The “Alien” franchise returns. Our JP reviews Fede Álvarez-directed, “Alien: Romulus,” starring Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, and Isabela Merced.
ALIEN: ROMULUS
20th Century Studios
- Directed by Fede Álvarez
- Written by Fede Álvarez, Rodo Sayagues
- Based on Characters by Dan O’Bannon, Ronald Shusett
- Produced by Ridley Scott, Michael Pruss, Walter Hill
- Starring Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu
Studio Synopsis:
The sci-fi/horror-thriller takes the phenomenally successful “Alien” franchise back to its roots: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe. The film stars Cailee Spaeny (“Priscilla”), David Jonsson (“Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy”), Archie Renaux (“Shadow and Bone”), Isabela Merced (“The Last of Us”), Spike Fearn (“Aftersun”), Aileen Wu. Fede Alvarez (“Evil Dead,” “Don’t Breathe”) directs from a screenplay he wrote with frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues (“Don’t Breathe 2”) based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett. “Alien: Romulus” is produced by Ridley Scott (“Napoleon”), who directed the original “Alien” and produced and directed the series’ entries “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” Michael Pruss (“Boston Strangler”), and Walter Hill (“Alien”), with Fede Alvarez, Elizabeth Cantillon (“Charlie’s Angels”), Brent O’Connor (“Bullet Train”), and Tom Moran (“Unstoppable”) serving as executive producers.
J.P.’s Take:
The prospect of a bonafide sequel to the iconic horror / sci-fi “Alien” franchise had largely faded from the minds of fans and studio execs alike.
Several acclaimed directors and writers were initially slated to create the next iteration, such as Neill Blomkamp, who first explored a treatment that looked promising, followed by whispers of Denis Villeneuve to write and direct his version. Yet, it wasn’t until writer / director Fede Álvarez crafted his own treatment, as he is a passionate fan of the series. When Ridley Scott caught wind of Álvarez’s enthusiasm, Scott gave him his blessings. 2024 sees “Alien: Romulus” finally creeping onto the big screen, and it is all for the better.
“Romulus” is the type of sequel that expands upon the franchise’s universe, paying homage to the original while producing its own atmosphere. Álvarez has demonstrated his proficiency in the horror genre with the successful reboot of 2013’s “Evil Dead” and skillfully leverages that expertise in “Romulus” by incorporating many of the familiar nightmarish imagery and physical elements from various “Alien” installments. This iteration retains that cold, bleak, industrialized look and feel while maximizing the frights. Less used are the jump scares, yet, they are effective in just the right scenes.
Álvarez also ups the ante on thrills. He and co-writer Rodo Sayagues (“Evil Dead,” “Don’t Breathe”) think of some of the most hair-raising circumstances to throw their characters into, because we know in space there is nowhere to run. On the topic of intensity, Álvarez has successfully revived the horror aspect by reintroducing the grotesque elements first seen in “Alien: Resurrection.” Álvarez leans into body horror with a human-alien hybrid that is sure to have your skin crawling.
Seated between “Alien” (1979) and “Aliens” (1986), the story takes place not too long after the events of “Alien,” where the industrial complex and capitalism still rule the land. The Weyland / Yutani Corporation looms heavily over a colony of laborers, while locked into economic slavery. We follow Rain (Cailee Spaeny), a plucky, orphaned, mine laborer, who’s desperately trying to pay off her debt when her contract is advertently extended. She and her adopted brother Andy (David Jonsson), a malfunctioning synthetic human, trudge through the colony looking for a way out. Her dream is to travel to the paradise planet of Yvaga III and leave her worries behind. Rain is then roped into salvaging cryo chambers and other materials from a derelict space station by her ex-boyfriend and old colleagues, and all hell breaks loose from there.
I must admit there were many moments that even I, an avid horror movie watcher, shuddered and squirmed at eerie scenes. When hordes of face-huggers were released in an isolated area of the space station, they launched themselves with a quickness not seen before. They were springy and even more formidable than ever. Those infamous chest-busters are also the franchise staple, as Navarro (Aileen Wu) is impregnated by one of the face-huggers, which excruciatingly cracks open her sternum. Of course, we’re treated to gaggles of drooling and screeching xenomorphs, which are just as vicious, if not more so than the ones in “Alien.”
My applause goes to the fresh young cast that brought their characters to life and made this film worthwhile: Archie Renaux as Tyler, Rain’s ex-boyfriend, and Kay’s brother; Isabela Merced as Kay, the pregnant sister of Tyler; Spike Fearn is knuckleheaded Bjorn, Kay and Tyler’s cousin; and Wu is Navarro, Bjorn’s girlfriend. Spaeny as Rain lived up to the strong female protagonist role and carried the last half of the film well.
“Alien: Romulus” is a proper send-up to the otherwise lukewarm “Alien 3” and “Resurrection” outings. Although they weren’t horrible movies, they didn’t propel the franchise forward to box-office success. This sequel was creepy and spunky enough that it just may spark interest in another offshoot. I hope so, because I’d totally be up for one.
Official Site: Alien: Romulus
