Alien Romulus: A Deep Dive into the Latest Sci-Fi Horror

Sequels to Ridley Scott’s classic 1979 space horror film “Alien” have varied widely in quality. James Cameron’s “Aliens” is often considered a worthy sequel, while films like “Alien 3” and “Alien Resurrection” are often ignored by fans and deemed unnecessary or insufferable. The prequels have also had their moments of potential and disappointment. For example, “Alien: Covenant” didn’t perform as well as expected at the box office and received a mixed reception from audiences, and now, for the seventh instalment of the franchise, Fede Alvarez, best known for directing the 2013 film “Evil Dead,” took a risk with his latest addition to the franchise, “Alien: Romulus.”

Alien Romulus Premise

Alien Romulus starts with two young mine workers, Rain, played by lead actress Cailee Spaeny, and her surrogate android brother Andy, played by actor David Jonsson, working endlessly to fulfil their contract with the mine owners Weyland-Yutani corporation, a name that appears often and known quite well to Alien fans. The siblings dream of a day when they can leave the sunless colony of Jackson’s Star behind and journey to the fully terraformed world of Yvaga III. However, considered expendable by Weyland-Yutani, Rain finds that her contract has been forcibly extended against her will and is expected to endure the harsh conditions that claimed the lives of her parents.

Desperate to escape her predicament, she accepts to join her ex-boyfriend Tyler on his dangerous mission to travel with his crew to a decommissioned spacecraft to retrieve cryostasis chambers, the essentials needed for their safe passage to Yvaga III. Time is of the essence as the spacecraft is on the verge of being destroyed by the planet’s orbital rings. Andy’s involvement is critical for the success of the mission. However, what awaits them on the spacecraft far surpasses anything they could have imagined.

Where is Alien Romulus in the timeline?

Alien Romulus is set in the year 2142, between the first two films in the Alien franchise timeline. Specifically, it occurs roughly 20 years after the fate of the Nostromo crew in the original Alien and approximately 37 years prior to the sequel Aliens, when Ellen Ripley was discovered in stasis aboard a Nostromo escape shuttle.

Is Alien Romulus a sequel?

The film is largely a standalone story but also pays tribute to its predecessors. It has direct connections to both the original 1979 Alien and its prequels, like Prometheus. The seventh instalment is more of an interquel in the Alien franchise than a direct prequel or sequel.

Alien Romulus Cast

In a first for the franchise, Alien Romulus features an ensemble cast of young adult characters trying to catch a break and build a better life for themselves. Our two main leads are the siblings Rain, played by the talented Cailee Spaeny, who established herself as a sympathetic and badass new final girl who you root for and her android surrogate brother Andy, played by the standout actor David Jonsson, whose performance was one of the main highlights of the film. Jonsson’s ability to create his character’s sense of detachment and what comes across as effectively shifting from one persona to the next was disturbing but brilliantly performed.

The rest of the crew consists of Tyler, Rain’s ex and leader of the crew; Kay, Tyler’s pregnant sister; Bjorn, Tyler and Kay’s cousin; and Navarro, the crew’s pilot and Bjorn’s girlfriend. The young ensemble did an exceptional job of creating believable, dysfunctional characters that genuinely felt more like a family. I want to give a shout-out to the actress Isabela Merced for her portrayal of Kay; she established herself as a leading scream queen with her powerful and gut-wrenching performance. I eagerly look forward to seeing what she will bring to her role as Dinah in HBO’s The Last of Us series.

A Surprise Appearance

Another member of the cast line-up was the surprising introduction of Rook, an android science officer onboard the Romulus with a physical appearance based on the likeness of the late actor Ian Holm, known for portraying Ash in the original film, with FX effects and voiced by Daniel Betts. Interestingly, the addition of Rook has sparked mixed reactions from audiences, leading to discussions about the use of deceased actors’ likenesses and how much control or rights that actors have over their own image being used in the film industry after they are no longer with us.

I will discuss that conversation in more detail later, but for now, I believe the addition of Rook was a lovely tribute to not only the late actor Ian Holm but also as a nice homage to the original Alien. The purpose of Rook’s appearance was to provide information to the young crew and essentially tell them what went down on the Romulus station before they arrived. He serves his purpose without overstaying his welcome, and for me, I think that is what makes the difference.

Evoking the Essence of the Original and Sympathetic Characters

What I really loved about Alien Romulus was straight from the start with its opening scene to the introduction of the main characters, it captured the essence and aesthetic of the original film. The attention to detail in the set and art designs, the lighting, and the cinematography reflected the DNA of the earlier Alien films’ visuals and storytelling. As the film unravels, you can tell director Feza Alvarez is paying tribute to its predecessors as it’s a clear love letter rather than a reinvention or revamp of the franchise.

