The new film of the “Alien” franchise, Alien: Romulus, continues to impress with its gruesome alien creatures and advanced special effects, but its script does not achieve the same prominence as the previous installments.
Under the direction of director Fede Álvarez, Alien: Romulus not only brings a new adventure but is also inspired by the legendary story of the two brothers Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. Additionally, the film’s seven-letter title hints that it is the seventh installment in the “Alien” series. Set between the first two films released in 1979 and 1986, the film serves as an interquel, expanding the franchise’s vast universe.
In the year 2124, the Weyland-Yutani conglomerate continues to expand its empire across the universe, building giant factories and research centers, with the dream of capturing mysterious creatures from faraway space. In this harsh world, Rain (played by Cailee Spaeny) and her adopted brother, the artificial human Andy (David Jonsson), live a miserable life in the dark mines where the conglomerate operates. Days of tireless work in exchange for a ticket to freedom seem forever beyond their reach.
Attractive special effects make the horror scenes in the movie more breathtaking.
But Rain’s patience has no limits. Together with four other colleagues, she decides to make a bold move: break into the abandoned space station Romulus, where they hope to find enough fuel to escape from the tyranny of Weyland-Yutani. However, when they set foot in the cold and quiet corridors of Romulus, they unexpectedly encounter the alien creatures Xenomorph, the terrifying monsters that have existed for a long time, now becoming a terrifying threat they never imagined.
#Finding Your Own Mark in the New Age of Cinema
The 1980s – 1990s are considered the golden age of action and science fiction movies in Hollywood, with iconic franchises such as Alien, The Terminator, and Independence Day. These films not only stood out with the most advanced special effects of the time, but also became a source of inspiration for many generations and enriched global entertainment culture. However, in recent years, screenwriters and directors have faced a harsh response from audiences. Famous brands returning through sequels or reboots have had difficulty making an impression, as the plots have become predictable and lack surprises.
In this context, the Alien series has maintained a stable performance. Recent films such as Alien: Prometheus and Alien: Covenant have achieved box office success thanks to the creativity in building the “world” of producer Ridley Scott. He continues to bring many surprises and maintain the image of Xenomorphs as an unforgettable obsession in the minds of audiences for many generations.
#Continued Viewing ‘Top’ In Alien: Romulus
Since its release in 1979, the first Alien film has received many compliments from international critics, with its visual effects being compared to those of Star Wars by director George Lucas. The genderless appearance of the Xenomorph is not only haunting but also captivating, bringing the ghostly beauty of an entity completely alien to humans. The change in the shape of the Xenomorph through the films, along with the curiosity about new “hybrids”, are the main factors that make up the enduring appeal of the brand.
The Xenomorph’s appearance has haunted viewers for generations.
Coming to Alien: Romulus, the design company Legacy Effect combined computer graphics (CGI), practical effects (practical effects) and electronic models (animatronic) to create Xenomorphs with a slimy and creepy appearance. The script in this part enhances the horror with the appearance of
Facehuggers (face-hugging species) that are no longer passive, but now they attack their prey in packs at extremely high speed. The moments when the Facehuggers cling to human faces to implant seeds clearly show the suffocating atmosphere and the helplessness of humanity before the space demons.
In addition, the outstanding scenes such as the Chestbursters piercing the victim’s chest to crawl out and “cocoon” to give birth to Xenomorphs are depicted in great detail, keeping the dramatic and horror spirit of the first films. Director Fede Álvarez also expanded the exploitation of the biological characteristics of the monster, especially the mechanism of “mutual destruction” with the enemy through shooting blood containing corrosive acid. This realistic biological perspective not only makes Xenomorphs closer to the audience but also increases the obsession with them. Regarding the action and chase scenes, Alien: Romulus builds the climax very well, making viewers often fall into a state of helplessness and despair like the characters in the film. While the first parts have the female lead Ripley as a soldier, this part introduces miners who do not have the appropriate knowledge and skills to deal with Xenomorphs, increasing the surprise and tension for viewers.
#Average Plot and Uninspired Characters in Alien: Romulus
Alien: Romulus has an entertaining but underwhelming storyline with a predictable script and many “flaws”. The film opens with criticism of the labor policies of capitalist companies, when workers are promised a “promised land” if they complete their quotas, while the human resources department arbitrarily increases their daily quotas. However, these elements are not explored in depth, leaving room for action scenes.
Alien: Romulus’ script also misses the opportunity to explore the theme of “AI”, a topic that is attracting attention today. The character Andy, played by David Jonsson, is an interesting character with unpredictable decisions, but is not as thoughtfully portrayed as the robot character David in Alien: Prometheus. Although Jonsson’s acting is very natural, the duration and scale of the film are not enough to highlight this character.
The actress’s performance was excellent.
The female lead character Rain, played by Cailee Spaeny, is built relatively full-bodied with strength and recklessness, easily reminding viewers of Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley. However, the script does not clarify Rain’s past and motivation, making the role lack depth.
On the contrary, the supporting characters in the film lack highlights, with one-dimensional and unwise actions. They do not have a clear past or motivation, making the deaths of each supporting character not create strong emotions and often become a “burden” for the main characters.
In addition, many details in the film are also exploited carelessly, such as the group of characters breaking into the Romulus space station too easily or the Weyland-Yutani corporation not making any moves to approach the space station despite their desire to possess the Xenomorph species. These shortcomings reduce the quality of the script and affect the overall experience of the viewer.
Overall, Alien: Romulus continues to maintain blockbuster standards with sharp images, quality sound and high drama. However, as a spin-off, the film does not affect the main storyline of the “Alien” brand much and the script lacks the necessary creativity, making long-time fans feel unsatisfied. However, fans of the “Space Monster” brand can rest assured that Ridley Scott’s universe still has many mysteries waiting to be discovered, promising new and exciting stories in the future.
Photo by 20th Century Studios
