Photo cred: 20th Century Studios
by Brennan Smith, Podcast Desk Lead
On August 16, 2024, the horror/sci-fi film "Alien Romulus" took to the cinemas, captivating dedicated fans of the iconic forty-five-year-old franchise. Directed by Fede Álverez, the $70 million movie showcases quality cinematic camera work and hyper-realistic CGI to bring the 7-foot monster to life on the big screen.
The film was rated highly by critics, with 81% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.5/10 on IMDb. However, despite the incredible camera work and rave reviews, the film struggled in several other important areas crucial to the making of a five-star masterpiece.
The film opens with the character Rain Carradine, an orphaned woman who works with her adopted, robotic brother Andy. Rain works tirelessly to fulfill a 24,000-hour quota in order to escape their colony, "Jackson's Star." After Rain's contract is forcibly extended due to the lack of workers on the star, the duo joins Tyler and his crew to retrieve cryostasis chambers on a stagnant ship to flee the planet they used to call home. After a mission gone wrong, the group finds themselves trapped on the ship with an alien species called a xenomorph. The group fights for their lives on a spacecraft in ruins, where every shadow can conceal a potential threat.
With this movie's script, foundation, and setting, the project presented unlimited potential. However, during the creation process, the film fell short in many key areas. The movie's original premise of a chilling, intense, and eerie film was overshadowed by poor performances from some of the cast. Several characters delivered lackluster performances and incomprehensible dialogue, making the plot difficult to follow. Moreover, rushed and underdeveloped character arcs and storylines resulted in awkward and meaningless interactions.
The script for this movie was clunky and ill-suited to the characters, often forcing characters into unnatural and irrelevant interactions that detracted from the overall narrative. For instance, Bjorn's constant bullying of Andy for being a robot lacked context or proper development for this hostile relationship. This ultimately furthered the disconnect between the audience and the characters.
Although the writing and acting were subpar, the film excelled in certain areas. The cinematography in the movie was enthralling, with each scene filmed meticulously to heighten the tension and atmosphere. The camera works perfectly to catch the raw fear of the characters, immersing the audience in the moment. The CGI was also executed well, perfectly portraying futuristic tools and settings that pictured space flawlessly.
If you’re seeking an exceptional movie experience, with amazing character development, seamlessly flawless writing, and emotion-evoking scenes: Alien Romulus may disappoint. However, if you are a fan of visually appealing sci-fi, and enjoy scenes that will have you on the edge of your seat, this movie delivers. Despite its shortcomings, "Alien Romulus" is a worthwhile watch for sci-fi and horror enthusiasts alike.
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