'Alien: Covenant' Movie Review

Presenting one of the most iconic and recognisable monsters in film history, the Alien franchise has, for the most part, delivered some of the scarier sci-fi moments on the big screen. After two decades of absence, the Xenomorph takes centre stage once again in a prequel hell-bent on delivering what the fans have wanted.

Taking place ten years after Prometheus in 2104, Alien: Covenant follows the titular colonisation vessel as it journeys towards the planet Origae-6 carrying 2000 colonists in stasis. After suffering some heavy damage from a solar flare the crew takes a detour to a planet with similar opportunities and conditions for habitation; there they discover suspiciously Earth-like materials, remnants of the engineer race and the beginnings of a deadly infection. Where Prometheus was mostly a tale of exploration and discovery, Covenant holds little back; this is a full-blown horror sequel, one which aims to recapture the feel of the original 1979 classic. You’ll be seeing many familiar beats and themes the franchise is known for; a slow-build up and ever increasing tension giving way to unabashed body horror alongside the ever-growing mysteries of the prequel saga. Because of this the religious themes and notions of discovery seen in its 2012 predecessor have been heavily downplayed here but Covenant picks up the pieces and runs with them. You won’t find many philosophical questions being answered but the continuation of plot threads on offer is engrossing, particularly as the audience experiences this alongside the new set of characters. Intensity reaches a consistent high note in the second and third acts which go at a breakneck pace and while the creature itself has lost much of its sneaky tendencies, it remains a grotesque and frightful apparition. Alien: Covenant feels very much like a bridged concoction, melding aspects from both Prometheus and the original Alien into a satisfying collage.

Strong characters have been a previous facet of the Alien franchise and Covenant goes for a simpler set in this regard. Katherine Waterston’s Daniels is placed under a ton of emotional pressure but it’s the way she rises above that which makes her worth rooting for. Similarly, Billy Crudup as the religiously charged first mate Christopher Oram feels out of his depth in leadership and Danny McBride follows on from Idris Elba at producing likable ship pilots for the prequels. There’s a good amount of chemistry between most of the characters, much of which turns sour as events go south. But again, it’s Michael Fassbender who carries the film and in Covenant he’s even better than he was in Prometheus; the interplay he creates between the androids David and newcomer Walter is intensely fascinating and the sheer distance David has come from the first film builds plenty of intrigue. It’s such a brilliant performance that he often overshadows the other main performances. However, much like Alien 3, Covenant has trouble giving every side character their own traits and developments; as with any horror film of its kind, the death count sees some given more time than others but the film also makes the misstep of opening, only to put down a couple of characters who could have had more to do in the first ten minutes. It’s a shame to see Covenant fall into this trap, even if it doesn’t take away from the main cast too much.

Much like his previous science fiction entries, Scott’s latest offering looks absolutely fantastic on a technical level. The planet’s regions, the technology used, the atmospheric weather effects and crumbling ruins, all of it holds together beautifully, generating some of the genre’s best immersion. The cinematography from Dariusz Wolski (who also worked on Prometheus) provides some breathtakingly wide views of the landscapes, eventually turning to close, claustrophobic interiors. On the whole, there’s a lot more action happening out in the open for Covenant; real models and costume work do a great job of selling the mission and the technology used for it both on and off the planet. The artistic side makes itself felt in a scene around halfway through, with nihilistic drawings on the walls blending with dimly lit rooms to create a sinister mood. The alien models built by CreatureNFX occasionally cross over into rough territory but for the most part its vicious rampage looks convincing and nasty. With some call-backs to both Prometheus and Alien, the soundtrack also succeeds at capturing that sense of dread that rarely waivered throughout the series. If you’re a big sci-fi lover then Covenant will be a visual treat, easily one of the best-looking films of the year so far.

Weak side characters aside, Alien: Covenant is a welcomed return and easily the best Alien movie since James Cameron’s 1986 action sequel. It doesn’t stray far from its formula and obtains a firm balance as a middle chapter. Here’s hoping the next prequels can keep up the pace.

Rating: 4/5 Stars (Great)