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Film reviews

Alien: Romulus Review

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The scary creatures are deep and crawl with no mercy. Alien: Romulus trembles with screams. It is a setting where survival is life or death. For the first time, the terror fuels its audience on a different level. Written and directed by Fede Alvarez, he knows how to set up suspense where hiding is impossible. Alvarez creates nightmares that have twists. For those who were scared after his project Don’t Breathe (2016), expect that level of nightmare to crank up a notch in Alien: Romulus

My respect for Alvarez is based on how he sets up his characters who are facing peril to think otherwise. He has an eye for bringing in discoveries as the haunting unfolds. He did this well in Don’t Breathe which was set around the discovery of a blind serial killer. His approach to turmoil leaves his viewers feeling like they are in a chilling environment living on the edge where death is likely.

The setting in this film is between the era of Alien (1979) andAliens (1986). This time frame leads to lots of excitement which makes the sci-fi setting feel like the essential setup. Alvarez brings old and new audiences back to the brilliance of shockers in Alien: Romulus. The film is original and uses a different approach which appeals to younger age groups. How deep is the horror of Alien: Romulus?

In the film, there are young space colonizers on a mission. These individuals are Kay (played by Isabela Merced), Rain (played by Cailee Spaeny), Tyler (played by Archie Renaux), Andy (played by David Jonsson), Navarro (played by Aileen Wu), and Bjorn (played by Spike Fearn). They embark on a mission to get supplies for an abandoned spacecraft. Once they go on board, some creatures begin to hatch. When the ship is condemned with faulty equipment and no place to run, the tone in Alien: Romulusis set for survival to be critical.

Andy is the most resourceful character. He is an AI Robot and operates to do what ensures safety. Andy’s sense of understanding becomes the essential aspect of the heightened suspense in Alien: Romulus. Rain is related to Andy, but the rest of the gang is like her family. Not all will find the means to survive. The younger generation in Alien: Romulus creates a landscape of curiosity. Do they know what they are doing? Do they know the threats of what they are up against? How much time do they have? It is a death maze that is ludicrous and compelling.

The power punches of the lurking evils create an odyssey that never stops. The revelation of what makes an alien film enthralling has been reborn with Alien: Romulus. New characters, new setup, new environment, and a detrimental task. These vital components dig deep into the audience’s skin and leave viewers wanting more.

The frequent suspenseful shot angles create a rollercoaster ride of space and horror combined. The lack of oxygen and resources is the first factor, and the aliens are the second. Those two elements keep finding themselves in an unforgettable face-off. It does get repulsive at times but that is meant to scare the audience. The director nails that aspect cinematically well. Hedoes so with depth, characteristics of anxiety, and continued struggle with defenses.

The film leaves its audience on the edge of their seats and so people should be ready to fasten their seatbelts. Space turbulence abounds and aliens are swarming the aircraft as they continue to multiply. It is like Mad Max meets Gravity and climaxes with Alien. The characters are in continuous peril. They float and fight in the space air. The creatures follow them wherever they go.

Alvarez is a genius with his dangerous space station mind. This is one of the most thrilling Alien films I have seen. However, the biggest success factor of the film is the performance of Spaeny. She steals the film. Her attitude is to never give up. She keeps fighting and delivers her best to the masses in Alien: Romulus. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Twisters Review

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I find movies that focus on weather and peril fascinating. I went into Twisters with great expectations. Given the tornado-related events requiring taking shelter just days before the movie’s opening, I felt pumped. With tornadoes forming around the U.S. and weather watchers on high alert, I thought a rollercoaster of amusement was in store. Unfortunately, Twisters was an adventure that consistently loses its focus. The selling part of the film is that it stars Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones. Powell is rising with blockbuster projects, and Edgar-Jones is tackling more roles. Their characters are involved in a “twister” of madness.

The setting of Twisters is Oklahoma. This location is a tornado alley and provides the landscape for the film’s tension of treacherous territory. Powell plays Tyler Owens, a man with a following for broadcasting his journeys with storms and tornadoes. Edgar Jones plays Kate Carter, a former tornado-chaser and meteorologist. Kate’s colleague is Javi, played by Anthony Ramos, who develops a safety network. The season of tornadoes is immersive and evolving rapidly. The group comes together to figure out how to pan out the storm correctly. With differing opinions on the storms’ danger levels, the thrills lack the fulfillment that the audience anticipates.

Twisters tends to keep the focus on the performances of Powell and Edgar-Jones. Powell’s performance is street-smart while Edgar-Jones’s is book-smart. She plays her part with more seriousness than Powell does. With Powell driving a truck with fireworks, he is sort of like the Tom Cruise of storm chasing in Twisters. This leads to pure mediocrity in what could have been a more interesting portrayal. The pro side is that Edgar-Jones’s role serves a more rewarding purpose. The intelligence of her performance sparks some much-needed enthusiasm.

While reflecting upon the differences between the characters, my mind frequently drifted. What is the intent of the overused cool vibes in Powell’s performance? How is it beneficial to focus on tornado perils? Why does the film keep trying to tackle a bizarre dynamic as Oklahoma faces more severe consequences as the setting of the film? Twisters appears to care a lot more about its blockbuster characterizations than the plot itself.

The blurred continuity comes from a storyline with a mission that lacks structure. There is an inconsistent dynamic mixed with a bipolar weather rendezvous. What helps make up for some of the catastrophe is the background fundamentals regarding resources. Twisters does highlight the importance of safety and shelter. It is just not particularly vibrant in its presentation. Twisters is a rushed thriller with disconnected components. The meaning is somewhat lost amid various tactics involving weather, storms, and science which are ultimately inadequate.

The storms heighten the disasters in Twisters. Frustratingly, they are disappointing, even when they cause significant turmoil. Once that happens, the focus seems to shift to storm party mode for Powell. Edgar-Jones deserved a lot better for her key role in Twisters. The continuity just kept running into ineffective barriers. I rate Twisters just two out of four stars.