Hi all!

Today I am reviewing new-release, horror: Alien: Romulus. It hit cinemas in Australia this month, allowing me the opportunity of seeing it on the big screen. Space colonisers come face-to-face with the most terrifying life-form in the universe, while scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station. Check out my ranking of the entire Alien franchise here. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

WHAT WORKED:

Romulus was made for the fans! I highly recommend re-watching the original film before seeing this one, as it is set between the first two movies. There are a lot of Easter Eggs to look out for. I also really appreciated how the director, Fede Alvarez, sought out the practical effects team from the 1970’s, to re-create a lot of the same magic. I always find that more impressive than CGI. This instalment boasts a diverse cast on a nail-biting mission. They are tasked with commandeering a ghost ship in the hopes of taking it to a planet with sunlight. Little do they know, the space station is already occupied with Xenomorphs and Face-Huggers. From there, it’s a race to escape certain death. There were an impressive amount of gory and stomach-churning moments scattered throughout. In terms of scares, they stemmed from the creature design and time sensitive nature of the crew’s objective. What will really leave viewers reeling however, is the ending. Expect the unexpected. That is all I will say. 

WHAT DIDN’T WORK:

My main critique was regarding the character’s choices. They made a lot of questionable decisions that didn’t feel realistic. Having said that, the film is not rooted in reality. Furthermore, Romulus didn’t really add anything to the lore. but that didn’t bother me so much. What I wanted was a wild space adventure filled with Xenomorphs and I got it! 

OVERALL STAR RATING:

I gave it 4/5 stars. It was a very solid and enjoyable film in the franchise. 

Peace & Love xoxo