It has been seven years since the last Alien movie, so I was excited when I watched the trailer for Alien: Romulus, the latest addition to one of the oldest movie series. I have a mixed reaction to Alien: Romulus, but it is worth watching for the franchise’s fans.
Directed by Fede Álvarez, known for his other movies in the horror and thriller genre, such as Evil Dead and Don’t Breathe, it was certain that Alien: Romulus would surely hit the mark.
The cast was well-chosen, with standout performances from Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine, David Jonsson as Andy, Isabela Merced as Kay and Archie Renaux as Tyler. Aileen Wu, as Navarro and Spike Fearn, as Bjorn, also brought their characters to life.
Although it started a bit slow, with some initial confusion about how the gang managed to escape the premises in their aircraft so quickly, the movie gradually built up momentum steadily and engagingly. The pacing allowed the tension to escalate, keeping me invested.
I was rooting for Archie Renaux’s character, Tyler, to survive—he’s incredibly attractive, intelligent and funny, and it was disappointing to see him go, especially since I have been fangirling over him since watching Shadow & Bone, The Other Zoey and Upgraded.
The lead actress, Cailee Spaeny, simultaneously reminded me of a young Shailene Woodley and Natalie Portman. She was wonderful, smart and strong in her role. I was rooting for her throughout.
Andy, portrayed by David Jonsson, had a fascinating arc, starting as a good guy, turning evil, and eventually finding his humanity again. His performance and dad jokes will surely make him a fan favourite.
One of the most unsettling elements was the alien-human hybrid baby—it was bizarre, disturbing, and everything classic Alien fans love.
Isabela Merced’s character surviving after falling and being injured while pregnant was quite surprising. As soon as she revealed her pregnancy early on, I strongly felt it would play a significant role in the story, eventually leading to the birth of the giant alien toddler (yes, that’s the only nice way to put it). She has had a great year with her other movies, Madame Web and Turtles All The Way Down.
Some of the jump scares were genuinely terrifying, and the movie successfully captured the franchise’s essence. The film also acts well as a standalone, leading to a phenomenal final act. Newcomers to the Alien franchise will be able to follow the movie without having seen the other parts.
The visual and practical effects were incredible, especially the xenomorph, which is grotesque and terrifying in all the right ways.
The final act, while thrilling, may not work for everyone, and some might find it too chaotic and dragged. Personally, I was glad that it lacked some of the psychosexualness that the franchise is known for, but it was still weird in a good way.
Ultimately, the film wasn’t necessarily scary in a traditional sense. Whether it’s a hit or a miss depends on your take on the franchise and this film’s new directions.
Our rating – 3.5/5
