I don’t typically do horror, but I love a good, intense, well-made thriller in the various subsets of the genre. In particular, I love what Fede Álvarez accomplished with Alien: Romulus, which is currently streaming on Hulu.
Cailee Spaeny was incredible in the front-and-center role of action heroine Rain Carradine, who along with adopted brother and Weyland-Yutani android, Andy, played by David Jonsson, pair up with a ragtag group of survivors to leave their unyielding work colony on LV-410 and head for the serene planet Yvaga. What they don’t know is that the abandoned station for which they’ve just commandeered is full of hibernating xenomorphs eager to do what they do best: Hunt and breed, using humans as incubators to kill and consume anything living or breathing, and in their way.
I haven’t seen Prometheus or Alien: Covenant, so those are on my watchlist to take in at some point when I can. The Alien franchise, nonetheless, continues to be one rich with potential and excitement, with exception to the Alien VS. Predator films, which are still okay, but fare less in the scheme of things. Alien: Romulus takes the franchise more closer to its roots with its storied placement between the first and second Alien films, coalesced even more with the digital re-casting of late actor Ian Holm in the role of Rook, adjacent to his appearance in the Ridley Scott’s 1979 inaugural film.
Alien: Romulus plays by the usual horror formula suited for this kind of film. For this, nothing about the film really takes away from its enjoyment, although the I can see the propensity as to why some viewers would be jaded in the first hour or so. Things do move a little slow in that duration, but I was far from bored. Between the group’s harrowing journey as it fights to fend off the xenomorphs, to Rain’s struggle to understand what is happening with Andy’s seemingly sudden transformation from malfunctioning android to a more adroit, calculated A.I. whose intentions are less clear amid the confusion and fear of his human company, Alien: Romulus takes you on an exciting thrillride that pays homage to a popular franchise, as well as the fans with fun, exciting character development, and signature moments that make seeing this film all the more rewarding.
There’s been talk of what Álvarez has in mind for a segue to a new Alien film, and with respect to what 20th Century Studios has in mind with Predator going forward; I felt that the earlier Alien Vs. Predator films were a little exhausting, although I’m confident that Álvarez could tell a story woven into either Alien or Predator franchises that don’t feel like mere cash grabs. I’d definitely be interested in more of Rain and Andy’s story, for that matter, and as someone who hasn’t seen much of this franchise over the years, Alien: Romulus was a good reference point to help reboot my interest.
Watch Alien: Romulus on Hulu.