Alien: Romulus – The Sequel That Revives Space Horror
The original Alien was released 45 years ago in 1979 and is still widely regarded as the greatest space horror movie of all time. Since then, countless space horror films have been released, but most haven’t been very good. They often prioritize spectacle over tension, relying on visual effects designed for shock value in trailers rather than more deliberate and practical special effects.
I’m excited to announce that Alien: Romulus is one of the best space horror movies released in my lifetime. I would rank it alongside Event Horizon and Sunshine. My initial reaction is that Romulus is more successful as an Alien sequel than Alien 3, Prometheus, or Alien: Covenant. This new entry delivers plenty of fan service without feeling like it’s pandering.
While the movie explores some new and interesting ideas regarding the morality of androids, Romulus is, first and foremost, a modern horror film. It’s genuinely scary, which is crucial, but it’s also one of the most visually stunning horror movies I’ve ever seen. The production design fits right in with the original movie while giving us a broader view of this expansive universe. We visit a mining colony on a distant planet and get a better sense of what life is like in this corporate-run society as it scatters among the stars. It’s a world I both want to spend more time in and eventually want to escape from.
Not only is the movie visually stunning, but it leans heavily on practical effects. While there is plenty of CGI, the physical makeup and monster effects are noticeably more dominant here than in almost any studio horror movie released this century. There’s a lot to take in, but I also noticed the original score. Benjamin Wallfisch, who composed the music for IT (2017) and Blade Runner 2049, delivers a score that at times sounds electronic and edgy, and at other times offers a classic symphonic overload, reminiscent of how movies used to be.
Fede Alvarez, who previously directed Evil Dead (2013) and Don’t Breathe (2016), has outdone himself with Romulus. While I enjoyed both of those movies, I believe Romulus is his greatest creative achievement to date. It pairs with both Alien and Aliens better than Alien 3 or any of the sequels or spin-offs that followed. Attempts at rebooting beloved franchises like this rarely turn out as near-perfect as Romulus.
Alien: Romulus is a surprising blend of old and new, horror and beauty, fan service and fresh ideas. I highly recommend seeing this in a dark movie theater on the biggest screen you can find, especially if you’re a fan of the original two movies or just a horror fan in general. It’s been a while since we’ve had a good one in theaters. Romulus won’t reinvent the space horror genre, but it might reform the way reboots are tackled going forward. Fan service can work when it’s created by a talented die-hard fan like Alvarez, rather than a committee of soulless Hollywood executives.
