Alien: Romulus 2024 Movie Review
First and foremost, Alien: Romulus is an unabashed love letter to Alien, Aliens and – much to my delight – Alien: Isolation. There hasn’t been a film or piece of media that has felt quite as loyal to the original’s vision in a long time, if ever.
Almost to a fault, the first two acts deify Alien and Aliens, occasionally lifting dialogue and scene composition verbatim. Those parts are nice throwbacks, although I couldn’t help but want something fresh and genuinely terrifying – a feat which I don’t think has been achieved since the films that Alien: Romulus lovingly imitates. At the very least, it never ceases to be engaging science fiction-horror.
The characters are moderately interesting, with some believable backstories to justify their motivations, but it isn’t difficult to distinguish the heroes from the fodder early on. The dynamic between Rain and Andy is a particular highlight, and gives the narrative the anchor that it needs to warrant the audience’s investment. Cailee Spaeney’s and David Jonsson’s performances are excellent, with the latter delivering the nuance required of his character with precision. The practical effects are also fantastic, making the CGI – when it is used – stand out to the film’s detriment.
While the first two acts in isolation deliver a satisfactory entry in the series, the third act (you will know when it arrives) is the white-knuckle horror ride that has been lacking in the more recent films. It’s also the point in which the film matures, so to speak, distinguishing itself from a homage and transforming into a standalone experience. It really is best viewed free of any spoilers – all I will say is that it is the first time I’ve involuntarily gasped in the series since seeing Alien for the first time.
Patience will be rewarded – the third act makes the ride more than worthwhile, and reminded me of exactly why I love the series.
