Alien: Romulus is Exactly What Nostalgic Moviegoers Didn't Know They Wanted—Movie Review

“Alien: Romulus,” the latest installment in the legendary Alien franchise, reminds us why Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic still haunts our nightmares.

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Directed by Fede Álvarez, known for his skillful handling of horror in films like “Evil Dead” (2013) and “Don’t Breathe” (2016), “Romulus” treads the line between homage and originality. The movie, set between the original “Alien” and James Cameron’s action-packed sequel “Aliens,” plunges us back into the cold, uncaring void of space, where once again, no one can hear you scream.

*Spoilers ahead

From the get-go, “Romulus” establishes its eerie atmosphere, opening with a scene that could have come straight out of a nightmare. A drone probe, seemingly innocuous, collects a mysterious organic object drifting in the wreckage of the USCSS Nostromo—the very ship that harbored the first xenomorph terror. As the object is dissected in a sterile facility, we’re greeted with a familiar yet bone-chilling sight: a curled-up xenomorph, dormant but ominously alive. It’s a terrifying prelude to what’s to come, setting the tone for a film that isn’t afraid to revisit the franchise’s horror roots.

Our protagonist, Rain Carradine, portrayed by Cailee Spaeny, is an orphaned young woman working on the mining colony of Jackson’s Star. Life on Jackson’s Star is far from glamorous—it's gritty, harsh, and filled with the kind of quiet desperation that makes you understand why Rain might leap at an opportunity to escape. Her companion on this journey is Andy, a synthetic reprogrammed by Rain’s father, now malfunctioning and more than a little creepy. David Jonsson’s portrayal of Andy is a standout, balancing the character’s inherent artificiality with moments of unexpected humanity that leave you questioning his true motives.

The plot kicks into high gear when Rain’s work contract is extended unexpectedly, dashing her hopes of leaving the colony behind. Enter Tyler, Rain’s ex-boyfriend, played by Archie Renaux, who offers a dangerous but tempting alternative: join him and his ragtag group of friends on a salvage mission to a derelict spacecraft. The promise of cryonic stasis chambers, which could help them all escape to a better life on the planet Yvaga, is too good to pass up.

But, of course, nothing is ever that simple in the Alien universe. The derelict spacecraft, once a research outpost split into sections Romulus and Remus, holds dark secrets of its own. As Tyler, Bjorn, and Andy board the station, they quickly realize they’re not alone. The stasis chambers they sought are indeed intact, but they come with a terrifying catch—a swarm of frozen face huggers lying in wait, like booby-trapped grenades from hell. The subsequent lockdown that traps them inside is just the beginning of their nightmare.

Álvarez masterfully builds tension as the group’s situation spirals out of control. The film’s pacing is relentless, never allowing the characters—or the audience—a moment to breathe. Rain’s decision to install a chip from a damaged android into Andy’s brain, hoping to gain control over the station’s systems, is a risky move that pays off in the short term but carries dire consequences. Andy, now reset to serve the sinister Weyland-Yutani Corporation, becomes an unpredictable ally, his motivations becoming increasingly murky as the story progresses.

One of the film’s most harrowing moments comes when a facehugger latches onto Navarro, one of the group’s members. Spike Fearn’s portrayal of Navarro’s descent into panic and despair is gut-wrenching, as is the brutal reality that follows. The reactivated android Rook, chillingly voiced with Ian Holm’s likeness in mind, informs the group that Navarro is beyond saving. The ensuing debate over whether to leave Navarro behind, as the face hugger’s seed grows inside her, is a tense, morally complex scene that highlights the desperation and fear driving the characters.

The introduction of the Prometheus strain, an experimental fluid that Rook insists will help humanity evolve, adds a new, albeit disturbing, layer to the plot and the alien universe. This plot thread cleverly ties back to the overarching themes of the franchise—humanity’s hubris and the consequences of playing god. The revelation that the station’s personnel have all been killed by the very creatures they sought to control is a grim reminder of the xenomorphs’ unstoppable nature.

As the film barrels toward its climax, the stakes continue to rise. The station’s impending crash into Jackson’s planetary rings adds a ticking clock element, further heightening the tension. The action sequences are extreme and claustrophobic, with Álvarez’s direction ensuring that every encounter with the xenomorphs feels personal and terrifying. Rain’s final confrontation with the Engineer-xenomorph-human mutant, a grotesque creation birthed from Kay’s injection of the Prometheus strain, is tragic, underscoring the film’s themes of survival and sacrifice.

In the end, “Alien: Romulus” is a film that understands what made the original “Alien” so effective. It’s about humans (and synthetics)—their fears, their flaws, and their often misguided attempts to control forces beyond their understanding.

The performances across the board are strong, with Cailee Spaeny anchoring the film as Rain, a character who’s both tough and vulnerable. David Jonsson’s Andy is a fascinating character whose arc is one of the film’s highlights. The supporting cast, including Archie Renaux as the conflicted Tyler and Isabela Merced as the tragic Kay, deliver performances that add some emotional weight to the story.

Visually, the film is stunning, with the derelict spacecraft’s design harkening back to the grimy, industrial aesthetic of the original. The practical effects, particularly the xenomorphs, are a welcome return to the tactile horror of the early films, while the digital effects are seamlessly integrated to enhance rather than overwhelm the practical work.

Benjamin Wallfisch’s score is another highlight, blending eerie, atmospheric sounds with more traditional orchestral elements to create a soundscape that is both familiar and new. The music amplifies the tension and horror, perfectly complementing the film’s visuals.

“Alien: Romulus” is a must-see for fans of the franchise. It successfully captures the essence of what made the original so iconic. Fede Álvarez has crafted a film that honors the legacy of Ridley Scott’s creation while staking its own claim in the sci-fi horror genre.

Watch Alien: Romulus in theaters now