A tense, muscular sci-fi horror ride that largely succeeds on atmosphere, creature design, and set-piece execution. It leans hard into franchise nostalgia, but the craft is strong enough that the scares and momentum still land for most horror fans.
Alien: Romulus
Where to watch: Buy
Movie · Horror · Science Fiction
Tue · 1h 59m
Director: Fede Álvarez
Starring: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux
Overview
While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.
Director
Fede Álvarez
Cast
Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux
Curator Review
Verdict
A tense, muscular sci-fi horror ride that largely succeeds on atmosphere, creature design, and set-piece execution. It leans hard into franchise nostalgia, but the craft is strong enough that the scares and momentum still land for most horror fans.
Best for
fans of claustrophobic creature horror
viewers who like legacy sequels and franchise callbacks
audiences who want practical-effects-forward suspense
people looking for a fast, mean space thriller
Skip if
you want a fresh, original sci-fi concept
you dislike fan service and continuity-heavy sequels
you prefer slow-burn horror over relentless set pieces
you are burned out on the Alien franchise
Overview
Alien: Romulus is built like a pressure chamber: narrow corridors, failing systems, and a young crew making worse and worse decisions as the walls close in. It understands the basic appeal of the franchise better than most modern entries, delivering clean, mean suspense and a handful of genuinely nasty visual ideas.
Worth noting
The movie’s biggest strength is momentum. When it is playing as a survival-horror machine, it is extremely effective, and the cast helps sell the panic and desperation. The film also knows how to stage a few memorable set pieces that feel engineered for audience gasps.
Bottom line
Its weakness is that it often feels more like an expertly assembled franchise exercise than a bold new chapter. The callbacks can be heavy-handed, and the story occasionally trades surprise for familiarity. Still, if you want a sleek, brutal space horror film that mostly delivers what it promises, this is an easy recommendation.
Top Letterboxd reviews
mariano (4★) · 25410 likes
every time they bullied andy i wanted to punch a hole thru the fucking screen
Louis Peitzman (4★) · 25163 likes
I'm starting to feel like the Weyland-Yutani Corporation does not have our best interests at heart.
Marianna Neal 🇺🇦 (4★) · 15803 likes
I can just feel the people who are getting ready to complain about "fan service", but I'm a fan and I was fucking SERVICED! EDIT: OK, since a bunch of people are really pressed by this reaction because god forbid someone enjoys something that's not a universally acclaimed masterpiece... Take the next step, listen to the actual review - that's what the link is for. Yes, I've seen "more movies". Yes, that "Get away from her, you bitch" line was… more
aurora 𖦹 (3.5★) · 15180 likes
things not to bring into space • pregnant women • british people
B E R T (4★) · 8964 likes
Priscilla Presley goes to space, only this time, the Xenomorphs are so much meaner than Elvis.
Themes
space horror, survival, corporate exploitation, body horror, claustrophobia, legacy sequel, young protagonists, artificial intelligence
Topics
sci-fi horror, creature feature, claustrophobic, space station, body horror, survival thriller, legacy sequel, practical effects, tense, cosmic dread