“Alien: Romulus” marks a return to the classic formula of the “Alien” franchise, with its dimly lit hallways, jump scares, morally ambiguous androids, and persistent leading heroine.
The film succeeds with strong performances from Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson. Its visuals are immersive, and its portrayal of indentured servitude offers a disturbing glimpse into a future where space colonization is realized by a powerful corporation. As in the original, the alien threat is shown sparingly, keeping viewers at the edge of their seats until the film’s conclusion.
Established franchises often struggle with managing the expectations of their fanbase while crafting stories that appeal to new audiences. Unlike the Marvel movies that generally rely on viewers connecting storylines from other films, “Romulus” is fairly self-contained. The film’s references to previous “Alien” movies act as a reward for longtime fans but are not essential for the enjoyment of new audiences.
Of the many callbacks “Romulus” makes to the first “Alien” film, the digital resurrection of actor Ian Holm has sparked the most pushback from fans. As a viewer, I was taken aback by the uncanny valley appearance of the reanimated star. Although, the not-quite-human appearance of Holm’s character somewhat suits his role as an “artificial person.”
Replicating deceased actors certainly raises ethical concerns. In this case, it is important to recognize that Holm’s family supported his appearance in Romulus, which was achieved through a mix of a voice actor, animatronics, computer-generated imaging, and artificial intelligence. Along with ethical concerns, digital recreations of actors may be distracting or off-putting to audiences, such as the notorious depiction of Grand Moff Tarkin in Rogue One.
Uncanny valley aside, I was glad to see Ian Holm’s likeness in an “Alien” movie, as it paid tribute to the legendary actor and the film that launched the franchise. While his cameo in “Romulus” was not necessary, it does not derail the film. The cameo appeals to a sense of nostalgia that fans may have for the original film while providing newcomers with motivation to de-code references they missed and engage with previous entries to the franchise.
Overall, “Alien: Romulus” makes for a solid piece of entertainment. Even though parts of it feel like following characters through a video game mission, and the film aligns more with Martin Scorsese’s concept of “theme park” cinema, it offers the experience that most movie-goers expect when watching an “Alien” film. “Romulus” is not particularly groundbreaking, but why should it be? Is there anything wrong with presenting a familiar, suspenseful story that audiences enjoy? Why do we go to the movies after all, if not to be entertained?
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