Can Romulus make Alien great again?

The arrival of Alien: Romulus marks the seventh film in the Alien franchise. But after a spotty few films, can the newest entry breathe new life to the horror-science fiction series? David Ho finds out and gives you a spoiler-free take

Alien: Romulus was originally intended to be a film for Hulu, announced in 2022 at a time when movie theatres had yet to recover from the pandemic. But director Fede Álvarez’s ambitions for his entry convinced 20th Century Studios to help it make the leap from streaming to theatres.

In Romulus, we are introduced to the orphan Rain Carradine (played by Cailee Spaeny) on the planet Jackson’s Star, working in a mining colony. She has an adoptive brother in the form of Andy (David Jonsson), a humanoid robot programmed by her late father to protect her. When Rain’s plan to leave the grim setting is upset by a suddenly extended work contract, she accepts a mission proposed by her friends to scrounge in a derelict spacecraft for cryonic stasis chambers that will keep them in suspended animation while they escape to the remote planet Yvaga.

The Fede Álvarez-directed affair is lean in all the right ways. He doesn’t spend too much time setting up the world or building up character relationships. We are thrust into the main mission fairly quickly and Álvarez knows what we came for (xenomorphs!), which is delivered with the fast-paced alternation between suspense and action. The action sequences are strong, with a fight in zero gravity deserving of special praise for its cinematography.

Cailee Spaeny (who also made for an impressive Priscilla Presley across the ages in Priscilla) and David Jonsson turn in solid performances as the leads. The supporting cast does an alright job but given the confines of the script, struggle to be memorable characters. Some might find the android Rook, using the likeness of the late Sir Ian Holm (who portrayed Ash in the 1979 original), either unsettling or a great tribute.

The final section of the film could have gone down any number of predictable routes to set up the next movie, an unfortunately too common effect from the slew of Marvel films. We are thankful that it wraps up without leaving us with too many loose ends.

For longtime fans wondering, Romulus sits in the middle of the Alien franchise timeline. It is set in 2142 after the prequel films (Prometheus and Alien: Covenant) and the original Alien movie, but way before the events in Aliens, Alien 3, and Alien Resurrection. Since the two Alien vs. Predator films are not considered canon to the overall franchise, they are not part of the equation.

Fortunately, knowledge of the previous Alien films is not necessary. Romulus works great as a standalone film, but there are certainly enough Easter eggs and familiar bits (lines, the score, etc.) that would make fans of the original Alien happy. “What I tried to reproduce is not only the style, but the feelings that those movies gave me at the time when I watched them,” says Álvarez. 

Álvarez, who first made it big with his 2013 remake of Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead, has experience with both the horror genre and taking on familiar material. He has clearly drawn on that to distil the best of the Alien experience with his take, which he also co-wrote. Because of this, Romulus makes for a good popcorn flick and one of the stronger entries in the franchise. We are certain this is going to latch on like a Facehugger to bring fans, both old and new, on board for the next xenomorph encounter.

Verdict: After mixed reception to the last few films, the latest entry marks a welcome return to form. It’s thoroughly enjoyable fare on its own and doesn’t leave too many loose ends to set up the next film, which we appreciate.

Photos courtesy of Disney

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