Alien Resurrection Isn’t a Great Alien Sequel But Still Provides Some Fun By In the leadup to Alien: Romulus, I’ve been watching, reading, and playing every piece of Alien content available. Yes, even Alien Resurrection. For the second time in my life, I popped in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s controversial movie, hoping to discover a misunderstood gem.
Has the film gotten better over the last two and a half decades? Read on to find out. For those unaware, Alien Resurrection is the fourth film in the Alien franchise, which began with Ridley Scott’s 1979 film. Following the lukewarm reaction to David Fincher’s controversial Alien 3, the franchise appeared dead and buried.
Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), the franchise’s popular heroine, died valiantly, killing the last remnant of the Xenomorph species. Alas, Hollywood being Hollywood, Ripley was back in action seven years later except, this time, as a clone of her former self, resurrected by military scientists two centuries after the events of Alien 3. Their mission is to acquire the Queen gestating inside her, but Ripley’s survival instincts prevent her clone from moving on.
In a desperate bid to reinvigorate the character, she also now possesses Xenomorph traits — acidic blood, super strength, heightened senses, and the ability to feel her alien children. Eh, sure. Into the fold drops a ragtag group of mercenaries led by Elgyn (Michael Wincott) and featuring the tough-minded (and obviously robotic) Call (Winona Ryder.