'Alien: Romulus' Movie Review: Visceral Thrills and Recycled Chills

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Produced by the visionary Ridley Scott and directed/written by the masterful Fede Alvarez, Alien: Romulus takes us back to the darkest corners of the Alien universe. But is it worth the trip? Meh.

Alien: Romulus follows a group of young space colonizers desperate to escape their current lives. And when they discover a seemingly abandoned spacecraft drifting in the void, they take the opportunity to scavenge valuable supplies. However, things aren’t quite as derelict as they appear.

Check out the trailer below.

Alien: Romulus Movie Trailer

Alien: Romulus Movie Review: What I Did and Didn’t Like

On the plus side, director Fede Alvarez and his team have crafted some truly terrifying moments, particularly when it comes to an “offspring” character near the end of the film that is still haunting my nightmares days after having seen the film… But while the practical effects are top-notch, delivering a visceral and unsettling experience, the AI voice and facial rendering of a certain character is unsettling in a different way – it’s so bad it’s jolting.

However, the film’s downfall is its overreliance on nostalgia and fan service. Too often, Alien: Romulus feels like a rehash of plot points and memorable scenes from the first two movies. While the nods to the franchise’s origins are appreciated, the lack of genuine innovation ultimately keeps the movie from reaching the same heights.

The Script

The film struggles to craft a compelling narrative, often relying on overly familiar plot points and dialogue that feels like a pale imitation of the franchise’s past glories. The basic premise – a group of young people stumbling upon a derelict ship and facing off against xenomorphic horrors – is solid enough… However, writers Fede Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues fail to breathe new life into this well-trodden territory.

Uninspired character arcs and predictable twists end up holding the film back. And rather than organically developing the relationships between the ensemble cast, the writers resort to broad archetypes. We’ve got the ex-couple, the hotheaded friend, the synthetic. None of these characters quite transcend their one-dimensional origins.

The Performances

The performances in Alien: Romulus are solid, though not particularly memorable. Cailee Spaeny holds her own as the resourceful and resilient Rain, capturing the grit and determination that made Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley so iconic. David Jonsson also delivers a strong performance as the synthetic Andy, whose character arc provides some of the film’s more dramatic moments.

However, the rest of the ensemble cast, while competent, fails to leave a lasting impression. Their characters feel underdeveloped, and their reactions to the unfolding horrors sometimes veer into predictable territory.

Overall Thoughts

The latest entry in the Alien franchise, Alien: Romulus, is a mixed bag of familiar scares and missed opportunities, at least for me. While it captures the tense, claustrophobic atmosphere of the earlier films, the movie struggles to break free from the shadow of its iconic predecessors.

However, I suspect that die-hard franchise fans will likely enjoy this one. It’s not bad – it’s just not that great either. For those seeking a truly fresh and innovative take on the Alien universe, Romulus just falls short.