Alien: Romulus (Movie Review)

Alien: Romulus pays homage to the iconic horror elements of its predecessors while injecting some fresh acid blood into one of cinema’s greatest sci-fi franchises.

So, I haven’t written a movie review since this year for two reasons. My last review was in December: The Fall of the House of Usher. One, I’ve been swamped with my day job, and two, well, most of the movies they’ve released this year have been meh. There’ve been a few standouts, like Dune: Part Two and maybe Boy Kills World, but nothing that really compelled me to pick up the pen.

But guess what finally broke my hiatus? If you guessed free tickets to a movie screening, you guessed right!

So, this lucky author scored a ticket to the screening of Alien: Romulus, courtesy of Filmhouse Landmark. It was a pleasant surprise when they contacted Littafi and invited us to the event. I guess we’re doing something right if we’re getting noticed and invited to movie screenings! 

Dear Filmhouse and any other media houses reading this, please keep those invites coming. Maybe one day, I’ll finally realize my childhood dream of getting paid to watch movies.

My Theatre Experience

You haven’t truly experienced cinema until you’ve seen a movie in MX4D. Thanks to its fully immersive effects, this technology can elevate even the most basic action flick into something unforgettable. The built-in motion and effects in the seats and around the theatre make you feel every punch, jolt, and explosion happening on-screen.

Side note: if you’re pregnant, have a heart condition or have high blood pressure, you might want to skip MX4D. The intense motion and jump scares could be a bit too much for some.

Okay, back to the reason we’re all here, Alien Romulus. The Alien franchise is long, going as far back as the 70s. The first film was released in 1979, starring Sigourney Weaver, and was a massive success. Alien is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential science fiction and horror films of all time. 

Its success spawned a media franchise of books, toys, and nine films, including the Alien vs. Predator crossovers. I’ve seen the first Alien movie, some of its sequels, and the AVP crossover, but I stopped when they kept repeating the same formula. 

The Plot

Set on a desolate mining planet, Alien: Romulus follows Rain (Cailee Spaeny), one of many young workers trapped in a life of exploitation. They’re all clinging to the false hope that their freedom will come when their contracts end, but of course, that’s just a lie. Rain’s only real companion is her adoptive brother, Andy (David Jonsson), a kind-hearted cyborg programmed to protect and assist her—a relic from her late parents.

Things take an interesting turn when Rain’s ex-boyfriend, Tyler, and his crew—Tyler’s pregnant sister Kay, their cousin Bjorn, and Bjorn’s girlfriend Navarro—uncover a derelict space station orbiting the planet. They believe it holds the cryo-freeze technology and fuel they need to escape to Yvaga. After Weyland-Yutani forcibly extends Rain’s contract, she joins Tyler’s crew on their mission, figuring her best shot at freedom is with them.

My Thoughts

Alien: Romulus is set twenty years after the events of the first Alien movie, but don’t worry—you can enjoy this one without any prior knowledge of the series. It works perfectly as a standalone film and even outshines some of the later sequels in the franchise. The director seems to have taken a page out of Ridley Scott and James Cameron’s book, and it shows.

What I appreciated most was the film’s pacing. It didn’t get bogged down by unnecessary backstories or pointless drama. Instead, it kicked off at a brisk pace and kept the momentum going throughout its 119-minute runtime.

The standout for me was Rain, who feels like this generation’s Ellen Ripley. She doesn’t start as your typical action hero, but by the midpoint, her presence is undeniable, and she carries that strength through to the very end.

The horror and sci-fi elements were on point, too—probably enhanced by the MX4D experience. Every jolt and jump scare was amplified, adding to the overall appeal.

Alien: Romulus pays homage to the iconic horror elements of its predecessors while injecting some fresh acid blood into one of cinema’s greatest sci-fi franchises. It does an admirable job of introducing the Alien universe to a new generation. Was it as groundbreaking as the 1979 and 1986 classics? Probably not, but it stands on its own quite well.