The Alien franchise has become a staple in horror and science fiction genres. Granted, after 1979’s Alien and 1986’s Aliens, the series had a rocky track record. Films like Prometheus (2012) and Alien Covenant (2017) had some hoping they could reinvigorated the franchise, but they didn’t deliver as expected. Seven years later, horror director Fede Álvarez (2013’s Evil Dead and 2016’s Don’t Breathe) attempts a back-to-basics take in Alien: Romulus. Does he succeed? For the most part, the answer is a yes.
Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine in 20th Century Studios’ ALIEN: ROMULUS. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Alien: Romulus attempts to take the franchise back to its roots in ways reminiscent of the original film. The story follows a group of scavengers desperate to escape their sunless mining colony. In their attempt to escape, they come across an abandoned space station where they hope to find the answer to their prayers. Instead, the scavengers find something much more terrifying than they imagined. What follows for these young individuals is a fight where no one knows if they will survive the night.
As a massive fan of the original IP, I am pleased to say that Alien: Romulus delivers on every level. The visceral horror and action sequences ride a perfect line between thrills and chills. The contained setting amplifies the tension in ways that don’t copy the original but honor its legacy. The horror has an almost unpredictable effectiveness. Each frightening sequence and bit of gore builds upon itself in unexpected ways. This includes having Caliee Spaeny (Civil War; Priscilla) as our titular character, Rain, a Ripley (Sigourney Weaver’s character in the original film) stand-in. Some criticized the role as a caricature of Ripley, having limited depth. While warranted, what the film calls on Spaeny to do delivers enough excitement that I could easily forgive it.
L-R: Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine and David Jonsson as Andy in 20th Century Studios’ ALIEN: ROMULUS. Photo by Murray Close. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
The piece’s standout performance has to be David Jonsson (Rye Lane; Industry) as the android Andy. Any Alien film has to include an android sidekick in some fashion. Sometimes, they start as a hero and become a villain or vice versa. Jonsson has to ride a difficult line between his constantly shifting motivations. His childlike portrayal eventually shifts into a darkness where audiences instantly sympathize with his plight. To feel that emotion for an android character shows just how effectively Jonsson conveys these emotional elements. The strong performances made me forgive some of the film’s shortcomings, which include direct tie-ins to the original movies and a simple following of that film structure.
For some, the structure and use of posthumous AI/CGI (to say anything more would delve into spoiler territory) left a sour taste. While unjustifiable, it enables the film pivot into a truly dark and enthralling place. Granted, the ending’s final action set-piece delivers enough shock to create something truly terrifying. Combining gore and practical effects, that sequence is a true adrenaline rush. For some, that could be enough to forgive the film’s narrative similarities to the original. For others, the shock value could easily win over the more difficult-to-convince audience members.
Isabela Merced as Kay in 20th Century Studios’ ALIEN: ROMULUS. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Now on digital services, the film has plenty to offer diehard fans of this franchise. This includes 11 minutes of deleted scenes, including both alternate and extended sequences. While it is easy to understand why they were removed, such sequences still entertain. The real standout among the featurettes is Return to Horror: Crafting Alien: Romulus, a 25-minute long featurette that delves into the director’s ideas, the casting process, the use of practical effects, and general world construction. Seeing the craft on display is enticing and something that even non-fans could appreciate in this release. It’s a worthy feature that could warrant a purchase.
This release also includes two features: Inside the Xenomorph Showdown and “Alien”: A Conversation. “Alien”: A Conversation is my favorite feature in this entire home release. Running at nine minutes in length, it involves a discussion between Fede Álvarez and original film director Ridley Scott. Seeing these men’s mutual appreciation and respect for one another and this entire franchise is a delight. It’s undeniable that the brief conversation is a fascinating insight into a lifelong cinematic legacy.
Director Fede Alvarez on the set of 20th Century Studios’ ALIEN: ROMULUS. Photo by Murray Close. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
The digital release of Alien: Romulus has unique features to explore. For franchise fans, it is worth the digital purchase. For those more tepid fans, garnering insights into the film and franchise history could still prove a worthwhile purchase. Add in a genuinely tense and exciting sci-fi horror thriller, and Alien: Romulus delivers everything one would hope for. The results provide one of the more exciting movie experiences this year.
Alien: Romulus Special Features*:
- “Return to Horror: Crafting Alien: Romulus” – four parts
- “The Director’s Vision” – Discover how one of today’s greatest horror directors, Fede Álvarez, collaborated with master filmmaker Ridley Scott to craft a new, heart-pounding chapter in the Alien
- “Creating the Story” – Learn what inspired the story of Alien: Romulus and see the many easter eggs from previous Alien installments that you may have missed.
- “Casting the Faces” – Meet the stars of Alien: Romulus as they take us inside the hearts and minds of their characters. Explore the parallels between Rain and the iconic franchise heroine, Ripley, and learn how filmmakers brought back a face from the past.
- “Constructing the World” – Explore the massive, practical sets of Alien: Romulus that hearken back to the futuristic style established in the ’80s and get up close and personal with a hoard of practically built facehuggers, chestbursters, and xenomorphs.
- “Inside the Xenomorph Showdown” – Experience the film’s climactic zero-gravity sequence from every angle as filmmakers break down what it took to make the moment spectacular. From sets and performances, to wirework, stunts, and VFX, see how it all came together.
- “Alien: A Conversation” – A special conversation with Ridley Scott and Fede Álvarez for the Alien 45th Anniversary theatrical re-release.
- Alternate / Extended Scenes – Check out scenes that didn’t make the final cut.
*Bonus features may vary by product and retailer
Available on digital October 15th, 2024.
Available on Hulu November 21st, 2024.
Available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD, and VHS December 3rd, 2024.
For more information, head to the official 20th Century Studios Alien: Romulus webpage.
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Categories: Home Video, Reviews, streaming
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