ALIEN: ROMULUS - MOVIE REVIEW / A GRIPPING SCIENCE FICTION HORROR MOVIE

 

Alien: Romulus, is a gripping science fiction horror film directed by Fede Álvarez, who co-wrote the screenplay with Rodo Sayagues. Produced by Scott Free Productions and Brandywine Productions, the film is a thrilling addition to the iconic *Alien* franchise, set between the events of *Alien* in (1979) and *Aliens* in (1986). The story follows a group of six young, desperate space colonists, portrayed by Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu, as they face unimaginable horrors while scavenging a derelict space station.

 

The project was first announced at CinemaCon in April 2019 by 20th Century Fox, with Álvarez officially attached as director in March 2022. Spaeny was cast as the lead later that year, and filming took place from March to July 2023. The film premiered in Los Angeles on August 12, 2024, and was released theatrically in the United States on August 16 by 20th Century Studios. It went on to gross $350.9 million worldwide and earned critical acclaim, including a nomination for Best Visual Effects at the 97th Academy Awards.

 

In the year 2142, the Weyland-Yutani Corporation retrieves a mysterious cocoon from the wreckage of the *USCSS Nostromo*. Months later, on the desolate, perpetually dark colony of LV-410, orphaned colonist Rain Carradine, played by (Cailee Spaeny) discovers that Weyland-Yutani has forcibly extended her work contract. Desperate to escape, she teams up with her adopted brother Andy, played by (David Jonsson), a malfunctioning android reprogrammed by her late father; her ex-boyfriend Tyler, played by (Archie Renaux); Tyler's pregnant sister Kay, played by (Isabela Merced); their cousin Bjorn, played by (Spike Fearn); and Bjorn's adopted sister Navarro, played by (Aileen Wu). Together, they hijack the hauler *Corbelan IV* and set course for *Renaissance*, an abandoned Weyland-Yutani space station divided into two modules: *Romulus* and *Remus*. Their goal is to steal cryostasis equipment to survive the nine-year journey to Yvaga III, a distant, idyllic planet free from corporate control.

 

Tensions rise when Bjorn taunts Andy, revealing that Yvaga III prohibits androids, forcing Andy to stay behind. Rain is left guilt-ridden, but the group presses on. Upon arriving at *Renaissance*, Tyler and Bjorn attempt to retrieve cryostasis fuel but accidentally trigger a station-wide lockdown, unleashing dozens of deadly facehugger parasites. In a desperate move, Rain upgrades Andy's security access using a control chip from Rook, the station's damaged science officer android. However, the reprogramming shifts Andy's loyalty from Rain to Weyland-Yutani. Despite this, Andy leads the group to safety, but not before a facehugger attaches itself to Navarro.

 

Rain reactivates Rook, who reveals the station's dark history: the cocoon recovered from the *Nostromo* contained the xenomorph that killed its crew. *Renaissance* scientists experimented on the creature, reverse-engineering the facehuggers, but the xenomorph escaped, slaughtering most of the crew. The survivors perished when the creature's acidic blood melted through *Remus's* hull, causing explosive decompression.

 

As Navarro succumbs to the facehugger's implantation, Bjorn attempts to flee with her and Kay aboard the *Corbelan*. However, a chestburster erupts from Navarro, killing her and causing the *Corbelan* to crash into *Romulus's* hangar. The collision accelerates the station's descent into LV-410's planetary rings. Meanwhile, the infant xenomorph rapidly matures into its adult form, killing Bjorn with its acidic blood. Kay narrowly escapes but is pursued by the creature. Rain and Tyler try to rescue her, but Andy, now fully aligned with Weyland-Yutani, refuses to open a critical door, believing the xenomorph is using Kay as bait. Rain and Tyler are forced to watch helplessly as the xenomorph captures Kay.

 

Rook instructs Andy to retrieve Z-01, a powerful fluid derived from facehuggers that can rewrite DNA, intended to create genetically enhanced humans capable of surviving in space. Rook demands the fluid be delivered to Jackson's Star in exchange for releasing the *Corbelan*. Rain and Tyler arm themselves, but Andy warns them against harming the xenomorph, as its acidic blood could trigger another catastrophic decompression.

 

The group discovers a xenomorph nest, where they find Kay, severely injured but alive. Andy administers Z-01 to her, miraculously healing her wounds. However, they are soon attacked by hordes of facehuggers and xenomorphs. Tyler sacrifices himself to protect Rain and Kay, while Andy is incapacitated. Rain drags Kay to safety and returns to restore Andy's original programming. With xenomorphs closing in, Rain disables the station's gravity, allowing her to shoot the creatures without their blood damaging the hull. As gravity is restored, Rain faces off against the Navarro xenomorph, but Andy intervenes, killing the creature. Rain and Andy escape aboard the *Corbelan* just as *Renaissance* is destroyed by LV-410's rings.

 

As Rain and Andy prepare for their journey to Yvaga III, Kay gives birth to a horrifying human-xenomorph hybrid, mutated by the Z-01. The hybrid kills Kay and disables Andy before Rain ejects it into LV-410's rings, disintegrating it. In the aftermath, Rain records an audio log, reflecting on the horrors they endured. She and Andy enter cryostasis, hoping to survive the long journey to Yvaga III and find a new beginning.

 

**Alien: Romulus** delivers a tense, action-packed narrative that expands the *Alien* universe while staying true to its roots. With its blend of horror, science fiction, and emotional depth, the film is a worthy addition to the franchise, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats.