Initial reactions suggest that Alien: Romulus could potentially be the strongest installment in the franchise since Aliens. However, it appears that there is one common complaint among viewers.
Romulus is brought to us by Fede Álvarez, the same director who delivered the amazing 2013 Evil Dead remake and the Don’t Breathe franchise.
Despite not being a direct sequel to Ridley Scott’s polarizing films Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, this is a fresh narrative that takes place between Alien and Aliens. The plot follows a group of doomed space colonists who venture onto an abandoned spacecraft, and according to the director, they pay a heavy price for what they discover.
Scott expressed to Álvarez that it was “absolutely fantastic”, but what is the general consensus? The initial responses have been overwhelmingly positive, with a few even declaring it as “the most terrifying film of the year.”
Fede Alvarez’s #AlienRomulus is gnarly, gripping & gorgeously bleak (everything from the story to Olivares’ cinematography to Wallfisch’s score). Innovatively delivering smart, savvy stuff, subtly playing the greatest hits. Cailee Spaeny & David Jonsson dominate. This rules! pic.twitter.com/kEuDZku2Oz
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) August 13, 2024
#AlienRomulus 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. It gets better as it goes along, ending with a phenomenal big swing of a third act. pic.twitter.com/mY8Hkbe0gD
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) August 13, 2024
#AlienRomulus is the first time I have been terrified during one of the Alien movies. Cailee Spaeny’s Rain is a perfect character to follow on this journey and through Fede Álvarez’s twists and turns, you never really know where Romulus is headed. The 3rd act is truly WILD. I dig… pic.twitter.com/vEaiz5966B
— Rachel Leishman (@RachelLeishman) August 13, 2024
Comic Book’s Brandon Davis wrote that Alien: Romulus is remarkably impressive, successfully emulating the essence of the original Alien movies. The third act left him in awe, with his jaw dropping to the floor. The intensity was mind-blowing. Wow.
“According to Jonathan Sim in a post, ALIEN: ROMULUS is the most exciting Alien film since Aliens. Each scene builds up to a mind-blowing finale, showcasing Fede Álvarez’s unapologetic approach to filmmaking.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter’s Borys Kit, the film has all the elements one would expect in an Alien movie, while also taking a bold and unique direction. Kit praised director Fede Alvarez and the cast, declaring the film to be the standout of the summer.
Therefore, what is the issue? As stated by multiple critics, the film may contain an excessive amount of callbacks, with one even going as far as describing it as “franchise taxidermy directed with slickness.”
Can pinpoint the exact moment I turned on ALIEN: ROMULUS. You’ll know it when you see it. Slickly directed franchise taxidermy. Full review later this week.
— A.A. Dowd (@AADowd) August 13, 2024
For better and worse, ALIEN: ROMULUS is basically the ROGUE ONE of the ALIEN franchise –– I expect a lot of people to have a good time with this, but it’s the first mainline ALIEN movie to not truly be about anything except other ALIEN movies, and I really wished it was more.
— an especially dangerous dug called Brendan (@metaplexmovies) August 13, 2024
ALIEN: ROMULUS has some entertaining spectacle that keeps it an engaging watch overall. Yet its presentation lacks an effective horror atmosphere, leaving the tension removed in a hollow endeavor with bland characters. Some cringy callbacks, but best in show was David Jonsson. pic.twitter.com/wMnk0Pmsa6
— Josh Parham (@JRParham) August 13, 2024
According to Brendan Hodges, the latest installment of the Metaplex Movies franchise “called it”a “gratuitous nostalgia play”that relies on remixing previous elements and only occasionally delivers strong thrills. Hodges believes it is the safest, blandest, and most vapid entry in the series, and did not enjoy it.
Matt Neglia also tweeted that the film lacks any thematic depth and instead relies heavily on winks, nods, and fan service. This results in the film feeling more like a compilation of greatest hits rather than offering anything fresh or profound.
According to Hoai-Tran from Inverse, the film “plays like a greatest hits of the ALIEN franchise, for better and for worse,”as stated on their tweet at https://x.com/htranbui/status/1823208446654615739.
Prior to its release in cinemas, discover the specific placement of Alien: Romulus in the timeline, its connection to Isolation, and the method for obtaining the Alien: Romulus popcorn buckets.
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