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. A film by Fede Álvarez, starring Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.

In 2142 AD, the autonomous Echo Probe ventures into the wreckage of the USCSS Nostromo to retrieve a mysterious black, asteroid-shaped object. After successfully obtaining the specimen, the probe returns to the Renaissance, a Weyland-Yutani research station.

The USCSS Nostromo is classified as a commercial towing vehicle, specifically a Lockheed CM-88B Bison M-Class starship, and is owned by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. The ship’s primary function is to tow a large automated refinery between the planet Thedus and Earth, processing mineral ore during its journeys through deep space. The Weyland-Yutani Corporation was formed in 2099 through the merger of two companies: Weyland Corporation, founded by Peter Weyland in 2012, and Yutani Corporation, a Japanese cybernetics company established in 2074. The merger has created a powerful British-Japanese conglomerate that has quickly become a dominant force in space exploration, technology, and colonization efforts.

Several months later, Rain Carradine (Cailee Spaeny), a young woman working in agriculture at the mining colony Jackson’s Star, lives with her adopted synthetic human brother Andy (David Jonsson). After finishing her 12,000-hour contract, Rain requests a trip to the planet Yvaga, but the clerk denies her request. Instead, the clerk extends Rain’s contract to 24,000 hours due to staffing shortages caused by numerous accidents and deaths at the colony.

Jackson’s Star is a Weyland-Yutani colony set on a rocky planet with a ring system. The planet Yvaga is a terraforming colony established independently of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, featuring a similar ecosystem to Earth.

Rain receives a message from Tyler asking her to meet him at his trailer. There, Rain and Andy meet Tyler (Archie Renaux), the leader of scavengers, his younger sister Kay (Isabela Merced), his cousin Bjorn (Spike Fearn), and Bjorn’s adoptive sister Navarro (Aileen Wu). Tyler reveals a plan to steal highly regulated equipment from a derelict Weyland-Yutani spaceship orbiting above the colony, including hypersleep chambers they need to help them get to Yvaga. The group needs Andy because he can communicate with the spaceship’s computer and possibly help them access it. Initially, Rain is reluctant to participate in criminal activity, but she eventually changes her mind due to Tyler’s persuasive skills.

The group leaves Jackson’s Star in the mining hauler Corbelan IV for the derelict spaceship. However, they are surprised when they arrive at what appears to be a derelict Weyland-Yutani spaceship, only to discover that it is actually a decommissioned space station. Nevertheless, they scan the space station and locate several hypersleep chambers.

Tyler, Bjorn, and Andy board the station to retrieve the chambers. Once inside, they realize they are in the Renaissance, a scientific research space station that appears to have been abandoned for an unknown reason. They also discover a mysterious hole in the floor and the severed torso of an android with the head still attached.

The Renaissance is a Weyland-Yutani Corporation scientific research space station comprised of two separate modules dubbed Romulus and Remus. The Remus module was built in 2112 whereas the Romulus was built in 2131. The Remus module hosted less advanced technology than its Romulus counterpart. The station was equipped with a MU/TH/UR 9000 computer system. The Renaissance was once a bustling research facility before the Alien was brought to the station in 2142, which killed everyone onboard. It then became infested with Xenomorphs, and a Hive was created, leaving it abandoned for months.

They successfully obtain the hypersleep chambers, but a new problem arises: the fuel for the chambers is depleted and can only sustain them for three years, which isn’t enough for their nine-year trip to Yvaga. They locate a nearby Cryo Chamber and decide to scavenge its fuel, which is compatible with the hypersleep chambers. However, when they remove the fuel tank, it triggers an automatic lockdown, preventing them from leaving the room. Andy attempts to override the system, but his credentials don’t have the necessary security clearance. Unbeknownst to them, once the cryonic chamber is deactivated, the frozen Facehuggers come to life.

Rain and Navarro board the space station to rescue them, using a disc-shaped chip extracted from the destroyed android. Hopefully, this will transfer the necessary credentials to Andy, allowing him to open the door. After inserting the chip into Andy, he suddenly stops responding as his system reboots. Meanwhile, the Facehuggers begin to attack Tyler and Bjorn.

The chip not only grants Andy full access to the Renaissance, but it also provides a system update that allows him to repair his malfunctioning motorized mechanism and resets his main directive to serve Weyland-Yutani. With full access, Andy is able to open the door and help Tyler and Bjorn escape the room and the Facehuggers’ attack. As they make their way back to Corbelan IV, the Facehuggers break through the door and chase after them.

Facehugger manages to attach itself to Navarro while she and the others are trying to escape the Renaissance. As they attempt to pull it off, the Facehugger’s tail tightens around Navarro’s neck, making it impossible for her to break free. In a desperate move, Rain reactivates the destroyed android, hoping it can help them figure out how to remove the Facehugger. The android, named Rook, tells them that Navarro cannot be saved and advises them to kill her before a xenomorph emerges from her body. Rook also reveals that it was a xenomorph previously found in the Nostromo’s wreckage that destroyed the Renaissance and killed all the station’s personnel on board.

This marks the beginning of a series of illogical judgments and foolish actions by the Corbelan IV’s crew, leading to a chain of catastrophic events and all hell breaking loose.

Directed by Uruguayan filmmaker Federico Álvarez, who co-wrote the screenplay with Rodo Sayagues and drew inspiration from the work of Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett, ALIEN: Romulus is an exciting addition to the ALIEN franchise. This film is set between the events of ALIEN (1979) and ALIENS (1986).

The entire cast delivers impressive performances, especially Cailee Spaeny as Rain, the protagonist, and David Jonsson as Andy, a synthetic humanoid robot. The production and sound design are exceptional. There are several memorable scenes, particularly the moment when they have to float across a narrow bridge while navigating the xenomorph’s highly corrosive blood in zero gravity.

The jump scare technique can become a bit annoying when overused. The main issue lies in the script, which fails to provide a compelling reason for us to root for these teenagers’ survival. Overall, ALIEN: Romulus is a thrilling film, but it lacks that special something that makes us want to revisit it again.

ALIEN: ROMULUS premiered in Los Angeles on 12 August 2024. The film was theatrically released in the United States on 16 August.

Alien: Romulus Box Office Hits A Huge Global Milestone
As of 25 August 2024, ALIEN: ROMULUS has grossed a cumulative global total of $225 million against its $80 million production budget and still has several overseas markets left to open.

Alien: Romulus director explains connection viewers miss to Prometheus film
The black goo is the root of the whole thing that was introduced in Prometheus. The black goo, also known as the “black liquid” is scientifically known as chemical A0-3959X.91–15, and was created by the ancient alien race featured in Prometheus, called the Engineers. The substance has the ability to create, transform, and destroy life.

How ‘Alien: Romulus’ DP Galo Olivares Captured That Gruesome Chestbursting Scene
It was pretty straightforward. It was no tricks… as if we were documenting something. The chestburster was a practical effect made by Alec Gillis and his team.