Has Alien: Romulus Returned the Franchise to Its Former Glory?

Horror wouldn’t be the same without this iconic series.

Alien first graced the big screen in 1979. While the film received mixed reviews upon release, it has gone on to become synonymous with the horror science fiction genre. There are several reasons for this. The first is the amazing practical effect work. Sure, the original alien looks like a guy wearing some rubber tubing on our modern Ultra HD television but the power of the chestbusters cannot be denied.

The Xenomorph and its offspring are some of the most recognizable horror icons in the industry. Not only for their amazing design but also for the terror caused by the cosmic horror of the films. The concept is simple enough to grasp. How terrifying would it be to be locked in a room with an apex predator that cannot be reasoned or bargained with? The Xenomorph is an animal being driven by an instinct to kill.

However, the main reason these first films are so highly regarded is the character, Ellen Ripley. She is cool, smart, and a badass fighter. Surrounded by a group of men who don’t heed her warnings, Ripley is the lone survivor of the fight against the Xenomorph and lives on to become a protector in the following film Aliens.

There's gotta be a way of killing it. How? How do we do it? - Ripley

Although this film came out in 1979, Ripley set the precedent for the modern concept of the final girl. Horror films have not always been kind to their female characters. This is put on full display during the slasher craze of the 80s.

Here, we see the original version of the final girl. She is often presented as a somewhat shy virgin who uses the strength of her purity to defeat the big bad at the end of the film. While this wasn’t always the case, it happened often enough to be presented as a kind of formula for how a final girl should be presented.

This all changed in the 90s with films like Scream and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. These final girls were more liberated and knew how to through a punch. They were no longer protected by their innocence but by their intelligence and aptitude. However, these final girls would have never had their time in the spotlight if it wasn’t for Sigourney Weaver’s impeccable role as Ellen Ripley.

Not only did the Alien franchise give us a strong female lead, but it also changed the way the world looked at science fiction, horror, and action. A wise man once said that the difference between horror and action is whether you are running or fighting. This proves true with Alien and Aliens.

The first film gives us a terrified Ripley running for her life, AKA classic horror. However, the second film gives us a badass momma bear fighting off the Xenomorph hoard to protect a young girl named Newt. These two films highlight the Alien franchise's ability to seamlessly switch between genres and showcase the range of their cast.

Not only is the Alien franchise iconic but it also laid a roadmap for all of the modern horror we love today. The films question gender and genre stereotypes while also presenting some of the craziest body horror imaginable. Whether or not Alien: Romulus will be able to live up to the hype is still yet to be seen. But given the franchise's track record for breaking new ground, I doubt we have much to worry about.