Image: 20th Century Studios
“Alien: Romulus” injects sustained vitality into the Alien media franchise, which has consistently delivered good, great, and masterful content in all its iterations, sequels, prequels, remakes, and reboots. That is how broad the spectrum of the “Alien” franchise has been; there are many approaches to producing, directing, and creating it.
In fact, since the late 1970s, besides “Star Wars,” this is the only other space-bound movie that has maintained a strong hold on the imaginations of moviegoers for decades, without fading over time despite immense competition from other films inspired by it. I mean, many movies were inspired by the first “Alien” film, so it was inevitable that one of those young moviegoers would eventually become a director and have the opportunity to direct their own “Alien” movie. The director is Fede Alvarez, who directed “Alien: Romulus.” He did an exceptional directorial job!
READ: Will ‘Thunderbolts’ and ‘Captain America: A Brave New World’ perform well?
The movie studio found a visionary director in Fede Alvarez, who knows what he is doing, has his directorial style, and follows it through. This can often be a gamble, as the most important thing any movie studio wants is a successful release of a new movie. The goal is to create a big hit that not only recoups their investment but also triples or quadruples it. Because the budget of each movie does not include expenses for advertising, etc., it may not accurately reflect the total cost of production (pre-production and post-production). For example, if “Alien: Romulus” ends up grossing $500 million on an $80 million budget, there would be more than enough funds to produce at least two more movies that continue the storyline of “Alien: Romulus,” serving as a solid foundation for future sequels.
“Alien: Romulus” is a modern-day version of a classic horror movie, reminiscent of “Alien,” which shares elements, traits, and qualities such as isolation, claustrophobia, body horror, suspense, action, and a plethora of other factors. When executed correctly, it is truly memorable.
I will not give away too many spoilers, but “Alien: Romulus” has been playing for over a week. Grab a chance to watch it while you can. I want to caution that this movie is recommended for moviegoers who are of the appropriate age. Yes, I am serious about that. However, if you have high blood pressure, be sure to take your medication (I am even more serious about that) as these Xenomorphs represent the deep fear of being alone in the dark and questioning whether you are truly alone or something else is with you.
“Alien: Romulus” can tap into your fears and childhood nightmares by bringing them to life through the Xenomorph species of aliens.
“Alien: Romulus” does not rely on famous actors or star power because, let’s face it, the real stars here are the Xenomorphs, the Alien Queen, and the Facehuggers. Moviegoers want to see these alien throat-breeding, chest-bursting, and acid-dripping space monsters. However, these young men and women deserve their due recognition and the opportunity to become bigger stars than they are now. These professional and capable young actors and actresses had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and privilege to star in a well-crafted new movie from a famous multimedia franchise. They are Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.
Practical effects have been predominantly used in this production, with minimal reliance on special effects and CGI. This is commendable because one of the hallmarks of the first “Alien” movie is the presence of a very slim person in the H.R. Giger-designed body suit of the Xenomorph. However, you could not tell that because the creature looked incredibly realistic, resembling a nightmarish figure due to its black, slimy, and grotesque skeletal design. The first of its kind, it captured everyone’s attention and made the Xenomorphs a well-known entity.
Humorously, I compare the Xenomorphs to space cockroaches that spread quickly, devour rapidly, and replicate like locusts. They are difficult to kill without getting harmed in the process due to their biological makeup. They are disgusting but terrifying to encounter. Can you imagine if these things were real? None of us would stand a chance on our own. Therein lies the allure, attraction, and mass appeal of the Xenomorphs; you can only see these fictional aliens come to life and be alive in such as “Alien: Romulus” which is one of the reasons why this has become a big hit.
“Alien: Romulus” is set in the same timeline as the “Alien” movies, existing somewhere between “Alien” and “Aliens.” The costume designs, set designs, and overall aesthetic of “Alien: Romulus” have a distinctly late ’70s feel. But the film is not here to evoke nostalgia or take viewers down memory lane. The movie is set in that period both in terms of how it was made and the fictional universe in which it exists.
For me, there is no greater feeling in my heart than hearing the reactions of people around me when they unintentionally stumble upon a movie from a franchise they may have only seen a few films of, or were not fans of, but were familiar enough with such as the case with “Alien: Romulus.” I am happy when that happens because it gives them a movie experience they will never forget for the foreseeable future.
The very first “Alien” movie, starring Sigourney Weaver and directed by Ridley Scott, is a classic piece of cinematic literature in my eyes because no one has been able to replicate it, but this one comes close. That is how I perceive it because whenever a movie sparks a franchise, as “Alien” did, it deserves a place in the annals of cinematic history. This is how “Alien” changed the movie industry, and “Alien: Romulus” could have a similar impact beyond 2024.
“Alien: Romulus” achieved several things that the previous movies failed to fully accomplish because they were trying maybe too hard or they completely decided to go the experimental route in the process. This movie has generated excitement and attracted many moviegoers of all ages. I recently watched it, and the movie did not disappoint because it went beyond what I had initially thought it would be about. It is best to enjoy the movie for what it is, which is a standalone film. There is no need to compare “Alien: Romulus” too much to the latest movies which were prequels (“Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant”) as this movie is thrilling enough on its own.
Now all you have to do is watch it, as it is worth your time. Please do so while it is still showing.
I give “Alien: Romulus” a masterfully directed, terrifying, and grotesquely entertaining rating of five out of five Facehuggers.