After all those hit-and-miss “Alien” sequels, it’s comforting to see “Alien: Romulus,” a sturdy entry in the canon that reminds us of a day when summer films were reliable tent poles. Occurring after events of the first “Alien” film, “Romulus” pulls a working stiff, her android brother and their friends onto a decommissioned space station. There, they hope to recover some pods in order to escape to a planet that isn’t being strangled by an overzealous company.
Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack Once aboard, they’re in for the same kind of surprises the original “Alien” team encountered. Co-written and directed by Fede Alvarez, “Romulus” has a proper look and pace. It’s extremely dark, but so much better for creatures to ooze out of the duct work.
While some of the friends disappear before we even get to know their names, Alvarez manages to reintroduce a couple of original characters who help explain what in the world is going on. People are also reading..
. This image shows Archie Renaux, left, and Cailee Spaeny in a scene from "Alien: Romulus." 20th Century Studios One tests the bounds of Artificial Intelligence (is this the future for films like this?); another merely reminds you of the connection.
Both, however, suggest Cailee Spaeny as Rain, the contract worker, is going to be headed down Sigourney Weaver’s path at some point. She handles all of the surprises well and has a super bond with Andy (David Jonsson), her android brother. He twists and turns as much as the plot and manages to keep his ultimate goal in mind at all times.
Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack Others try to deter him – and her – as they make their way around the ship. But two key factors – temperature and gravity – serve them well. The creatures, who still have the ability to terrify, benefit from crucial lighting and the ship’s circuitous layout.
Numerous countdowns work in the film’s favor. And the script’s twists (offering details about the original invasion) help us understand where the trouble began. Ian Holm, as Rook, an android with clues to the past, tries to steer the activity every time he has an audience.
He’s more straightforward than some human characters, but it’s a good idea to disengage from everyone on the mission. That friend you think is loyal may not be; the human with an upset stomach could be harboring an alien. “Romulus’s” best moments come when Spaeny and Jonsson ride the rails of an elevator.
Alvarez succeeds by telling his own story and avoiding a rehash of the past. It has references, but it doesn’t play the same beats. “Romulus," instead, makes the leads more aware of their fate and the need for an exit strategy.
While it might have been nice to get to know some of the other crew members, “Romulus” doesn’t mess around with red herrings. Sure, there are surprises, but this isn’t one big curve. Spaeny, in fact, seems more like Mia Goth than Weaver and never quite assures you she’ll get out of one situation before she’s confronted with another.
Jonsson, with his shifting personality (he switches from innocent to expert in seconds), becomes the character who could launch a sequel and still keep the guessing going. Dark and brooding, “Alien: Romulus” rewards fans with those Easter eggs from the past. It isn’t essential that you make the connection, but if you do, you’re two popcorn buckets ahead of others.
Movies in a minute with film critic Bruce Miller Movies in a Minute: "Abigail" Movies in a Minute: "Civil War" Movies in a Minute: "Monkey Man" Movies in a Minute: "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" Movies in a Minute: "Late Night With the Devil" Movies in a Minute: "Snack Shack" Movies in a Minute: "Cabrini" Movies in a Minute "Dune: Part Two" Movies in a Minute: "Drive-Away Dolls" Movies in a Minute "Bob Marley: One Love" Movies in a Minute: "Lisa Frankenstein” Movies in a Minute: “The Greatest Night in Pop” Movies in a Minute: "Poor Things" Movies in a Minute: Best Actress nominee Sandra Huller Movies in a Minute: "Mean Girls" Movies in a Minute: "Anyone But You" Movies in a Minute: "The Color Purple" Movies in a Minute: "The Iron Claw" Movies in a Minute: "Wonka" Movies in a Minute: "May December" Movies in a Minute: "Wish" Movies in a Minute: "Next Goal Wins" Movies in a Minute: "The Marvels" Movies in a Minute: "The Holdovers" Movies in a Minute: "Five Nights at Freddy's" Movies in a Minute "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" Movies in a Minute: "Killers of the Flower Moon" Movies in a Minute: "The Exorcist: Believer" Movies in a Minute: "Fair Play" Movies in a Minute: "Expend4bles" Movies in a Minute: "A Haunting in Venice" Movies in a Minute: "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3" Movies in a Minute: "The Equalizer 3" Movies in a Minute: "Blue Beetle" Movies in a Minute: "Gran Turismo" Movies in a Minute: Mid-year wrap-up Movies in a Minute: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" Fans in Mumbai celebrate new Rajinikanth movie Movies in a Minute: "Haunted Mansion" Movies in a Minute: "Barbie" Movies in a Minute: “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” Movies in a Minute: “Joy Ride” Movies in a Minute: “Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny” Movies in a Minute: “No Hard Feelings” Movies in a Minute: "Elemental" Movies in a Minute: “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” Movies in a Minute: “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” Movies in a Minute: "The Little Mermaid" Movies in a Minute: “Fast X” Movies in a Minute: "Book Club: The Next Chapter" Movies in a Minute: “Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3” Movies in a Minute: "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret." Movies in a Minute: "The Covenant" Movies in a Minute: "Renfield" Movies in a Minute: "Air" Movies in a Minute: "Dungeons and Dragons" Movies in a Minute: "John Wick Chapter 4" Movies in a Minute: “Champions” Movies in a Minute: “Creed III” Movies in a Minute: “80 for Brady” Movies in a Minute: "Challengers" Movies in a Minute: "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" Movies in a Minute: "The Fall Guy" Movies in a Minute: "The Blue Angels" Movies in a Minute: "Summer Camp" Movies in a Minute: "Jim Henson Idea Man” Movies in a Minute "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" Movies in a Minute: "Inside Out 2" Movies in a Minute: "Thelma" Movies in a Minute "A Quiet Place: Day One" Movies in a Minute "Maxxxine" Movies in a Minute "Despicable Me 4" Movies in a Minute: "Deadpool & Wolverine" Movies in a Minute: "Twisters" Movies in a Minute: "Trap" Movies in a Minute: "It Ends With Us" Movies in a Minute "Alien: Romulus" Stay up-to-date on what's happening.
