When Alien launched in 1979, the world of sci-fi horror completely changed; the claustrophobic feel of the Nostromo, combined with the heroic and legendary story of Ellen Ripley, captured the attention of anyone who dared to survive its runtime. It was unique and nothing short of groundbreaking. Unsurprisingly, the movie spawned a huge franchise and six movies through Xenomorph and David 8-filled carnage later; the saga is back to provide more nightmares.
Wedged right between Alien and Aliens, Romulus immediately throws us into the gritty life of Jackson Star, a sunless mining colony that hosts our main characters. Rain Carradine (Cailee Spaeny), and her android counterpart Andy (David Jonsson) attempt to leave a dead end career by heading into deep space, but to do so, they’ll need to salvage cryo pods from a nostalgic station called The Renaissance. Right from the get-go, director/writer Fede Álvarez, alongside Rodo Sayagues, emulates a stunning sense of world-building because Jackson Star feels real.
Maybe Fede did his homework, or maybe his love for the franchise is just naturally in his DNA, because Romulus is filled with homage and countless nods to the previous instalments. For any eagle-eyed fan, you’ll love the number of Easter eggs that make an appearance, and you will not forget the shots and sequences that instantly hark right back to classic Ripley moments. For fans of Alien: Isolation (arguably one of the best Alien video games ever made), which is also set between Alien and Aliens, you’ll feel its incredible atmosphere right here.
Every single Alien output is known for its back and forth between a small group of regular people, who unwillingly become heroes through the dire, claustrophobic circumstance that they’re in, and that feeling has been captured once more so effortlessly here. The acting chemistry between the core cast is spot on, with the dynamic between Rain and Andy being a particular highlight, which is important, as androids were so very crucial to Ridley Scott’s initial vision.
The use of practical effects within Romulus is constant. Whether it’s face-huggers flying at the screen or the iconic Xenomorph suit itself, Fede has really respected what makes an Alien movie last a lifetime. Not forgetting to mention that he recruited effects legends Alec Gillis and Shane Mahan to really latch into that scarily realistic feel that fans know so well. Every single minute of the movie has been put under a creative microscope.
On top of tipping the hat to its predecessors, Romulus makes a confident point of proving that new scenarios can be done within this familiar setting, and this might be one of the most important positives about the movie. Homage is good, and nostalgia sells cinema tickets, however, the audience also wants something new, they want a future for their favourite story. With refreshingly slick fight sequences, exciting characters, and an ambitious third act, Fede has achieved that huge responsibility.
Alien: Romulus will launch you out of your seat and give you no chance to catch your breath. It is a gory celebration of every Alien movie that has come before it, and it proves there is still so much life left in this terrifying yet highly intriguing world.
ALIEN: ROMULUS is in cinemas now.