I really appreciate how director Alvarez allows the film’s first act room to breathe and slowly develop as we learn more about the characters’ complex relationships and interactions. It allowed viewers to emotionally connect and empathise with the characters and their struggles, particularly with the two lead siblings. We get to see how much Rain cares for Andy, how she genuinely worries about his well-being, and how much his actions affect her throughout the film.

While there are some interesting scenes and interactions between the other crew members to develop their characters, it was the right choice to focus mainly on the leads, Rain and Andy and their relationship before it kicked into the action packed second act of the film.

Creating Suspense and Practical Effects

As we approach the second and final acts, that is where the film truly shines. The sound design, film score, special effects, model designs, costumes, and puppeteers all come together to showcase what we love about the original, which is the sheer dread, suspense, and horror of space, being trapped and hunted by an unstoppable, lethal predator. I particularly appreciated and admired the focus on the practical effects of the face huggers models and Xenomorphs costumes, especially in creating the terrifying and suspenseful atmosphere the film aimed to evoke.

The excessive use of CGI effects can really do more damage than good and take away from the effectiveness of horror and dread in scenes with creatures and monsters. Thankfully, the film relies on practical effects to deliver terrifying encounters and chases that will leave cinema-goers on the edge of their seats, especially in the final act.

Reasons Why Others May Not Like It

Now, I can see certain issues or reasons why some people may not like Alien Romulus. One is the Rook android’s likeness to the late actor Ian Holm, and the other is that the film doesn’t introduce any new elements and isn’t innovative, but rather, it closely resembles the original film.

As I mentioned before, I understand the mixed reception to the character of Rook and the moral question it poses. I guess some would view it as being quite disrespectful or morally disturbing, especially if it’s for a quick cameo or seems pointless and unnecessary. However, others could view it as being a heartful tribute or honouring a deceased actor, like in the case of Carrie Fisher and Leia in The Rise of the Skywalker.

I suppose it really all comes down to the individual or their family members and their say on whether their likeness can be used. I think this will continue to be a two-sided conversation we all will continue to have in the foreseeable future if more and more films continue to utilize the likeness of deceased actors. This could be a topic for another day or even a future blog post.

Not Innovative Enough?

I understand that some people will think Alien Romulus is not innovative enough or it feels like “The Force Awakens” of the Alien Franchise, I know, another Star Wars reference. Sorry, but it helps illustrate the perception that it will be seen as more of the same and nothing new. However, I do have a counterpoint to that view.

Yes, there is a lot of homage and definitely the essence and feel of the original, but Alien Romulus provides more actions on par with Aliens while still having its roots in horror like Alien. It feels more of a blend of both films, and Director Alvarez made the right choice to re-create that.

If we look at the bigger picture, the Alien franchise as a whole is a mess; both Alien 3 and Resurrection tend to be ignored by most fans as they tarnish the previous two beloved films’ impact, and the films received a mixed to negative reception. Then there is the prequel trilogy, Prometheus gave us something fresh and mysterious, but then Alien: Covenant does a 180 and changes its tone, so god knows where that is going to lead and how Ridley is going to link that back with the original film. So when you look at it, the last great Alien film that most can agree on is the 1986’s Aliens.

The counterpoint can be made that Alien Romulus provides a welcome and refreshing step back to the basics that made the original films so beloved. The return to its horror roots and core essence of the franchise is something that has been sadly missed for quite some time. Who knows, with the positive reception and critics saying it’s the best Alien film since Aliens, we could see further standalone or a direct sequel to Alien Romulus that may expand on new ideas.

Final Thoughts

Alien Romulus provides a welcome return to the franchise’s horror origins and pays homage to its predecessors. The film showcases a compelling and likeable cast of characters, with stunning visuals and cinematography, meticulous attention to detail, impressive set and art designs, and its seamless blend of special effects and practical effects that all come together to create a visually captivating experience. Alien Romulus may not be for everyone, especially for viewers hoping for something new. However, it delivers a terrifying, suspenseful, and essential viewing for fans of the original Alien and its sequel Aliens.

Alien Romulus Trailer

If my Alien Romulus review or the endless praise and discussions online haven’t already enticed you enough to go to your local cinema and see it for yourself, or if you’re hesitating about whether you should go, you can check out the Alien Romulus trailer below and see if it sparks any interest.

In addition, if you found this blog post interesting and want to know more about film reviews and other film-related topics, I recommend checking out my Film Reviews and Recommendations page or the related posts below.