First and foremost, Alien: Romulus is an unabashed love letter to Alien, Aliens, and, much to my delight, Alien: Isolation. There hasn’t been a film or piece of media that has felt this faithful to the vision of the original in a long time, if ever.
Almost to a fault, the first two acts deify Alien and Aliens, at times copying dialogue and scene compositions verbatim. Those parts are nice throwbacks, though I couldn’t help but want something new and genuinely scary — a feat I don’t think has been accomplished since the films Alien: Romulus lovingly mimics. At the very least, it never fails to be an engaging sci-fi horror film.
Director: Fede Alvarez
Writers: Fede Alvarez, Rodo Sayagues, Dan O'Bannon
Stars: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux
The characters are moderately interesting, with some believable backstories justifying their motivations, but it’s not hard to tell the heroes from the material early on. The dynamic between Rain and Andy is a particular highlight, and gives the narrative the anchor it needs to justify audience investment. The performances by Cailee Spaeney and David Jonsson are excellent, with the latter delivering the nuances his character needs with precision. The practical effects are also fantastic, making the computer-generated special effects (when used) stand out to the detriment of the film.
While the first two acts alone offer a satisfying entry into the series, the third act (you'll know when it comes) is the hair-raising horror ride that has been missing from the more recent films. It's also the point at which the film matures, so to speak, distinguishing itself from an homage and transforming into a standalone experience. It's really best watched without spoilers - all I'll say is that it's the first time I've involuntarily gasped for air in the series since I first saw Alien.
Patience will be rewarded - the third act makes the ride worthwhile and reminded me exactly why I love the series.
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