In 1979, Ridley Scott directed the science fiction horror film Alien. It was followed by Alien 2, Alien 3, and Alien 4, as well as the Alien vs. Predator, the prequel Prometheus, and many others. Games such as “Alien: Isolation,” “Aliens: Dark Descent,” and, in 2024, “Alien: Rogue Incursion” were released as VR games.

Save 75% on Alien: Isolation on Steam

Discover the true meaning of fear in Alien: Isolation, a survival horror set in an atmosphere of constant dread and mortal danger.

Save 55% on Aliens: Dark Descent on Steam

Drop into the gripping journey of Aliens: Dark Descent, a squad-based, single-player action game in the iconic Alien franchise. Lead your soldiers in real-time to stop a new and terrifying kind of Xenomorph outbreak on Planet Lethe.

Alien: Rogue Incursion on Steam

Alien: Rogue Incursion is an all-new action-horror VR game that transforms you into ex-Colonial Marine Zula Hendricks on a dangerous mission to the uncharted planet Purdan, featuring innovative real-life motion gameplay, a whole-body loadout, and the most cunning Xenomorphs ever encountered.

The Alien series has developed in such a variety of media that Alien: Romulus was released as a spin-off movie separate from the official history. This film has an atmosphere similar to the original 1979 version of Alien.

Respect for the original work

Alien: Romulus was a film that showed deep respect for the original ‘Alien’ from 1979. The Xenomorphs (an alien species), an essential element of the Alien series, faithfully reproduce the original’s horror. At the same time, the word Nostromo, the spaceship on which Alien (1979) was set, appears early in the film, creating a sense of nostalgia for the fans.

In addition, the series’ iconic face hugger returns in this film. The poster depicts the face hugger biting a sailor, further demonstrating the face hugger’s importance as a factor in the movie.

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Theater Poster

The face hugger is a symbol of fear that forms the basis of the Alien, as it lays eggs on humans, followed by the birth of the Xenomorph. In this film, the scene in which the Facehugger appears heightens the tension and creates an overwhelming sense of dread in the audience. It differs from the previous films in the series in that the encounter with the face hugger has been acclaimed as adding a new thrill to the story’s overall flow. It indeed follows the theme of the original story of encounters with unknown creatures, and it successfully incorporates the series’ symbolism while captivating a different side of monster panic than before.

It is because the director of this film, Fede Alvarez, has taken a unique approach to the movie while respecting the atmosphere and themes of the original work. The film could be enjoyed by fans of the original work and new audiences, keeping the tradition of the Alien series as a science fiction horror film.

Staging as science fiction horror

This film has a strong horror element, emphasizing encounters with the unknown. Alvarez is known for his remakes of the horror films Deadly Ghosts and Don’t Breathe. The new movie Alien: Romulus by such a director properly reflects the elements that horror fans have come to expect while adding new visual beauty and direction.

It is a work that shines with the skillful direction that will make horror film fans roar. Director Fede Alvarez is known for his work on “Don’t Breathe” and the remake of “The Guts of the Dead. “He shows his skills again in this film. His films are characterized by tense and atmospheric direction that creates a sense of psychological oppression in the audience. This characteristic is also brought out in this film, which takes place inside a spaceship with no escape and a sense of entrapment.

It effectively staged scenes of encounters with unknown life forms and scenes in which such life forms attacked. In particular, the scenes in which the Facehugger appeared had a strong visual and psychological impact on the audience.

In terms of sound, the film’s skillful use of the silence and stillness of space was outstandingly effective in amplifying the sense of dread. The sound effects enhance the horror of this film. It was as if the slightest sound created great tension and treated it as part of the horror’s main character. I felt this direction was only possible because Fede Alvarez directed “Don’t Breathe,” in which a blind old man runs around without sounding.

Attempting a new production in space

Weightlessness is essential to the story in Alien: Romulus. The zero-gravity effect is often used in films set on spaceships, with Gravity being a typical example. However, the Alien series was the first to feature a zero-gravity environment.

The tension is heightened by how the characters’ encounters with the aliens unfold while drifting in this weightless state. Especially in the story’s latter half, this weightlessness restricted the main characters’ actions, creating a new aspect of survival action.

The mysterious space of the universe and the beauty of the terrifying images were fused to create a series of breathtaking scenes. It was impressive to see the contrast of light and shadow in the darkness of outer space, with the occasional reflection of a planet and the light from the Earth shining through.

These visual elements make the film unique because they give the audience a sense of fear and beauty in the unknown realm of space.

Character and Human Drama

The relationship between the main character, Rain, and the android, Andy, is notable. Although Andy is an older android, he is portrayed as a character who has a brotherly relationship with humans. In addition, there are characters in the spaceship who are similar to androids that have appeared in previous series, cleverly blending the series’ traditions with its newness.

The main character, Rain, is a woman with a strength reminiscent of Ripley from earlier in the series but with her unique characterization. Her strength plays a vital role throughout the story.

Overall Rating

Alien: Romulus is a classic alien horror and action film. It perfectly blends sci-fi horror tension, visual beauty, and new challenges in the series’ tradition. It is especially recommended for fans of previous movies and horror and sci-fi enthusiasts.