Alien Romulus - Quick Review

Born To Watch - A Movie Podcast

Hey there, Watchers! In this special quick-review episode, Whitey dives into the much-anticipated Alien: Romulus with his Alien Romulus Quick Review. This is Whitey’s first solo movie breakdown, so let's see how he handles the acid-blooded pressure of reviewing one of the year’s most anticipated sci-fi horror films!

Alien: Romulus delivers the pulse-pounding tension and gritty horror that fans have been waiting for. Director Fede Álvarez knocks it out of the park by dialling the franchise back to its roots. The story is simple and effective: a group of space colonists finds themselves trapped on a derelict station, fighting for survival as the Xenomorphs hunt them. It’s a setup we know well, but here it works because Álvarez knows how to make the familiar feel fresh.

The setting itself, the Romulus space station, feels alive with danger. It’s dark, decaying, and claustrophobic—a perfect playground for the terrifying, acid-blooded creatures we’ve come to fear. The practical effects are superb, with the Xenomorphs looking slimy, grotesque, and scarier than in years. Álvarez balances this with moments of eerie silence, making you dread what’s lurking in the shadows. It’s the kind of movie that keeps you gripping your seat.

Cailee Spaeny leads the charge as Rain Carradine, and she’s fantastic. She’s got the same no-nonsense survival instinct that made Ripley iconic, but with her spin. Spaeny is intense without overdoing it, and her character feels real—vulnerable but tough. David Jonsson also adds a solid performance as her synthetic brother Andy, offering a unique emotional layer amidst the chaos.

Overall, Alien: Romulus is a thrilling ride that pays homage to the original while carving its path. It’s tense, atmospheric, and packed with scares. Fans of the franchise are going to love this one."

When it comes to the Alien franchise, few film series have left such a lasting impact on both science fiction and horror. Ridley Scott’s 1979 Alien introduced a new kind of space terror, blending atmospheric tension with groundbreaking creature design, courtesy of H.R. Giger. The film set the template for a claustrophobic, survival-based narrative. At the same time, James Cameron’s 1986 sequel Aliens ramped up the action, turning the franchise into a blend of horror and military sci-fi.

Subsequent entries like Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection had their own take on the mythology, though with mixed receptions, often criticised for straying too far from what made the originals great. The prequels, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, attempted to expand the universe’s lore, diving into the origins of the Xenomorphs and broader existential themes, but often polarised the fanbase with their more cerebral approach.

Alien: Romulus sits somewhere between the original films and the newer prequels. It strips away the complex world-building seen in Prometheus and Covenant, opting for a more straightforward survival horror, much like Alien and Aliens. It feels like a love letter to the franchise’s gritty roots while still exploring fresh ideas. It’s a return to form, focusing on what the series does best—intense, claustrophobic horror, with a few new twists that keep it relevant for today’s audience.

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