They say that in space no one can hear you scream. Well at least that is what the Alien franchise has told people over the years. Since 1979, this franchise has changed the landscape of both sci-fi and horror films and has become one of the most recognizable franchises in all of pop culture. It has been over seven years since the Xenomorphs have terrified the silver screen and after Disney acquired 20th Century Fox the future of this franchise was up in the air. Fortunately Disney had plans for the series and after hiring acclaimed filmmaker Fede Alvarez, moviegoers would experience more cosmic terror in the seventh installment in the acclaimed franchise-Alien: Romulus.

The movie centers on Rain (Cailee Spaney) and a crew of desperate miners seeking a way out of their situation, and find it in an abandoned space station. However the crew soon discover that the station carries more than just supplies as waiting for them is a horde of Xenomorphs as well as a few dark secrets. Originally intended to be exclusive to Hulu, the new movie was shifted to have a theatrical release and serves as a standalone film set between Alien and its sequel Aliens. Between the movie’s placement in the series as well as Alvarez’s involvement, Alien: Romulus had the chance of being an intriguing installment in the series-not to mention a bloody one. So after seeing this new chapter in the Alien franchise, I can say that Romulus is a much needed return for the series as well as a thrilling experience.

Over the years the Alien franchise has taken some interesting turns (albeit polarizing) with entries such as Prometheus and Alien: Covenant. While I liked the previous entries and their concepts, I do think that it may have been time for the series to get back to basics-and that is exactly what Romulus set out to do. Along with an appropriate premise, the movie followed a structure similar to Alvarez’s previous films which worked a double-edged for the plot. While this direction made the story thrilling; its fast pace led to points feeling abrupt. Yet this issue did not hinder the film’s storytelling. Along with some thematic undertones, the plot did its best to connect with the rest of the series; and this direction was appreciated. callbacks to the likes of Alien were to be expected, but most surprising was the plot implementing elements from Prometheus. This direction made the story into not just a exhilarating tale but a true culmination for the series.

As for the cast, I was delightfully surprised with how this troop turned out. Going into the movie, I was worried that Rain would end up being a mere clone to the iconic Ellen Ripley. Thankfully that was not the case as Rain was a balanced protagonist whose role fit this movie quite well. Yet the biggest surprise was Rain’s synthetic brother Andy (David Jonsson). Between Andy’s inner turmoil and the fantastic performance from Jonsson, this android was not just a highlight for the movie but was arguably one of the most compelling characters this series has ever created. As for the rest of the cast, characters like Tyler (Archie Renaux) and his sister Kay (Isabela Merced) were minimally captivating, but they were fine in their respective roles. As for the Xenomorphs, the movie stuck to the basics of these iconic creatures and this proved effective as their presence was just as foreboding as it was in 1979.

The Alien franchise has pushed the boundaries of science fiction, horror and even action; and the best films are the ones that encapsulates all of these elements. In the case of Romulus, the film does its best utilize all of these elements and I felt that, for the most part, it succeeded. In the case of the horror, the scare was surprisingly effective (even the jump scares) as the film’s setting and grim cinematography captured a tense atmosphere. The sci-fi element was showcased in the film’s visuals which blended a look seen in its predecessors with stellar effects that gave the movie its own style. As for the action the movie implemented the concept of less being more. The movie featured some creative sequences that were memorable for not just the gore but their sheer ingenuity. Rounding these factors together was of course the music by Benjamin Wallfish. Wallfish’s compositions truly captured the sci-fi aspect with a hint of horror, and this sense of symmetry led to one of the most memorable scores in the entire Alien franchise.

Alien: Romulus is a bloody love letter to the iconic series. While its quick execution and Alvarez’s familiar directing hindered it a bit, there was still much working to this new installment’s benefit. The likes of story and characters were engaging while the movie’s gripping presentation led to many great moments. Where the series goes from here will be interesting, but for now I will simply say that Alien: Romulus is a thrilling chapter that shows there is still some life in this terrifying franchise.