The first reactions to Alien: Romulus have praised the film as “best movie since Aliens” and “gnarly, gripping & gorgeously bleak”.
The new sequel, the seventh film in the sci-fi horror series, is out this Friday (August 16) and directed by Uruguayan filmmaker Fede Álvarez (Don’t Breathe).
The world premiere for the movie was held in Los Angeles last night (August 12) with many of those attending hailing the film, which takes place between Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986).
“ALIEN: ROMULUS is the best Alien movie since Aliens. The perfect bridge between the sci-fi horror of Scott’s original with the thrilling action of Cameron’s sequel,” shared ComingSoonNet‘s Jonathan Sim. “It gets more thrilling with every scene, culminating in a mind-blowing final act that proves Fede Álvarez never holds back. Absolute insanity filled with fresh ideas.”
ALIEN: ROMULUS is the best Alien movie since Aliens.
The perfect bridge between the sci-fi horror of Scott's original with the thrilling action of Cameron's sequel.
It gets more thrilling with every scene, culminating in a mind-blowing final act that proves Fede Álvarez never… pic.twitter.com/coJcpafZsT
— Jonathan Sim (@TheJonathanSim) August 13, 2024
Courtney Howard, writer at Variety, said: “Fede Alvarez’s #AlienRomulus is gnarly, gripping & gorgeously bleak (everything from the story to Olivares’ cinematography to Wallfisch’s score). Innovatively delivering smart, savvy stuff, subtly playing the greatest hits. Cailee Spaeny & David Jonsson dominate. This rules!”
Fede Alvarez’s #AlienRomulus is gnarly, gripping & gorgeously bleak (everything from the story to Olivares’ cinematography to Wallfisch’s score). Innovatively delivering smart, savvy stuff, subtly playing the greatest hits. Cailee Spaeny & David Jonsson dominate. This rules! pic.twitter.com/kEuDZku2Oz
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) August 13, 2024
The Hollywood Reporter‘s Borys Kit also hailed the franchise’s latest movie. He wrote: “ALIEN: ROMULUS: Has all the great hallmarks of what you would expect in an Alien flick but never feels like it’s pandering to nostalgia or fan service…and even goes into a crazy new direction. Fede Alvarez & the cast just gave birth to summer’s best movie.”
ALIEN: ROMULUS: Has all the great hallmarks of what you would expect in an Alien flick but never feels like it’s pandering to nostalgia or fan service…and even goes into a crazy new direction. Fede Alvarez & the cast just gave birth to summer’s best movie.
— Borys Kit (@Borys_Kit) August 13, 2024
Owner & Editor-In-Chief of the entertainment awards website Next Best Picture, Matt Neglia added: “ALIEN: ROMULUS leans heavily into its horror origins to craft a relentless, visceral thrill ride that starts off slowly and increases in intensity until you’re left gasping for breath by the end.”
ALIEN: ROMULUS leans heavily into its horror origins to craft a relentless, visceral thrill ride that starts off slowly and increases in intensity until you’re left gasping for breath by the end. Devoid of any thematic depth, it incorporates so many winks, nods, and moments of… pic.twitter.com/QSKZdj6cwm
— Matt Neglia (@NextBestPicture) August 13, 2024
Chicago Film Critic, Emmanuel (E-Man) Noisette also heavily praised the movie. He wrote: “Alien Romulus had me on the edge of my seat with suspense. Fede Alvarez understood the assignment and passed with flying colours. As a fan, I loved the new elements and twists that were introduced. This has breathed new life into the Alien franchise and could be one of the best.”
#AlienRomulus had me on the edge of my seat with suspense. Fede Alvarez understood the assignment and passed with flying colors. As a fan, I loved the new elements and twists that were introduced. This has breathed new life into the Alien franchise and could be one of the best. pic.twitter.com/ZAt81ddIJa
— Emmanuel (E-Man) Noisette (@EmansReviews) August 13, 2024
While most praised the film, some were more scathing of the latest sequel.
Brendan Hodges who writes for Next Best Picture, described it as “mostly a gratuitous nostalgia play, remixing what came before with some occasionally strong thrills, but in a franchise famous for its psychosexual weirdness, it’s the safest, blandest and most vapid the series has ever been. I did not love it.”
ALIEN: ROMULUS is mostly a gratuitous nostalgia play, remixing what came before with some occasionally strong thrills, but in a franchise famous for its psychosexual weirdness, it's the safest, blandest and most vapid the series has ever been. I did not love it pic.twitter.com/n3RtpYvXgJ
— an especially dangerous dug called Brendan (@metaplexmovies) August 13, 2024
Jake Hamilton, who co-hosts Cinema Blend‘s podcast, Reel Blend was also disappointed by the ending.
He wrote: “There’s a lot about ALIEN: ROMULUS I like – some truly creative moments in the first two acts that I REALLY dug. However, the finale takes a BIG swing that just didn’t work for me and left me feeling underwhelmed.”
There’s a lot about ALIEN: ROMULUS I like — some truly creative moments in the first two acts that I REALLY dug.
However, the finale takes a BIG swing that just didn’t work for me and left me feeling underwhelmed.
A creative but flawed ALIEN film, however:
PROMETHEUS > ROMULUS pic.twitter.com/tFx8cAe88E
— Jake Hamilton (@JakesTakes) August 13, 2024
You can read some more early reactions below:
Alien: Romulus is absolutely gorgeous and somehow honors every single movie that came before. Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson are great leads, and the alien effects are so satisfying. The finale will be divisive, but I loved it. Big fan of this one.
— Eric Vespe (@EricVespe) August 13, 2024
Alien: Romulus is shockingly good.
This movie is so inventive with horror, thrills, and visuals while never crossing into gratuitous blood or gore. It emulates the original Alien movies so well.
I had to pick my jaw up off the floor in the third act. That was insane. Wow. pic.twitter.com/0XVQsx2tkQ
— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) August 13, 2024
#AlienRomulus is the first time I have been terrified during one of the Alien movies. Cailee Spaeny's Rain is a perfect character to follow on this journey and through Fede Álvarez's twists and turns, you never really know where Romulus is headed. The 3rd act is truly WILD. I dig… pic.twitter.com/vEaiz5966B
— Rachel Leishman (@RachelLeishman) August 13, 2024
Alien: Romulus takes a bit to get going but turns to true horror in the third act, and has some similarities with previous Fede Alvarez films. Some decent surprises and callbacks, to be sure. The facehuggers gave me the creeps, but that’s me having a spider thing.#AlienRomulus pic.twitter.com/FHDWK8002y
— Joey Magidson (@JoeyMagidson) August 13, 2024
Alien Romulus is a curious one. Effective scares, but every set piece feels like a video game level, theme park ride intro, or horror nights maze. Character work didn’t hit me at all either, and I’m an easy mark.
It’s not for me. pic.twitter.com/kRayfGuoR4
— Amelia Emberwing 🔪💋 (@ThatWitchMia) August 13, 2024
Meanwhile, Álvarez recently revealed to NME, he also had help from franchise father Ridley Scott, who directed the original.
After an initial meeting to discuss the “broad strokes” of the story, Scott was “really supportive”, the director said. He also shared a few pearls of wisdom, carefully gleaned from 50 years in the industry.
“He said the director should not be editorial all the time because you lose objectivity with your film,” revealed Alvarez. “If you can stop looking at it for a while and come back to it, you will make it so much better. So I did that during the [Christmas] holidays. I took a month off from the movie and went away and came back… That was great advice he gave me.”
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