Alien: Romulus (2024) Review!!

Synopsis – Young people from a distant world must face the most terrifying life form in the universe.

My Take – The Alien franchise has been around for a long time indeed. Though the original Ridley Scott directed 1979 feature continues to be well regarded as a sci fi horror classic along with the fun action oriented James Cameron directed sequel Aliens (1986), the follows ups, namely the troubled David Fincher directed Alien 3 (1992) and the cash grab Alien Resurrection (1997) directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, pretty much put a dent in the status quo of the series.

Forcing the fictional endoparasitoid extraterrestrial species called Xenomorphs to stay relevant by sharing screen space with another extraterrestrial species known as Yautja aka The Predator in two equally marred installments – Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007).

And even though returning director Ridley Scott tried to bring life to the franchise by veering towards a more ambitious direction with Prometheus (2012), owing to fan backlash, he pretty much abandoned everything interesting to create the disappointing Alien: Covenant (2017).

Thankfully, in the hands of director Fede Álvarez (2013’s Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe), this 9th installment goes back to the basics of delivering a gritty experience reminiscent of the original film, with impressive world-building and familiar tech that longtime fans of the franchise will appreciate.

But while it revisits familiar themes, it also introduces new twists that make it an engaging watch for both longtime fans and newcomers. Making it a thrilling addition to the franchise, blending horror and sci-fi elements effectively.

Offering a standalone story that fits well within the established timeline and cleverly nods to the underrated Prometheus. A great addition to the saga and a perfect collision of what made the original two films great and what made the new prequels so divisive.

Taking place some two decades after the tragic events of the first film, but before the second film, the story follows Rain Carradine (Cailee Spaeny), an indentured worker on a Weyland-Yutani space colony called Jackson’s Star, where disease and industrial accidents have made her and her reprogrammed synthetic “brother” Andy (David Jonsson) orphans.

Yet, Rain continues on hoping that she’ll earn enough hours to leave and head to Yvaga II, a terraformed planet that’s less miserable. But when a Weyland-Yutani employee denies her request to go off-planet, she jumps at the chance to change her fate by accepting a heist proposal from her ex Tyler (Archie Renaux).

The plan is for Tyler, his pregnant sister Kay (Isabela Merced), his aggressive cousin Bjorn (Spike Fearn), and Bjorn’s chill girlfriend Navarro (Aileen Wu) to burgle a derelict space station floating above their colony, snatching the necessary equipment to make the nine-year journey themselves. As one would expect, their plans don’t go as expected, given what’s being stored there.

Here, director Fede Álvarez, known for his prowess in horror, brings a fresh yet nostalgic take to the series. You can tell he loves the franchise, and that he went back to the first two films, saw what worked, and why they were loved by the fans, and then combined them into his own style.

His direction is marked by intense, spine-chilling moments that keep viewers on edge. Masterfully combined suspense with visceral horror, delivering a gripping experience that occasionally pushes the boundaries of fear.

Yes, the film takes a bit long to spool up, but the stalking phase is excellent, as is the discovery of some things directly tied to the other films later on.

Sure, the film occasionally takes a turn down a dead end hall pace-wise, but those missteps are forgivable considering how confidently and judiciously director Álvarez handles them elsewhere. There are effective jump scares, unforgettable gore, and enough Xenomorphs to fill three Nostromos. Rain and Andy’s relationship is one that expands considerably throughout the film.

Visually too, this one is a feast for the eyes. The film boasts stunning cinematography, especially in its zero-gravity sequences and practical effects. The Xenomorph suits and facehuggers are impressive, adding a tangible quality to the horror elements.

The film’s aesthetic not only pays homage to its predecessors but also introduces new visual flair. And of course, the much talked about finale, which apparently includes a scene so gross that crew members had to turn away while they filmed it. Honestly, not an exaggeration and one of the series’ best.

Performances wise, Cailee Spaeny carries the film brilliantly as the lead role. She turns from reluctant escapee to steeled survivor by the end, and it’s a compelling transformation. David Jonsson continues the legacy of the brilliantly acted Androids throughout the series with a very impressive show of acting.

Isabel Merced is excellent considering she gets the most personalized material, spending much of the film separated from the main group and playing catchup in increasingly awful fashion. Archie Renaux, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu play their one-note characters as expected. On the whole, ‘Alien: Romulus’ is a terrific sequel that is revoltingly frightening and savagely entertaining.