91裸聊视频淚n space, no one can hear you scream,91裸聊视频� went the tagline for the original 91裸聊视频淎lien91裸聊视频� in 1979, a terrifying thought on multiple levels.
There may indeed be a scientific rationale for a space scream to be inaudible, but isn91裸聊视频檛 it scarier to simply realize nobody91裸聊视频檚 around to hear you? That was the case for Sigourney Weaver91裸聊视频檚 Ripley, once she became the last one standing against the fearsome Xenomorph. Nobody could hear her scream 91裸聊视频� nobody human, that is 91裸聊视频� because, duh, everyone was dead.
In any case, hearing won91裸聊视频檛 be a problem here on Earth at any multiplex showing the much-anticipated new installment to the 91裸聊视频淎lien91裸聊视频� franchise (not a sequel, but we91裸聊视频檒l get to that in a minute.) This is a very big, very (very!) loud, very jumpy horror flick, and the screams will come, and they91裸聊视频檒l be audible. Which is precisely what 91裸聊视频淎lien91裸聊视频� fans are surely waiting for.
And speaking of Ripley, no, neither she (nor Weaver) are present in this new version by closer in feel to the horror roots of Ridley Scott91裸聊视频檚 original than James Cameron91裸聊视频檚 more action-focused 1986 91裸聊视频淎liens.91裸聊视频� But now we have Rain Carradine, played by rising star Cailee Spaeny (91裸聊视频淧riscilla91裸聊视频�), a new-generation Ripley in everything but name. Spaeny takes up the mantle of badass space fighter with aplomb, and is easily the best part of a movie that, like the 1979 original, is short on character development.
There are many other parallels (and winking nods) to the original (Scott is a co-producer here). But like we said, don91裸聊视频檛 call it a sequel. In fact it91裸聊视频檚 an 91裸聊视频渋nterquel,91裸聊视频� which wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be a bad horror film title in itself. The dictionary explains that it91裸聊视频檚 neither sequel nor prequel, but rather a 91裸聊视频渕iddlequel91裸聊视频� between installments, known as 91裸聊视频渜uels.91裸聊视频�
Just kidding! It91裸聊视频檚 not in the dictionary. But it91裸聊视频檚 worth noting that 脕lvarez, in placing his movie between existing versions to form a new trilogy, yet aiming also for standalone entertainment, risks some tonal confusion. Not that you91裸聊视频檒l be able to hear your thoughts, should this occur to you.
The premise is new, sort of. 脕lvarez, who co-wrote the screenplay with Rodo Sayagues, has said he got the idea from a deleted scene from Cameron91裸聊视频檚 film, in which young kids were seen amongst workers in a mining colony, and wondering what their lives would be like when they reached their 20s.
At the beginning, we find out: life is bleak indeed in the colony on Jackson91裸聊视频檚 Star, owned by the worker-exploiting Weyland-Yutani firm.
Rain91裸聊视频檚 miner parents have died of lung ailments. They91裸聊视频檝e left her a caring brother, Andy, who is actually a 91裸聊视频渟ynthetic,91裸聊视频� or humanoid robot. The 91裸聊视频渉uman91裸聊视频� element is crucial because it allows an empathetic David Jonsson, in the role, to connect to the audience in a way that otherwise only Spaeny does 91裸聊视频� the rest of the cast is given virtually nothing to work with.
In any case, the two are not long for Jackson91裸聊视频檚 Star. After Rain is turned down for a travel permit to finally escape dark colony life, she and Andy join a risky venture.
There91裸聊视频檚 an (apparently) decommissioned space station hovering above, and if they can raid it of hardware and other loot, they can bypass the brutal wait for permits and finally make it to a new home. And so, reluctantly, the two agree to join the others 91裸聊视频� Rain91裸聊视频檚 ex-boyfriend Tyler (Archie Renaux), his sister Kay (Isabela Merced), Bjorn (Spike Fearn) and Navarro (Aileen Wu) 91裸聊视频� on a bumpy flight to the Renaissance station.
Surely we91裸聊视频檙e not spoiling much to say that it91裸聊视频檚 best not to get attached to anybody.
Because, we all know what91裸聊视频檚 waiting up there, don91裸聊视频檛 we? It91裸聊视频檚 already been teased in the opening, with the rickety old station looking much like USCSS Nostromo, that ill-fated space tug in the original.
We hardly needed the hint, though. This is an 91裸聊视频淎lien91裸聊视频� movie and it91裸聊视频檚 all about the Xenomorph, that terrifying creature who is diabolically 91裸聊视频減erfect,91裸聊视频� able to survive in any atmosphere and to multiply, obviously, in the most disgusting of ways.
It91裸聊视频檚 not really a party 91裸聊视频� or a movie 91裸聊视频� until the creatures show up. And that, they do. Much has been made of this film91裸聊视频檚 rather than a CGI-created universe. The actors have said this 91裸聊视频� as well as shooting in a linear fashion 91裸聊视频� helped them feel the genuine horror needed for their portrayals.
Does all this elevate the film beyond any of its predecessors? Like so many franchises that depend on intense fandom, that truly depends from what vantage point you91裸聊视频檙e joining in. Fans of the original will appreciate the many respectful echoes of that film (and perhaps the fact that, thank the lord, there91裸聊视频檚 no longer a gratuitous skimpy panty scene.) Fans of Cameron91裸聊视频檚 take will appreciate the action that comes later in the film.
And while some will applaud the wild, outlandish, creative and possibly ridiculous swerve of those final minutes 91裸聊视频� not to spoil it 91裸聊视频� others may even laugh rather than scream.
It91裸聊视频檚 all good, though. In space, probably no one can hear you laugh, either.
91裸聊视频淎lien: Romulus,91裸聊视频� a 20th-Century Studios release, has been rated R by the Motion Picture Association 91裸聊视频渇or bloody violent content and language. 91裸聊视频� Running time: 119 minutes. Two stars out of four.
