‘Alien: Romulus’ Review: Cailee Spaeny Is Electric In This Anxiety-Induced And Flawed Homage To The Original Film
Courtesy of 20th Century Studios.
SPOILER FREE REVIEW
The seventh instalment in the Alien franchise has arrived.
Synopsis: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.
‘Alien: Romulus’ is helmed by director and co-writer Fede Álvarez, who’s other works include ‘Evil Dead’ (2013), ‘Don’t Breathe’ (2016), and ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ (2022). Cailee Spaeny leads the film, alongside co-stars Isabela Merced, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu.
The film is set between Ridley Scott’s ‘Alien’ (1979) and James Cameron’s sequel ‘Aliens’ (1986).
Álvarez has done something that previous instalments have failed to do: return the franchise back to its horror roots. He seems to understand very well about how and when to jerk the audience one way and then keep submerged in tension until a climactic beat (or lingering cool-down, which keeps a small feeling of anxiety resting in your chest — just long enough for the next scare).
Sometimes, Álvarez pays almost “too-much” homage to the original 1979 film, rendering scenes as an identical copy. One could be convinced that ‘Romulus’ is almost an unofficial remake of the original.
Álvarez’s love for his horror roots and sci-fi elements that the Alien franchise popularized is evident throughout the 1h 59mins of runntime. The visuals here are stunning, whether it be CGI wide shots of a vessel floating through space, practical facehuggers leaping through obstacles to snatch their prey, or horrified close-ups of the characters being terrorized by the Xenomorph.
The claustrophobic set design among color-grading elements also help keep an immersive lense throughout, all crafted to make the task of survival as difficult as possible for our characters.
The practical effects seemingly pop off the screen, and are as convincingly real as the first time we saw them in the original Ridley Scott directed movie. Pulling back from the CGI elements have benefitted the realism of ‘Romulus’ enormously and are used sparingly in epic shots of space and planetary stratospheres.
It would be a mistake to not mention the cast of course. Some of the side characters, mostly Tyler played by Archie Renaux, felt bland and relatively unnecessary to the progression of the plot and protagonist. There could have been simplified work arounds, but then we wouldn’t get a story in the first place.
Cailee Spaeny on the other hand feels like a perfect new Ellen Ripley and noticeably carries that mantle with pride. She plays Rain Carradine in ‘Romulus,’ and showcases her abilities as a survivalist with strategic capabilities that help guide her when the monster is unleashed. Spaeny conveys quite a bit of emotion here, becoming vulnerable, which helps us empathize and sympathize with Rain, as her development is rather rushed — and maybe that’s the point? After all, the film is rapidly paced, only leaving time for true moments of suspense (and suspense we spend with the characters).
At the finale stage, like Álvarez’s other flicks, falls into the quantity segment by showcasing bombastic imagery that is sure to make some squeal. Even during the somewhat clunky third act, to where the complexity fizzles and it becomes heavy on visual surprise, maintains a sense of dread and uncertainty with which direction our protagonist is headed.
‘Alien: Romulus’ has returned the franchise back to its former heights, and we can only hope that Álvarez returns on the next instalment.
‘Alien: Romulus’ releases August 16, 2024.
Our score: ★★★ ½
(out of 5 stars)
