There is enough time-ticking tension to make the age-old formula work to some extent, though it can also feel emptily spectacular but still somewhat entertaining in this half-decent entry to the ‘Alien’ franchise. 

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So finally, someone made a half-decent ‘Alien’ film.  While it still pales in comparison with Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986), Alien: Romulus does take a leaf out of these playbooks (and to some extent, their sequels and prequels) as director Fede Alvarez concocts a 21st-century impression of an ‘80s sci-fi horror film. 

The result is akin to a ‘greatest hits’ take, with ample fan service to boot, though I would say it hits most of the right marks in this respect. 

Planting rising star Cailee Spaeny (of Priscilla and Civil War) in the lair of life-threatening face-huggers and xenomorphs that sadistically kill one crew member after another in the claustrophobic confines of spaceships and space stations may be an age-old formula, but it still somewhat works thanks to the solid visual storytelling on display, which emphasises time-ticking tension as well as the ‘less is more’ approach. 

“Get away from her… you bitch.”

Well, at least until everything explodes and becomes emptily spectacular (as opposed to grindingly organic), feeling more like a video game with various quests to complete than pure unadulterated survival vibes. 

Andy, Spaeny’s android brother-friend, becomes key to keeping it as grounded as possible, and may surprisingly be the only character we can feel for.  I wished I felt a similar way for Spaeny’s Rain. 

Romulus ultimately fulfils its goal of somewhat entertaining old and new audiences alike, perhaps with one jump scare too many.  If anything, the hope is that it does enough at the box-office to warrant another instalment, one that the returning director or someone else will be allowed to explore unchartered territory.

Grade: B-

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