Following the events of 1979’s ALIEN but before the events of 1986’s ALIENS, a group of youngsters forced to work for the unsympathetic Weyland Yutani corporation in a mining colony plots a getaway to a much more peaceful and tranquil star system, but one that will require cryo sleep equipment to reach due to its great distance. The young band ventures to a derelict space station to steal the necessary equipment… but quickly finds themselves in over their heads with an all-too-familiar extraterrestrial menace.
ROMULUS is the first film to be released in the ALIEN franchise since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox and rebranded the company 20th Century Studios; the most recent film in the franchise was ALIEN: COVENANT back in 2017. Fans all over social media have already taken to expressing their skepticism for this film well before its release, criticizing elements like the young cast and what may be a “woke” film. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t skeptical to an extent myself. But ALIEN: ROMULUS is one of the most pleasant cinematic surprises of 2024, with its youthful cast and suspenseful moments reinvigorating this franchise after years of dormancy.
The production design of ROMULUS speaks for itself. This movie looks like it could’ve been a direct sequel to the original ALIEN, which came out way back in 1979. Even the opening credits are done in the exact same style/font as the original movie. The technology in the movie is the sort of “retro science fiction” that we got on the original (CRT monitors, clunky tech, nothing that looks ultra smooth, modern, or efficient, etc.) And I love this aesthetic. And let’s not forget the, well, aliens. The late HR Giger’s designs have never looked better. There’s no cheesy, bad-looking CG here. The creatures, including a new monstrosity I won’t describe here (because spoilers) look as good as ever, but all of the effects seen here wouldn’t be out of place in the original 1979 movie. And bless the crew for that.
ALIEN: ROMULUS is set in the same universe as the other films, but it’s a standalone interquel that doesn’t require the viewer to have seen other movies in the series, making it a prime jumping-on point for new fans. There are however many references to other films in the series that longtime fans will quickly catch, and a sort-of cameo that I won’t spoil in this review that’ll pleasantly surprise veterans of the ALIEN franchise. Could this be the first in a series of new ALIEN films, or perhaps an ALIEN anthology series? If so, I’m all in.
Director Fede Alvarez takes charge for ROMULUS, and he doesn’t miss a beat. I won’t deny that the movie does somewhat sacrifice character development for thrills and exciting scenes, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing (one scene involving zero gravity and the aliens’ acid blood had my eyes glued to the screen) thanks to the tight pacing, and once again, the superb production design. The young cast, in particular Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson, the latter playing an outdated android who cracks bad jokes, all do a superb job with what they’re given. In fact, Jonsson’s character, Andy, may very well be my new favorite of the artificial lifeforms this series has to offer. I’m not sure why people in social media are so uptight over the cast being young and ethnically diverse. I loved what I saw here. These youngsters deserve credit for reinvigorating the ALIEN franchise. Is there anyone here that could be the new Ripley, Hudson, or Vasquez? No, but I think that’s the point. Inexperienced youngsters in peril when no one is safe ups the suspense angle, and the film is all the better for it.
Probably the one key issue I had was that, as good as the film is, it’s a little too close to what has come before. One critic at my screening mentioned to a representative after the movie that it played out like a “greatest hits” compilation of the movies. While I wouldn’t totally agree with this statement, it’s not completely unfounded either. And while the film intelligently keeps its central cast small, I can’t help but feel like there may have been one or two characters too many. In the murky environments of the film, I did have some trouble keeping up with who was who. But what’s largely a reprise of the original 1979 film is certainly better than a sequel that has no idea what it wants to be.
ALIEN: ROMULUS isn’t a masterpiece, but it’s certainly the gung-ho suspect thriller this summer at the movies needed. Stellar production design, tight pacing, superb direction, and a fine young cast make this one a solid installment in an aging franchise that was long overdue. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t make too many unnecessary missteps. It’s the acid-bleeding, chest-bursting explosive sci-fi movie you’re looking for. Don’t listen to the naysayers. See it for yourself and make up your own mind.
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!