ALIEN: ROMULUS
Starring: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu
Director: Fede Alvarez
NICK
Director Fede Alvarez has a knack for taking tired franchises and rejuvenating them for a new audience, and that's exactly what he accomplishes with Alien: Romulus. He has crafted a film that instantly immerses you thanks to some brilliant visuals and smart directorial choices, aspects that are only enhanced by the solid cast filled with up-and-comers (highlighted by a terrific performance from David Jonsson). The tension is palpable, the story is inventive, and the Xenomorph is never overexposed. Romulus isn't just a worthy successor to the Alien brand, it's among its best entries.
ADRIANO
In many ways, Alien: Romulus is a dream come true for this Alien fan. Combining the tension-filled eeriness of Ridley Scott's Alien and the contained action of James Cameron's Aliens, Romulus is an atmospheric action-horror film that is both successfully creepy and badass. Cailee Spaeny certainly is one hell of a heroine, but David Jonsson is the heartwarming standout. The film retreads its predecessors maybe a bit too much for my liking, and some of the fan-service references annoyed me, but overall, especially with the bonkers finale, I had a blast with this film.
QUENTIN
Considering Romulus takes place between Alien and Aliens, it makes sense that it seamlessly combines and transitions from the slow-burn horror of the former (the first hour) to the tense action of the latter (the second hour). Plus, it’s tremendously directed, with Fede Alvarez making great use of light and shadows to build dread while capturing some truly iconic shots that call back to the originals. And speaking of…the Easter Eggs are plentiful for Xenomorph stans without feeling too forced, which is nice. This is easily the best franchise offering since 1986, and if you only watched Alien, Romulus, and Aliens, you’d have an excellent trilogy.
AMARÚ
Fede Alvarez directed the hell out of Alien: Romulus, utilizing light, shadow, and great sound design to create momentous tension without relying on it. Instead, it enhances a plot, which much like the first two Alien films, is mightily propelled by the main group’s relationship with a synthetic, played phenomenally by David Jonsson. The relationship between Andy (Jonsson) and Cailee Speany’s Rain endears us to the story and the rest of the crew, and while Alvarez’s third act takes big horror swings that may not work for everyone, the captivating balance of thrills, character, sound, and visuals creates a solid addition to the franchise.
PAIGE
Despite the fact that Alien: Romulus may not bring anything new to the franchise, director Fede Alvarez successfully evokes the ascents and terror of 1979's Alien while also including numerous callbacks to other films in the series. Though there isn't much tension in the movie, David Jonsson's dad jokes and Cailee Spaeny's performance offer just the right amount of emotional impact to keep viewers interested. Plus, it’s packed with beautiful visuals, stellar practical effects, and a fantastic sound design. I just wish it established its own identity instead of feeling like a love letter to the franchise.
KATIE
Alien: Romulus executes its simple but impactful premise with grippingly gruesome precision, bringing new blood to the franchise whilst honouring its predecessors. Plus, David Jonsson and Cailee Spaeny are just fantastic in the lead roles, standing out amongst the rest of the cast. Jonsson’s impressive performance ranges from unsettling to endearing, and Spaeny solidifies her rising stardom. There are plenty of callbacks to the previous films that don’t totally make sense, but they’re subtle enough to not break the immersion too much. Overall, Romulus is totally predictable but far from boring, brimming with atmosphere, action-packed set pieces, and impressively gory effects.
PRESTON
I have a confession to make…I haven’t been the biggest fan of the Alien movies. I liked that Warrant Officers got a well-deserved nod, but that is about as far as my appreciation goes. But this latest Alien (tribute) film is, surprisingly, my favorite so far. There were a lot of Easter Eggs lost on me, but the updated technological production elements, visual effects, and storyline are a much-needed improvement from past films. Plus, David Jonsson (Andy) provides a lovely, nuanced performance with a character whose development arc is the highlight of the film.
