Alien: Romulus Spoiler-Free Review

Alien Romulus has big boots to fill as this popular franchise continues to propel through space. I’m happy to say that the latest instalment is a worthy entry. With phenomenal use of practical effects, both in set builds and character design, the world feels tactile and immersive for the audience. The sound design is exquisite and has always been a key element to the horror evoked by these menacing deep space horrors.

The let down in Romulus is the script. The story itself is fairly decent, seemingly presented as a young adult slasher in space, but the dialogue is clunky and pulls one out of the story often.

Performances across the board are solid, with a confident performance from Cailee Spaeny who is establishing herself as a go to for action and drama hero in modern cinema; but the standout performance goes to David Jonsson who extracts empathy and awe from the audience in almost every scene he’s in.

One key issue I had with this film is that it seems to pull its punches with the gore and horror. There are several moments where a cut happens a moment too soon, leaving the audience be unable to bask in the madness of the mutilation occurring on screen. And these small details change the experience for viewers, for better or worse.

Despite this, there were some phenomenally original moments that had my excitedly punching the air, celebrating the victories of our heroes; or chewing my nails as I watched them
Navigate a stressful situation.

Overall Romulus is a great instalment in the beloved sci fi horror film franchise that is Alien, and continues to build on the legacy of its predecessor in a unique and interesting way.

Rating: 8/10

Watch the trailer for Alien: Romulus now

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