21st Century Studios’ newest project “Alien: Romulus” marks the return of the now seven-movie “Alien” franchise. The film rose to the top of the charts just weeks after its release, quickly becoming the highest-grossing horror movie of 2024.
“Alien: Romulus” takes place on the far-off outpost of the planet “Jackson’s Star,” a Weyland-Yutani mining colony suffering from awful plagues and pollution. Weyland-Yutani is the massive corporation responsible for space travel and many major blue-collar problems that characters face in the “Alien” movies. The company has a hand in every movie from alien experimentation that results in the plot of “Alien 3” to the colony ship found in “Prometheus”.
Rain Carridine (Cailee Spaeny) and her malfunctioning robot brother, Andy (David Johnson), are seeking a way off of “Jackson’s Star”. After meeting with their friends, they learn about a Weyland-Yutani vessel floating above the ringed planet. The group plans to fly to the ship by hijacking a mining vessel and must fight through its obstacles and secrets to make their way to paradise.
Director Fede Alvarez’s use of cinematographic techniques to enhance plot twists is a major contributor to the film’s successful storytelling. Wide shots of the station’s exterior put the structure’s insignificance in perspective as it barrels towards the rings of Jackson’s Star. The camera pans to reveal the horrors of the alien hive slowly, amplifying anxiety. Alvarez finds ways to convey the loneliness and emptiness of space, incorporating sound design to generate a matching uneasy feeling. The horrifying idea, “in space, no one can hear you scream,” was the original tagline of the first “Alien” film in 1979. Utilized extensively as a backdrop of the movie poster, it contributes to the horror of the setting and the continuity of the franchise. The chilling combination of camera work and sound design makes this movie one of the most immersive yet.
The set and character designs also stand out from the crowd of science-fiction and fantasy movies. First developed by artist H.R. Giger, the movie’s beautifully terrifying creatures and otherworldly set designs have become a prominent aspect of the franchise. This latest addition is no different, the station is complete with cramped tunnels, pages of research on the floor, malfunctioning lights and obvious signs of abandonment. The intricate designs have always brought the atmosphere of the setting to life, allowing the viewer to relate and immerse themselves alongside the working-class characters.
Despite the many parts of the series that work well together, the most notable aspect of the “Alien” movies is still the aliens themselves. In this film, we see the creatures’ transformation and diversity, from iconic chest-burster scenes to something entirely new that terrifies even longtime fans in a novel way.
The “Alien” franchise remains in its renaissance period. The release of Ridley Scott’s “Prometheus” (2012) and “Covenant” (2014), and now Alvarez’s “Romulus” breathes new life into a decades-old franchise.
With revolutionary filmmaking techniques, Alvarez couples his work with a return to the core material that made the original movies so beloved. “Romulus” will be available on video-on-demand as of Oct. 15.
