DUBAI: Uruguayan filmmaker Fede Alvarez – known for directing popular horror flicks like “Evil Dead” and “Don’t Breathe” – takes on one of the most iconic horror/sci-fi franchises of our time with “Alien: Romulus,” and with a masterful touch, pares it back to its roots.
Written by Álvarez and Rodo Sayagues, “Romulus” takes place between the events of Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic “Alien” and James Cameron’s beloved 1986 follow-up “Aliens,” firmly putting itself in the narrative of the original films.
Giving the franchise a young adult spin for the first time in its long history, “Romulus” follows a group of 20-something space colonists who decide to explore a derelict, decommissioned space station in the hopes of getting off their sunless mining colony and making their way to a lush planet in a faraway system.
At the heart of the crew are Rain (Cailee Spaeny, who you will know from “Priscilla” and “Civil War”) and her adopted brother Andy (David Jonsson), who is a synthetic created by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation (the company behind the mining colony and the space station).
Other than the siblings, the rag-tag crew of rebellious colonizers include Tyler (Archie Renoux, “Shadow and Bone”), Kay (Isabela Merced, “The Last of Us”), Bjorn (Spike Fearm, “Back to Black”) and Navarro (debutant Aileen Wu).
The film shines when it is exploring its themes of fraternity and finding courage in dark moments; and the messy interpersonal relationships between the young group members drive the story forward in meaningful, if predictable, ways. Spaeny and Jonsson especially turn in nuanced performances and have a satisfying arc to their personal and intertwined journeys.
The real draw of the movie is, of course, its monsters — the Xenomorphs and the face-huggers are as terrifying as ever and the movie never lets up on the body horror and gore. Combining retro-futuristic, expansive sets, expertly crafted practical effects and a gorgeous-yet-eerie background score, “Romulus” is a fun ride for thrill seekers who want a lived-in and familiar vibe while getting spooked.
If forced to nitpick, a minor quibble would be the gratuitous fan service, which at best is cringey and at its worst takes away from the emotional gravitas of the film. While not completely unwelcome, a little bit of restraint could have gone a long way.
