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Alien: Romulus is a brutal, suspense-packed return to form for the franchise. It captures the claustrophobic terror of the original while throwing in a few adrenaline-fueled nods to Aliens. The film wastes no time plunging us into chaos, with gruesome kills, smart pacing, and some truly beautiful sci-fi set pieces. It’s clear the creative team understands what makes this universe tick—and more importantly, what makes it terrifying.
Spoilers Ahead
Rain Carradine (Cailee Spaeny) is the standout here—sharp, resourceful, and the only character you’re genuinely rooting for. Most of the supporting cast are classic alien chow, but they serve their purpose well. The film’s synthetic, Andy (David Jonsson), is sympathetic and charming enough that you forget he’s an android… until he starts making you question his motives. That looming dread is handled beautifully, adding layers without slowing things down.
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The real showstopper is the final alien baddie—no ordinary xenomorph, that draws on the disturbing bio-horror themes of Alien: Resurrection and the prequels. It’s fast, cunning, and horrifying in all the right ways. The design is fantastic, and the way it’s revealed makes for one of the creepiest and gut wrenching moments in the entire franchise – possibly since the emergency c-section of Prometheus.
But my one big problem with Alien: Romulus
The film stumbles hard in its decision to bring back Rook using a mix of animatronics and awkward CG. It’s meant to be a tribute, but instead lands in the uncanny valley and never climbs out. It raises questions about digital resurrection in the industry and when it should be done, if ever. Still, despite that misfire, Alien: Romulus delivers an amazingly horrifying ride—and might just be the best Alien film since the ’80s.
And although I enjoyed the prequels, it was nice for once to get away from the philosophical mumbo jumbo and get back to something that occasionally resembles James Cameron’s interpretation of the franchise.
NerdScore
7.2/10
Alien: Romulus (2025) Review
Alien: Romulus channels the claustrophobic horror roots of the franchise with modern spectacle, offering nerve-shredding tension even if its story doesn’t fully break new ground.
Set between the original Alien and Aliens, Romulus follows a group of young colonists who stumble upon a derelict space station—only to awaken the perfect organism once more.
IMDb
7.1/10
Metacritic
64/100
Rotten Tomatoes
80%