Internet Janitor
It was astounding. From the beginning to the last frame, I was hooked on this one and back in the realms of Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). For me often atmosphere is everything and Alien Romulus is dripping with it. Literally. The decision to spend the time and money on as many practical effects as possible paid off. There is no way, with any amount of money in today’s current special effects it would have looked better with all CGI.
Life for young Rain (played by Cailee Spaeny from the Civil War) is miserable. Working on a mining planet for “the company” and dreaming of getting away. When she accumulated enough hours to leave, they simply moved the goalpost on her. Soon an opportunity to find a way to leave presents itself. Along with her android protector, Andy (played by David Jonsson) she set off to a seemingly abandoned space station to find a way home. What could go wrong?
There are questions to be asked. Such as for such a critically important vessel as Romulus why was it, easily detectable, hovering above the mining planet without the company coming to get it? Possibly they just didn’t know, communications were offline and it had drifted away. One could also presume they were sure as hell on their way once our merry band of pirates started messing around. There are a few small questions like this, but they quickly drift away.
In an Alien movie, the ship or the facility should be as much of a character as the living. Romulus has a lived-in look to it of an old space station. Things seem quiet, and peaceful if you fail to think of how many people would have been on the ship and what happened to them. It should come as no surprise to fans, but the xenomorphs are not the true villain of the series. That distinction falls to the Wayland Corporate, often referred to as just “the company”. It is their greed, to see capital above all and especially above something as insignificant as human life. The sheer arrogance to believe they would be able to harvest the secrets of the aliens and make it out alive.
Well, the workers didn’t but the people at the top I’m sure slept well. They always do.
Cailee Spaeny is fantastic, a rougher and tumble from the-get-go version of Ripley without being a carbon copy. She’s a sympathetic character which is essential. Had she been unlikeable the movie would have fallen apart. David Jonsson as the simple android, Andy is the real highlight here. Yes, you could argue his character’s childlike mannerisms could be considered emotional blackmail unless you’re evil, a Republican or live in Florida. Still. I loved his character and wanted to go through the screen every time someone else attempted to bully him.
Pay attention to every frame here. Every shot. The cinematography is I think the best of the series which is no small praise. There are dozens of stills here which can, and should become epic posters.
Also if you thought face huggers were scary in the other movies, they are so much worse here and AGAIN this works best because wherever possible they are practical.
I think as horror fans, alien fans, it is important this movie succeeds.