by Rosa Parra

Hearing that the Alien franchise was getting another film wasn’t the most exciting news, but at Cinemacon earlier this year, my perspective shifted. The footage we saw was one of the most intense and heart-attack-inducing sequences, and it instantly sold me on the movie. The 1979 film is a cinematic achievement in the sci-fi genre, and the sequel is one of the best sequels ever made. Directed by Ridley Scott and James Cameron, respectively, Fede Alvarez had the near-impossible task of helming a movie that takes place between both films and succeeding while doing so. I would like to inform you all that Alvarez succeeded.

“Alien: Romulus” stars Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Isabela Merced, Archie Renaux, Aileen Wu and Spike Fearn as it follows a group of young colonizers who come face-to-face with the most terrifying form of life. 

As mentioned in my initial reaction, I had little expectations with this film. Considering its entry as number eight or nine to the franchise (I don’t exactly know) and that there wasn’t much anticipation of the movie until I saw the clips at Cinemacon, this movie had everything going against it. Yet, it manages to keep me at the edge of my seat for its entirety, which is something the first two films didn’t exactly do. Alvarez captures Scott’s eerie atmosphere and Cameron’s broad scope of this world. Not only that, he still managed to add a level of terror and horror that kept me tense and paralyzed until the end credits. This film is unpredictable. It’s wonderfully paced with shocking action, kills and something made of nightmares. 

The performances in “Alien: Romulus” are nothing short of stellar. Spaeny and Jonsson deliver standout performances, while Merced showcases her talent and versatility. The story is well-crafted, keeping me invested with its clear motive to pursue an ultimate goal. The film manages to pay homage to the previous installations while also feeling unique enough to stand on its own. 

The score is another key player and a character in its own right. As the situation intensifies, so does the score, adding another layer of suspense and eerie. So many camera shots linger in certain places to capture the spaceship’s mystery, isolation and dangers that is very reminiscent of the first movie. I was surprised that it stayed true to the year it’s depicting, so there aren’t many technological advances in this movie, but the practical effects are exquisite and sell me on the time it takes place. The combination of the cinematography, sound design, and score give the audience a first person experience of what it must feel like to be inside one of these ships trying to evade the creatures. 

The aliens are just terrifying. I don’t remember the last time I was horrified by the monsters in a movie. The film features various kinds of creatures, each with its own unique and terrifying characteristics, that are scary in their respective way, adding to the overall horror of the film. 

I don’t actively seek horror movies, but this one was so well shot, directed, acted and executed that I wouldn’t mind sitting for a repeat viewing.

Overall, “Alien: Romulus” is gruesome, eerie, suspenseful and not for the faint of heart. It delivers on every aspect. It’s one of the best Alien films in quite some time. 

4.5/5