Alien: Romulus IMAX review

An eerie hum of machinery and slow, whirring sounds of a spacecraft against the vast, vivid visuals of a galaxy. If you’re a fan of the franchise, you will take little to no time tying back the opening sequence of the film with the classic, Alien (1979), be it narratively, or stylistically.

But Alien: Romulus, the ninth in the series, is not really a sequel. Instead, it is set somewhere in the year 2142 and is chronologically third in line from the very first film – Prometheus (circa 2093). Director Fede Álvarez, best known for Don’t Breathe (2016) and Evil Dead (2013), brought his latest Alien film to the cinema after nearly a five-year hiatus.

Being a long-time horror movie enthusiast, it only seemed fitting to sit back and enjoy the movie in an IMAX setting — and boy, did it live up to it! However, leaving aside the stunning visuals, there were several other aspects that made the experience a whole package. 

Note: Proceed with caution as you may encounter easter eggs (alien eggs?) or spoilers.

Alien: Romulus: What was the movie really about?

Set in a dystopian landscape of a terraformed planet, Jackson’s Star, the movie kicks off with the story of Rain (Cailee Spaeny), fighting to survive in a mining colony with her adoptive, synthetic brother (David Jonsson).

The urge to break free and find a fresh start on a new, distant planet brings together an unlikely crew plotting their way to a stranded spaceship drifting in orbit.

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What seemed like a straightforward mission to extract cryo-chambers from the ravaged space station then ensues into a thrilling chase after the lot encounters alien life in the process.

The second half of the movie quickly turns into a survival battle as the group, one after the other, begins to fall prey to facehuggers and Xenomorphs. And, if that’s not nearly enough, they also find themselves running against a ticking timebomb with the ruined spacecraft steadily making its way into an asteroid belt.

Why should you watch Alien: Romulus in IMAX

Alien: Romulus is shot in a 1.90:1 ratio and is truly a treat with its immersive visuals of far-stretching galaxies, melancholic tones and grandiose backdrops. A lot of the movie portrays tight spaces, along with dark, sombre hues and only an IMAX setup could do justice to the depth of field in some of the scenes.

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While there (thankfully) aren’t a lot of jumpscares, the screen just about gives you a feeling of something lurking around the corner, and it is the uneasiness of the scene that I truly enjoyed.

But it isn’t just the brilliant cinematography that makes the film what it is. Of course, that is not to take away the exceptional detailing of the Weyland-Utani mining colony or the liminal feel of the Romulus space station.

Alien: Romulus features a spine-chilling score and that is truly what carries the movie, in my opinion. Beginning from unsettling silences to clicking computer sounds and deafeningly loud thumps, the IMAX experience brings the movie to life in so many ways. Put everything together and you feel like you’re involved with the crew and feel one with the scene.

Whether you’re familiar with the franchise or not, it is safe to say the film pulls you in and keeps you at the edge of your seat, almost instantly, beginning from its title reveal. Fans may even spot familiar link-backs and nostalgic elements referencing back to the older films from the series.

With a run-time of over two hours, Alien: Romulus takes you through a chilling voyage through space and time, with a storyline that keeps you hooked and a soul-stirring background score to go with it. And, of course, if it wasn’t clear yet, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t catch it on an IMAX screen near you.