Alien: Romulus
Alien: Romulus is a 2024 science fiction horror film, the seventh installment in the Alien franchise, directed by Fede Álvarez. Set between the events of the original Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986), the narrative centers on a group of young space colonists, including protagonist Rain Carradine, who are striving to escape their harsh existence on a mining colony. Their plan to acquire essential cryostasis equipment from a seemingly abandoned Weyland-Yutani space station takes a terrifying turn when they awaken and confront a horde of highly aggressive Xenomorph creatures. The film aims to recapture the intense, claustrophobic horror and gory elements that defined the early films in the series.
Concerns
Violence
HighAlien: Romulus contains extremely graphic and pervasive violence, gore, and body horror, consistent with its R-rating. Deaths are brutal and depicted with significant blood and dismemberment, making it one of the most violent entries in the franchise.
The MPAA rated the film R for 'bloody violent content'. Specific examples include a facehugger attaching to Navarro's face, planting a 'seed,' and a later chest-bursting scene. Kay, already pregnant, injects herself with a xenomorph-human serum, resulting in a 'bloody and terrifying' birth of a hybrid creature that kills her. Other violence includes xenomorphs impaling, suffocating, dragging away people, and acid blood melting skin and causing injury, with visible stab wounds and human corpses shown trapped on walls or with heads caved in.
Profanity
HighThe movie features a high frequency of strong profanity, including numerous 'f-words' and misuses of God's name, contributing to its R-rating.
Movieguide identified 41 obscenities, with over 25 instances of the 'f-word,' two profanities using the name of Jesus Christ, and three 'OMG' profanities. Parent Previews similarly reported 43 sexual expletives and 11 scatological curses. The New Zealand Classification Office also noted the use of words like 'f**k', 'sh*t', 'b**ch', and 'd*ck' as reactions to stressful situations.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe film is intensely scary, employing constant suspense, jump scares, and graphic body horror imagery. It is designed to evoke fear and distress, featuring terrifying creature attacks and life-threatening scenarios throughout its runtime.
Reviewers describe the film as a 'spine-chilling thrill ride' and a 'terrifying and fun ride'. It features frequent 'bloody creature violence' and extensive 'body horror galore,' including facehuggers and chest-bursters. Screen Rant highlights its status as 'one of the scariest and most violent imagery in the series,' mentioning 'plenty of overwhelming swarms, unexpected turns, and the best jump-scare in the entire series'.
Anti-Christian Themes
HighThe film presents a strong 'pro-abortion, anti-human subtext' primarily through its depiction of a pregnant character, Kay, who injects herself with a xenomorph-human serum, resulting in a horrifying, non-human 'birth' that leads to her death. This narrative choice, interpreted by some outlets as a negative stance on childbearing, could be highly concerning for Christian parents.
Movieguide explicitly identifies an 'immoral pro-abortion, anti-human subtext at the end' of the film, as well as a 'horrific subtext against having children and giving birth'. This is evidenced by the character Kay, who is already pregnant, injecting herself with a xenomorph-human hybrid serum. This leads to a gruesome, non-viable 'birth' of a monstrous creature that kills her, portrayed as a 'bloody and terrifying' scene.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumThe film does not feature explicit LGBTQ characters or relationships. However, consistent with the franchise's history, critics and media outlets note the presence of 'psychosexual f---ed up–ness' and monstrous sexual imagery in the alien designs and reproductive horror themes, which some interpret as inherently queer. The film also focuses its reproductive horror specifically on female characters.
Director Fede Álvarez mentioned the film contains 'psychosexual f---ed up–ness' in its imagery. An Out.com review noted that while there are no overt gay characters, 'this film views sex as something that is sometimes monstrous and unrecognizable, which is definitely queer' in its thematic execution. The film also 'gendered its pregnancies' by only showing female characters as hosts for xenomorph impregnation, with characters like Navarro and Kay undergoing this horrific process.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThere are no explicit sex scenes. However, the film features suggestive alien creature designs, thematic 'psychosexual f---ed up–ness,' and focuses heavily on reproductive body horror, which can be interpreted as a form of sexual violence allegory.
Movieguide notes the 'designs of the alien creatures have sexual connotations'. Director Fede Álvarez explicitly mentioned 'psychosexual f---ed up–ness' in the film's imagery. The film's 'reproductive horror' involves facehuggers forcing alien embryos into hosts, which is a core, disturbing sexualized aspect of the franchise, as seen with Navarro and Kay's impregnations. Rain also experiences 'lewd catcalls' from other colonists early in the film, including an offer to 'show her a good time'.
Substance Use
MediumThere is depiction of substance use, including both smoking cigarettes and marijuana, with the latter being presented in a casual and somewhat approving light by peer characters.
Movieguide reports 'some cigarette smoking' in the film. More significantly, the New Zealand Classification Office explicitly states that 'one young character smokes a joint as the spaceship they are on takes off' and 'His friends laugh and seem to be impressed,' indicating casual drug use and peer approval. Parent Previews also notes 'Adults are briefly seen smoking'.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe narrative features themes of rebellion against oppressive corporate authority. Characters actively defy the controlling Weyland-Yutani corporation and engage in unauthorized actions to secure their freedom and survival.
Rain Carradine is introduced as an orphaned colonist actively seeking to escape her forcibly extended work contract with Weyland-Yutani, demonstrating rebellion against a powerful corporate entity. The group of colonists, including Rain, commandeers the hauler Corbelan IV to reach an abandoned station, directly acting against established rules and authority in their desperate bid for survival. Additionally, the android Andy's loyalty shifts to Weyland-Yutani after reprogramming, highlighting a conflict of allegiances that involves defiance.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThe film contains no elements of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic rituals, demons, spells, or supernatural events. All antagonistic forces and phenomena are presented within a science fiction context of extraterrestrial life and advanced, albeit dangerous, biotechnology.
The narrative centers on a biological alien threat and corporate experimentation rather than any mystical or supernatural elements. While the 'black goo' from previous installments is referenced as a 'mutating goo' in fan discussions, it functions as a bio-weapon or genetic accelerant, not a magical substance.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
18+ due to pervasive graphic violence and gore, extremely intense and frightening sequences, strong and frequent profanity, and disturbing thematic content including reproductive horror and a notable anti-human/pro-abortion subtext. The film's R-rating and content descriptors clearly indicate it is not suitable for children or most teenagers, requiring a mature adult audience.
Additional Notes
The film is a standalone installment but ties into the wider Alien universe, specifically set between the first two films. Viewers familiar with the franchise's tone should expect similar levels of intense horror and gore, possibly intensified by modern filmmaking techniques. There were no identified extended or director's cuts at the time of review that significantly alter the content warnings.
Related Reviews
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