime directive to “do what’s best for Rain,” Andy joins her in a daring plan to hijack the Romulus, an old space station that holds the key to their escape.
Rain’s heist team includes siblings Tyler (Archie Renaux) and Kay (Isabela Merced), along with the irritable, android-hating Bjorn (Spike Fearn). The pilot, Navarro (Aileen Wu), handles the controls. Andy, as an android, is crucial for interfacing with Mother, the ship’s operating system from “Alien.”
Of course, the Xenomorphs from “Alien” are also back, and there are plenty of them. Facehuggers, Chestbursters, and those infamous eggs make a return, but Alvarez introduces a particularly revolting new method for these creatures to interact with humans. While this fresh twist is unsettling, more original ideas like this could have enhanced the film.
Despite leaning heavily on fan service, “Alien: Romulus” stands as the best entry in the franchise since Cameron’s sequel. The film effectively revisits the original’s core concept of a group of working-class individuals being hunted by a perfect embodiment of corporate greed. We spend enough time with these characters to genuinely care about their fates.
Though Spaeny wields a massive weapon, she doesn’t transform Rain into a one-woman army. Instead, her character evolves gradually throughout the film, showcasing both intelligence and physical prowess. This development heightens the tension in the film’s climactic race-against-the-clock action sequence.
While Spaeny delivers a strong performance, Jonsson truly shines. His expressive voice and facial expressions breathe life into his character, navigating the film’s most significant character arc. Amidst the relentless action, it’s our emotional connection to Jonsson’s character that makes the most thrilling moments stand out.
★★★
ALIEN: ROMULUS
Directed by Fede Alvarez. Written by Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues. Starring Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu. 119 min. Playing at AMC Boston Common, Landmark Kendall Square, Alamo Drafthouse Seaport, AMC Causeway, and suburban theaters. Rated R (for its unabashed slime and gore, which I appreciate for its sheer intensity).
Comments
Post a Comment