Rent on Apple TV, Amazon, and Microsoft
(While you still can)
The Alien franchise has been no stranger to the ups and downs that can befall any beloved nostalgic property in the Hollywood system: cynically motivated sequels, ill-fated spin-offs, and concepts for better movies abandoned by the wayside (see Neill Blomkamp's concept for what could have been a proper Alien 3). After the painful trainwreck that was Alien: Covenant, there seemed to be little to no hope for a proper return to form for this classic horror franchise, not to mention little hope for Ridley Scott to ever rediscover his edge as a director (at least, that was the feeling at the time).
Alien: Romulus succeeds in utilizing nostalgia the same way it was expertly executed in Spider-Man: No Way Home, giving enough of a wink and a nod to the long-time fans while maintaining its own individual identity as a coherent story. Throw in some good old-fashioned practical effects and a few familiar bad-ass quotes for good measure, not to mention a star-making performance from one of the supporting characters, and you got a brand-new Alien movie with plenty of justification for the price of admission.
Taking place between the events of Ridley Scott's Alien and James Cameron's Aliens, the story follows a young girl named Rain (Cailee Spaeny) and her android "brother" Andy (David Jonsson) trying to make their way off of a mining planet that never sees the sun. After their petition to leave is revoked due to a shortage of workers and a ridiculously raised quota, Rain and Andy are approached by some old friends with a proposition: Just above the mining planet is what appears to be an abandoned space station with the technology needed to escape their indentured servitude and travel to their desired destination. The plan sounds simple enough: sneak onto the ship, steal the required tech, and fly away before anyone notices; made all the easier by the fact that the ship is on a collision course with the planet's asteroid ring, ensuring no evidence is left behind.
Rain and Andy agree to the heist and go to the abandoned station. However, upon arrival, they discover why the station was abandoned in the first place and encounter a whole new nightmare they were hilariously unprepared for. With few tools and options, the rag-tag group must survive their unfortunate predicament if they ever want to see the sun again.
This new film comes from co-writer and director Fede Alvarez, the late director of the excellent Evil Dead remake, and the supremely disappointing Don't Breathe. Alvarez seems to favor gritty and grimy aesthetics in his films, seamlessly fitting the tone and world of the Alien franchise. He also seems to favor stories about strong women rising to the occasion despite their fears and leading the charge for survival against unfathomable odds—a perfect fit for this long-running series.
The MVP award goes to David Jonsson for delivering the best supporting character in the story and the most unbelievable performance seen in anything this year. Jonsson shows many possibilities for his acting capabilities despite having a character with a limited range. I sincerely hope this talented man gets many more opportunities to show us what else he can do.
According to some articles, while CGI was utilized in the film (of course), there was an apparent focus on more practical effects. Many monsters were built as classic animatronics (and people in monster costumes), earning the film many bonus points. This is not to give the impression that CGI is inherently a wrong tool, just that it only works when utilized properly, which this film does in abundance.
Alien: Romulus is a significant step forward for the Alien franchise. It is a grand return to its proper horror roots, with the possibility of similar engaging stories to follow. As of this writing, the film apparently only has nine more days until it is removed from digital rental platforms. It may appear on a streaming platform afterward, but I cannot say where. If you want to see it and don't want to wait for it to arrive on streaming (assuming it ever does), now is the time. It is well worth the price of admission.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
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