08/17/2024
Alien: Romulus
R 2024 ā§ Horror/Sci-fi ā§ 1h 59m
Cue the lo-fi beats and the vintage VHS effects
We finally got another one, Boys. whats up back at it again with another film review. Let's dive into the spooky, squishy spacey nightmare that is Alien romcom I mean Alien: Romulus. Which by the way likely references the mythological figure Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome. Romulus, along with his twin brother Remus, is a symbol of origin, survival, and the violent birth of a new order. This connection may suggest themes of beginnings, foundation, and perhaps the brutal conditions under which new civilizations (or in this case, new forms of horror) arise. In the context of the Alien universe, the name "Romulus"
could metaphorically relate to the birth of something terrifying and foundational within the series' lore, possibly marking a return to the franchise's origins while introducing a new chapter or entity that carries a significant impact. It may also imply the creation or discovery of something that, like Romulus's Rome, is destined to grow into something powerful and enduringāalbeit with a dark and violent genesis. These mythological and thematic parallels could be why the filmmakers chose the name "Romulus" for this installmentā and keeping up the tradition of Greek names. Like Prometheus.
Did they bring back the xenomorphs? yeah, they did itāthey brought back them back along with
the face-huggers, and all the existential dread you could ever want, but... did they stick the landing? Letās find out. First off, this movie is like if you took the OG Alien and Aliens, shoved 'em in a blender with some VHS tapes of Blade Runner and a sprinkling of your favorite 80s horror flicks. It takes the formula and runs with it. A horror film with Teens in space. Itās as if you gave people from the original alien and aliens films and gave them updated film equipmentment and said go crazy. Pays homage and fan service in a respectful way.
Fede Ćlvarez, the guy who brought us that Evil Dead remake, knows how to make you squirm in your seat, and here, heās playing all the right notesājust maybe a little too close to the originals at times. Set between the events of the original Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986), the film is praised for capturing the claustrophobic terror that defined the early films. A Classic troupe in horror is isolation, one of the most isolated places in existence, space, prefect. The plot centers on a group of young people who, in a desperate bid to escape their grim existence on a mining colony, board an abandoned spaceship, only to encounter the deadly xenomorphs.
The film's atmosphere is heavily influenced by the classic haunted-house-in-space formula that made the original so effective. The production design and practical effects are especially noteworthy, with a deliberate move away from heavy CGI in favor of tangible, lived-in environments that heighten the tension and realism. This return to practical effects is a major point of praise, as it creates a more immersive and terrifying experience for the audience.
Weāre talking practical effects that look like theyāve crawled out of a Ridley Scott fever dream. Thereās some seriously gnarly creature design here, and the space station where our unlucky crew of Gen Z miners end up feels more lived-in than my old room full of N64 games. Thereās a real effort to make the environment feel gritty, grimy, and full of historyālike people lived and died here long before our crew showed up and made bad decisions. And yeah, they make some real bad decisions.
Letās talk characters. Weāve got Cailee Spaeny as Rain, whoās basically the 2024 answer to Sigourney Weaver's Ripley. Sheās tough, but forgettable . Sheās just trying to survive, and honestly, who wouldnāt be? But the real star here is David Jonsson as Andy, the synthetic. This dudeās playing mind games with everyone, including us. Half the time, I didnāt know whether to root for him or be freaked out. And honestly, thatās how you know heās nailing it. There isn't specific information available that confirms whether the character Andy is explicitly portrayed as autistic. However, characters who are synthetics or androids in the Alien franchise often display traits that could be interpreted as being on the autism spectrum, such as difficulty with social interactions, a focus on logic and tasks, and a unique way of perceiving and processing the world around them. David Jonsson's portrayal of Andy is noted for its complexity, making the character intriguing and enigmatic, with audiences unsure whether to fear or sympathize with himā . This ambiguity might lead to different interpretations, including one where Andy's behavior could be seen through the lens of neurodiversity, but without clear confirmation from the filmmakers, any conclusions would be speculative.
Another noteworthy observation is his portrayal has interesting layers when you consider his race. In science fiction, synthetics often represent "the other"ābeings that are created, owned, and often exploited by humans, drawing parallels to historical and ongoing issues of slavery and racism. By casting a Black actor as Andy, the film may subtly invoke these themes, whether intentionally or not. The parallels between Andy's existence as a synthetic and the historical treatment of Black people as property or slaves add a deeper layer to his character. Synthetics in the Alien franchise often grapple with questions of autonomy, identity, and purpose, much like how marginalized groups have historically fought for recognition and rights. Moreover, Andyās struggle with his programmed directives and the way he is perceived by others could reflect the societal prejudices faced by Black people, who are often judged and constrained by societal expectations and biases. This interpretation suggests that Andy's character might be seen as a commentary on the intersection of race, identity, and humanity's fear of "the other."However, these themes are likely more interpretive than explicit, as the film does not overtly address race. Still, the casting of David Jonsson as Andy adds a significant layer of complexity that invites viewers to explore these possible connections.
But okay, this movieās not perfect. The audio mixing? Yikes. Itās like they recorded the first 30 minutes in a wind tunnel or something. I couldnāt make out half the exposition, which is kind of important when youāre dealing with a plot and also the accents are kind of hard to understand without subtitles, but hey I understand why our boy Ridley Scott, is British and since he is producing the film with his company Scott Free why not? Donāt even get me started on the CGI resurrection of Ian Holmās character from the first Alien. They tried to go for that sweet fan service, but it just ends up looking like something from a creepy deepfake video.
That said, if youāre into that old-school, haunted-house-in-space vibe, Romulus delivers. Itās got the thrills, the chills, and enough gooey body horror to make you question your life choices. Itās like watching your favorite horror franchise come back to life, but this time with a bit more self-awareness. The plot might be thinner than my hairline, but sometimes you just want to see some aliens eat people, you know?
In the end, Alien: Romulus isnāt here to revolutionize the franchiseāitās more like a greatest hits album with a few new tracks. And honestly, Iām okay with that. Now, if youāll excuse me, Iām gonna go re-watch the original and remind myself why I never want to go to space. Catch you later, space cowboys.
Subjective 7.9/10
Objective 7.5/10
