Alien: Romulus was by far my most anticipated movie of the year. The Alien franchise has been near and dear to my heart since some of my earliest memories. I may have been far too young when I first saw the original movie, but I was so captivated by its atmosphere and creature design that I will never forget first popping in that VHS. Later I would see Aliens and Alien Vs. Predator, and despite having some criticisms of both, I still loved them. Even the less well-received movies in the series make me feel a sense of nostalgia, only rivaled by Godzilla. Alien: Romulus keeps this trend up, but do I love it as much as the original?
Romulus has a very good start; it establishes our crew of characters incredibly well and makes the audience care about them. Something to note is that this film is far closer to Alien than to Aliens. The film gives great emphasis to the motivations of these characters and really gives them a drive. These are very active protagonists which keeps the film moving at a very fluid pace. I’d argue this has some of the best pacing in a horror film I’ve seen. The movie is slow enough to build up a relationship with these characters, and it keeps the horror going once it starts.
The horror is astounding in this film. The sense of dread when a character is close to death is spellbinding. I found my heart racing through many scenes and the absolutely stellar practical effects just elevated the fear tenfold. The editing is tight in scenes of terror and the camera angles don’t ever show too much. The xenomorph remains an enigmatic beast of terror like in the original. This isn’t a bug like in Aliens; instead the creature is characterized as a force beyond our understanding – a perfect organism.
On the note of the xenomorph being an incredible effect, this movie has more than just great practical suits and animatronics. The CGI is absolutely mesmerizing! Outer space is beautiful, and seeing it from inside a space station makes the setting feel real. The sets are also absolutely wonderful, the interiors of the ships are claustrophobic and dark, perfect places for a xenomorph to hide. The opening that takes place on the mining colony, despite being very short, is full of life. Everything in this film feels so authentic and the cinematography really adds to the depth and realism. The sound design is also phenomenal, adding a strong sense of dread to every scene, and showcasing the terrifying silence of space.
There are, however, some negatives… though not many. The film for the most part plays itself pretty safe, staying very true to the original film. It does go a little nuts during the final act of the film, but that isn’t indicative of the movie as a whole. Along with playing itself too safe for the most part, it is also full of references and nods to some earlier movies. There are quotes said for no real purpose but for the audience to react with a sense of familiarity. The easter eggs are fun, but I think in a few places they are a bit too much.
Alien Romulus succeeds in almost every category for the most part. It’s a fun ride in a spectacularly grounded world that feels authentic. The music cues from older movies cast a fun sense of nostalgia and the xenomorph effects are spellbinding. This compares wonderfully to the original “Alien” film, my favorite film of all time, and it’s probably my second favorite in the entire franchise. If you like horror, but especially if you like Alien, I cannot recommend seeing this film enough.
