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Alien: Romulus | Nostalgia Wrapped in Acidic Goo

Writer's picture: Nicolas SchueleNicolas Schuele
3.5
3.5/5

The Alien franchise is back, and this time, it feels like a warm embrace from a cold, slimy xenomorph. "Alien: Romulus (2024)" brings us full circle, leaning heavily into the atmospheric horror that made the original films iconic. It's not just a return to the roots; it's practically clawing through the soil of 1979's Alien, and for the most part, that's a good thing. But let's not pretend it's perfect, because it is far from perfection. The dark hallways, menacing lighting, chest-bursting tension? All there, accounted for.



Homage or a Little Too Much Copy-Paste?


The filmmakers have obviously done their homework-maybe a little too well. The nods toward the earlier films are about as frequent as facehugger attacks, from hauntingly familiar industrial set designs to a score tiptoeing around Jerry Goldsmith's original themes. It's all very familiar. Sometimes, it's so familiar it teeters on mimicry rather than homage. A few moments had me whispering, "Wait, isn't this just Alien with better CGI? " Don't get me wrong: it's satisfying to see the spirit of the classics alive and screaming. But originality?


Because We Need Exciting Visuals


Ah, the plot—the Alien franchise's eternal Achilles' heel. Romulus doles out ample story to justify the runtime, but squint too hard at the script and one begins to ask questions no one wants to answer. Who thought to construct another suspiciously unregulated space station? How did that character survive a clearly fatal encounter? And who thought splitting up was ever a good idea? The answers are irrelevant as the film drowns the queries with Xenomorph mayhem and stunning visuals. You may roll your eyes at the logic, but you will stop mid-eye-roll because, hey, did you see that explosion?


The People Love Xenomorph Chaos


The xenomorphs are once again terrifying and not over-explained, genuinely unsettling. Practical effects shine, and the creature design feels like a love letter to H.R. Giger's grotesque brilliance. Performances are solid, with the cast navigating fear, despair, and questionable decision-making with expertise. And yes, the cinematography is stunning—moody lighting and claustrophobic angles aplenty.


Character Development Optional


Let me mention that the characters feel more like cannon fodder than flesh-and-blood people. It's hard to root for someone when you can't even remember their name. A few attempts at emotional depth feel tacked on, and the dialogue occasionally dips into cliché territory. And let's not forget those pesky plot holes—they don't ruin the experience but do raise some eyebrows.


Nostalgia Done Right (Mostly)


Alien: Romulus doesn't rewrite the franchise rulebook, and it doesn't need to. Visually gripping, this is a nostalgia-laden return to form that reminds us why we fell in love with the franchise in the first place. Sure, it plays it a little too safe, borrowing liberally from its predecessors. The plot's not great, and the characters might as well wear signs saying "future snack," but none of that gets in the way of the fun. It's not a perfect resurrection, but it's a thrilling one - and honestly, what more could you want from a film about acid-spewing space monsters?

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