People who like the Alien franchise may well have their own favourites but for most of us, Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986) sit head-and-shoulders above the rest. It seemed wise then, to bring the series back to basics by setting the seventh instalment between the events of those two films. Fede Álvarez takes over directorial duties from Ridley Scott, and he co-wrote the screenplay with Rodo Sayagues.
Rising star Cailee Spaeny is top billed as Rain Carradine. She works with her adoptive brother Andy (David Jonsson), a reprogrammed synthetic human, at the dismal colony called Jackson’s Star. It is her dream to escape to the planet Yvaga but her work contract is forcibly extended by Weyland-Yutani. Rain agrees to join her ex-boyfriend Tyler (Archie Renaux) on an illicit mission to a derelict spacecraft to retrieve cryostasis chambers. These chambers will allow Rain, Tyler, his pregnant sister Kay (Isabela Merced), cousin Bjorn (Spike Fearn), and Bjorn’s girlfriend Navarro (Aileen Wu) to reach Yvaga.
After a so-so start, it is when the group reach the spacecraft that the movie picks up pace. There is barely a moment to breathe as the dwindling crew battle the terrifying creatures.
The appearance of an android named Rook gives a nice call back to the first movie in the series. But, otherwise, unlike the recent Beverly Hills Cop and Ghostbusters films, that sort of fan service is not overdone. Thankfully, we are also spared pretentious mumbo-jumbo that plagued the last two films in the franchise.
Spaeny again shows how brilliantly versatile she is and Jonsson follows his break out performance in Rye Lane with an affecting turn here.
I would not rank Alien: Romulus as high as Alien or Aliens, but it is arguably the next best instalment.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10