Alien: Romulus Review — A Terrifying Return to the Franchise's Horror Roots
Fede Álvarez strips the Alien franchise back to its claustrophobic horror origins with impressive results, even if the story plays it safe.
Alien: Romulus
While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.
After the philosophical ambitions of Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, Alien: Romulus strips the franchise back to its terrifying essentials — a group of young people trapped in a dark place with something that wants to kill them. Director Fede Álvarez (Evil Dead, Don't Breathe) knows exactly what he's doing, and the result is the most purely scary Alien film since the 1979 original.
Back to Basics
Set between the events of Alien and Aliens, Romulus follows a group of colonial workers who board an abandoned Weyland-Yutani research station hoping to salvage sleep chambers for a better life. What they find, of course, is a nightmare.
Cailee Spaeny leads with vulnerability and growing determination, and her rapport with David Jonsson's android Andy provides the film with its emotional core. The young cast is uniformly strong, avoiding the "stupid decisions in horror films" trap by making choices that feel genuinely reasonable given what their characters know.
Technical Mastery
Álvarez and cinematographer Galo Olivares construct the station as a genuinely frightening environment. The zero-gravity sequence midway through the film is a standout — inventively staged, viscerally unpleasant, and unlike anything the franchise has attempted before.
The Xenomorph has rarely looked better. Practical effects are used extensively and effectively, and the creature's screen time is wisely rationed so that each appearance retains maximum impact.
Playing It (Too) Safe
Where the film disappoints is in its narrative ambition. Beyond the technical craft, Romulus doesn't have much new to say about the franchise's themes. The story hits familiar beats with competence rather than revelation, and a late-film development involving a legacy character will divide audiences sharply.
The Verdict
For fans who felt the franchise had lost its way, Alien: Romulus is a welcome course correction. It's a confident, skillfully crafted horror film that delivers genuine scares. Just don't expect it to expand your understanding of what the franchise can be.
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Best pure horror in the franchise since the original
- ✅ Impressive practical effects work
- ✅ Strong lead performance from Cailee Spaeny
- ✅ Zero-gravity sequence is a franchise highlight
- ❌ Narratively thin — prioritizes atmosphere over story
- ❌ Controversial legacy character decision
- ❌ Doesn't expand the franchise's thematic horizons
Alien: Romulus
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