One of the most iconic sagas in cinema finally returns to theaters this week with Alien: Romulus directed by Fede Álvarez, known for films like Evil Dead and Don't Breathe. With Alien: Romulus, Fede Álvarez goes back to the roots of the franchise delivering an installment that focuses on horror without compromising on action. Heavily tensed with twists and turns around every corner, the film pushed me deep into my seat. The film starts off slowly but once the pace picks up, it becomes almost suffocating as the characters barely have a moment of respite. The tension is so well-handled that even mundane scenes like a simple spaceship launch are filled with suspense. The movie features several jump scares that had the entire audience jumping out of their seats during my screening.
Visually, the film is incredibly generous with stunning sets and the extensive use of practical effects for the Xenomorph. This approach makes everything feel much more realistic and terrifying. The design of the Xenomorph is particularly well-executed, making it appear truly menacing especially when it is crawling. The special effects are astounding with top-notch quality showcased in the depiction of space, spaceships, and planets. When it comes to sets and visuals, 20th Century Fox does not disappoint this year with films like Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and The First Omen. The film’s sound design is excellent, from the creatures' sounds to the ships, but the biggest surprise is the ingenious use of silence which perfectly complements the emptiness and void of space.
Cailee Spaeny continues to shine with her third major role of the year following Priscilla and Civil War. She continues to showcase her talent and I’m excited to see her upcoming projects especially Knives Out 3. Meanwhile, Archie Renaux has gone from Prime Video rom-coms (Upgraded, The Other Zoey) to one of the biggest franchises in cinema—quite a glow-up. The actor proves himself more than worthy of it. Isabela Merced is very convincing in her role, but the standout of the film is none other than David Jonsson who brilliantly portrays a complex character. His nuanced and moving performance is one of the film’s major highlights. As for the music, while it may not be extraordinary, Benjamin Wallfisch has composed a solid score particularly excelling in the horror elements that highlight the grandeur of the creatures and the epic moments of exploration in deep space.
Alien: Romulus pays homage to the very first Alien film in many ways, while also introducing new elements to the franchise through its world-building. We learn a little bit more about how the facehuggers operate and about a new serum that could be a game-changer in this universe. Just as the film seems to be wrapping up, a massive & crazy twist shakes everything up, likely to polarize Alien fans even further—especially considering how divided the community already is over Ridley Scott's recent films such as Prometheus and Alien: Covenant.
Intense and gripping, Alien: Romulus makes its way among one of the best Aliens films thanks to Fede Álvarez bold & innovative creative decisions. The film opens in theater this Friday on August 16.
Rating: 4/5
Comments