Alien: Romulus Review

By Kevin Hoskinson
Entertainment Editor

Back in 1996, I had the opportunity to travel to Walt Disney World with my high school band. Flying from Washington State to Florida was quite the trek, but it was with a bunch of my peers, and we were thrilled. One of the most memorable experiences I had at the resort was at Magic Kingdom. It was an attraction called Alien Encounter, one of the most thrilling experiences I have ever had. In it, you were strapped into your seat while a terrifying alien stalked you after an experiment gone wrong. It was an immersive experience like no other, and it shook me to my core. Most of it took place in the dark and used sound and special effects to create a horrifying atmosphere. While Alien: Romulus doesn’t quite meet the same level as that experience, it did evoke so many of the same feelings, making it feel like a theme park ride in the best way possible.

The Alien franchise has had its share of ups and downs but has seen a positive resurgence over the past few years after the Alien Vs. Predator films, the series seemed dead until director Ridley Scott brought us Prometheus, an undercover prequel to the original films, which he then followed up with the mildly received Alien: Covenant. These movies did little to renew public interest in more Alien films but it proved that 20th Century Studios was still interested. 

While Alien: Romulus doesn’t reinvent the wheel or do much to separate itself from what came before, it feels like a film from an earlier era. Using the world and characters to build the tension, director Fede Alvarez takes us on a horrifying journey through space while this new crew takes on a ship full of Xenomorphs and face huggers. This film brings back the original film’s horror, using sound design, setting, and mood to create a haunted house scenario where nobody is safe anywhere. It’s all super effective and is the jolt of excitement this series has needed for decades.

Originally destined for Hulu, Romulus is the kind of film that should be experienced on the big screen. Set between the events of Alien and Aliens, the movie stars Cailee Spaney, Isabela Merced, Aileen Wu, David Jonsson, and Archie Renaux. They are all fantastic, and Spaney is a particular standout. She is wonderful, and her character, Rain, reminds us of a young Ridley. The story is fairly paint by numbers and you’ve seen it before, but it’s the cast and the inexperience of the ship’s crew that makes it worthwhile. They are quickly in over their heads and need to do what it takes to survive.

To be honest, I went into this film expecting at least a mid-tier film. I love Fede Alvarez, but a franchise this far in and this convoluted can rarely win fans back completely. It’s safe to say that my expectations were exceeded, and I was thrilled with the results. It’s a bloody good time and is easily the best in the franchise after the first two. Definitely check it out.

Rating: 4.5 Pastrami Nations out of 5.