One of the most iconic and feared creatures in cinematic history is back, and audiences are embracing it with open arms. Fede Alvarez’s latest installment in the “Alien” series, titled “Alien: Romulus,” recently premiered for the film press, and early reactions are lauding its intense scares, practical effects, and impressive cast. Many critics are already considering it one of the standout entries in the 45-year-old franchise that began with Ridley Scott’s original “Alien” in 1979.
Germain Lussier from Gizmodo shared his excitement on social media, describing “Alien: Romulus” as an exhilarating ride through the franchise’s history. “[‘Alien: Romulus’] is a bonkers roller coaster ride through the previous six ‘Alien’ movies, using bits of all them, to tell a focused, mostly standalone story filled with glorious gore & scares,” he wrote on X/Twitter. “It gets better as it goes along, ending with a phenomenal big swing of a third act.”
Jazz Tangcay from Variety echoed these sentiments, calling it one of the franchise’s best. “This is easily one of the better films in the franchise. Fede Álvarez doesn’t disappoint,” Tangcay posted on X. “Awesome sound design and world-building. The practical effects are so good that the film gave me nightmares.”
Courtney Howard, a film critic, described “Alien: Romulus” as “gnarly, gripping & gorgeously bleak,” and praised its innovative approach. “Innovatively delivering smart, savvy stuff, subtly playing the greatest hits,” Howard wrote on X. “Cailee Spaeny & David Jonsson dominate. This rules!”
Critics have been particularly impressed by the performances of David Jonsson and Cailee Spaeny, as well as the film’s dramatic third act.
“Alien: Romulus” serves as a standalone sequel set between the events of Ridley Scott’s original “Alien” (1979) and James Cameron’s “Aliens” (1986). The plot follows a group of young space colonists, led by Spaeny’s character, Rain, who embark on a mission to scavenge a derelict space station. They see this mission as their escape from a life of poverty, unaware that the station harbors the deadly alien creature. The film’s ensemble cast includes Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.
Although Ridley Scott did not direct this seventh installment, having previously helmed the prequels “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” he played a significant role in developing the story alongside Alvarez. Scott has been vocal in his support of Alvarez, praising the “Don’t Breathe” director for revitalizing the franchise with fresh energy.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Scott highlighted the potential challenges of long-running franchises. “The danger of all franchises is they do die unless somebody suddenly decides to pick up the mat and run down the field with a ball,” he said. “Fede is a surge of energy, and I had to step back and let him do it … Fede had a blueprint firm in his mind, and his script was pretty clear.”
Scott expressed optimism about the film’s prospects, noting, “I hope Fede’s got another one up his sleeve because I think this is going to do really well. He’s got a streak of brilliance.”
“Alien: Romulus” is set to hit theaters nationwide on April 16. Keep an eye out for more reactions and reviews as the release date approaches.
