Possible Minor Spoilers.
When Rain Carradine’s work contract is unexpectedly extended by the Weyland company, she accepts an offer to visit a derelict spacecraft as a stopping point for a better life. However, it holds a horrifying and deadly secret, and she, her friends, and her synthetic companion must fight to survive.
Director Fede Álvarez delivers a terrifying and atmospheric Alien installment with fantastic special effects and a gripping music score. It pulls no punches in terms of blood, action, and suspense, offering striking visuals and intense, gory action. However, for the sake of fan service, it frustratingly uses lines of dialogue from other outings, which diminishes its own originality for no reason. Including - "Get away from her, you bitch.”
There are some dynamic setups and callbacks to the series, including references to the USCSS Nostromo and the inclusion of a familiar face as Rook, which serves as the icing on Álvarez’s cake. Benjamin Wallfisch’s score wonderfully complements the grim claustrophobic terror, also including stings from the Alien franchise.
From the busy mining planet to the confines of a ship and the research outpost space station Romulus and Remus, the young cast is great. Notable are leads Cailee Spaeny as Rain and David Jonsson as android Andy. Archie Renaux’s Tyler is memorable, but the stars of the show are the Alien, Facehuggers, and their life cycle, expertly brought to life. The fresh Big Chap Alien cocooning aspect shown in the opening, is revisited and paid off later with different Alien in a memorable Stun Baton scene. There’s zero gravity, pulse rifles, acid and cryogenic burns and more.
Produced by Scott Free Productions and Brandywine Productions, and written by Álvarez and Rodo Sayagues, it heavily borrows from the 2019 story synopsis, Alien Covenant 2: Gods and Monsters (though not credited). Nevertheless, it’s cinematic, wonderfully crafted, and there are enough new elements and frights for this installment to shine.
Overall, Álvarez’s scifi injects new life into the horror franchise. Highly recommended.
No comments:
Post a Comment