Tag: Cailee Spaeny

ALIEN: ROMULUS – Review

Yes, we know that Labor Day is looming, with August nearly half over, which signals the end of the blockbuster Summer movie season of 2024. Well, that doesn’t mean that the studios can’t drop a new installment of a beloved franchise into the multiplexes. And that’s exactly what’s happening this weekend as we see the seventh (not counting a couple of spin-off flicks) entry of this series, more than seven years after the last one. Ah, but the 2017 thriller was a prequel to the original, while this one fits nicely between that first one and its sequel from 1979 and 1986 to be exact. And yet, this has a feeling of “freshness” as it features a young almost unknown cast playing new characters, and a talented filmmaker who has made a splash with bold spins on a couple of film “IPs”. The result is another “space-set” shocker, ALIEN: ROMULUS.


After an eerie prologue that echoes the 79’s opening moments, we’re plopped right onto the mining colony of Jackson’s Star, a dark, dank sunless rock far, far from Earth. One of the workers, a young woman named Rain (Cailee Spaeny) is thrilled that her service contract is nearly up, and she can be transferred to the sunny planet paradise of Yvaga. Ah, but those weasels at the Weyland-Yutani corporation have now added nearly a decade to her “obligation”. A miserable Rain breaks the news to her only “family”, a “Synthroid” (an android) named Andy (David Jonsson). But then a new “opportunity” opens up. An old boyfriend named Tyler (Archie Renaux) invites the duo over to the place he shares with his sister Kay (Isabela Merced), another buddy Bjorn (Spike Fearn), and his girlfriend, a skilled pilot named Navarro (Aileen Wu). Tyler proceeds to outline a plan he has to escape Jackson by blasting off on their spaceship the Corbelan and connecting with an old derelict WY two-part space station, the Romulus and Remus. There they’ll grab several “cryo-pads” in order to sleep during the nine-year trek to Yvaga. Rain doesn’t understand why they’ve invited her until they explain that Andy’s old WY hardware will give them access to the facility. The group finds the old station hovering dangerously near the debris-filled rings of Jackson’s Star. Tyler, Bjorn (who hates robots) and Andy have less than an hour until the station is destroyed by those rings. They find the pods, but they lack the fuel for the trip. As they search for the energy tanks, the station’s power is reactivated, and several frozen “science samples” begin to thaw. Soon the trio is attacked by them, and the aggressive crab-like creatures invade the Corbelan. Things get more complicated when Rain “upgrades” Andy with software from a damaged Synthoid on board. Now he is programmed to adhere to the WY mission objectives and procure and protect the alien research on board at all costs. With time running out, and the creatures evolving, can Rain and the crew somehow survive and escape?


Following up her terrific supporting turn in CIVIL WAR, the charismatic Ms. Spaeny proves that she can also excel in a more action-oriented lead role (much as she did in the title role of PRISCILLA) as the desperate orphaned Rain. Yes, she steps up to the challenge of repelling the hordes of near-unstoppable monsters, but we see that she’s struggling to control the inner panic even as her mind tries to grasp the unfamiliar tech and the weaponry (lots of info on that electronic pulse Gatling gun). But Spaeny also conveys Rain’s empathy and compassion, with her pal Kay and especially with her “big brother” Andy played by Jonsson in a star-making bravura turn. Oddly, the “non-human” may be the story’s most complex character. He’s “damaged goods”, rescued from the scrap heap and programmed to protect Rain mostly with an endless stream of corny “dad jokes”. She even has to step in as the locals bully him. Then Jonsson completely “switched gears’ when a new “chip” erases all of Andy’s old caring self and he’s the biggest threat other than the nasty “beasties”. And though most of the crew are fairly “one-note” types, the young actors invest lots of energy into them with Merced giving Kay a soft, maternal side as she bounds with Rain over her “condition”. Renaux is a capable man-of-action who must protect his sis at all costs. Fearn seethes with a punk hatred for Andy while Wu is a truly tough and focused “space jockey”

Director Fede Alvarez does bring a much-needed jolt of adrenaline after the previous pair of troubled prequels, and tries to get back to the original “haunted house of the cosmos” premise via the screenplay he co-wrote with Rodo Sayagues (inspired by the O’Bannon and Shusett template). He certainly has made the best use of a talented team of artists who recreate much of the then “state-of-the-art” tech with the retro digital screens and especially the uses of practical make-up effects (though there are lots of current CGI to augment the imagery). And as I mentioned earlier Fede has guided two engaging lead performances. But… the other members of the “team” are mostly “fodder” for the endless stream of Xenomorphs (who are especially toothy and slimy). And I must mention the problems I had in understanding their dialogue. The screening was in Imax, so I was surprised at the sound mix, as the background score and effects seemed to “drown out” the thick accents of Tyler and Bjorn. And as many of the Marvel and DC comics-based films have been vilified for moments of “fan service” (Particularly this year’s biggest hit). the screenplay certainly over-indulges in that, repeating classic lines (one that is absurd coming from the assigned character) and even “digitally resurrecting” a beloved actor from an earlier film (it’s listed on IMDB, but I won’t spoil it). It was distracting and somewhat ghoulish (much as the STAR WARS prequels did with Cushing and Fisher). By the time of the third act, the story becomes an often repetive chase reminding me of the countless “retreads’ that the late great Roger Corman flooded the drive-in through his New World studio. By the time a very awkwardly-designed new creature begins its rampage, the movie doesn’t know when or how to finish as we get endings piling on top of each other to the point of exhaustion and frustration (so many levels and corridors on that big station). The hardcore ALIEN fans will certainly feel their chests bursting with excitement, but casual viewers new to the series may be wanting more humanity (I’d love to see a film focused on Andy) and a tightened narrative in this often creative “throw-back” that is ALIEN: ROMULUS.

2.5 Out of 4

ALIEN: ROMULUS is now playing in theatres everywhere

1st Reviews Are In, Thailand Celebrates With The “Alien: Romulus Experience”, France Invaded And Milan Italy Attacked By Xenomorphs From Fede Alvarez’s ALIEN: ROMULUS

Milan and the beaches of Italy were recently besieged by Xenonorphs from ALIEN: ROMULUS. The highly anticipated movie is set to hit theaters on August 16, 2024. That’s just a week away!

The Xenomorph is the most perfect specimen in the universe, as well as the ultimate weapon. It has concentrated acid for blood, does not require food, and can survive in any atmosphere. It has a skeletal humanoid shape with an elongated, cylindrical head and a bony tail.

Check out these cool videos below!

Even during the Olympics, France had time for the Alien

Social media reviews are also in today from an early screening of the movie:

https://twitter.com/theatomreview/status/1821899460689195414

WAMG also caught up with the slimy beasties in Hollywood at The Grove LA.

“My ambition is for the generation who saw the original movie to love this film and for those who have never seen an ‘Alien’ movie to be introduced to this incredible universe through our film,” says director/co-screenwriter/executive producer Fede Alvarez. “With any horror movie, you want the people to be terrified and have an experience that leaves them breathless.”

In Thailand, 20th Century Studios has invited fans to the ALIEN: ROMULUS experience.

ALIEN: ROMULUS takes the phenomenally successful “Alien” franchise back to its roots: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe. The film stars Cailee Spaeny (“Civil War”), David Jonsson (“Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy”), Archie Renaux (“Shadow and Bone”), Isabela Merced (“The Last of Us”), Spike Fearn (“Aftersun”), Aileen Wu.

Fede Alvarez (“Evil Dead,” “Don’t Breathe”) directs from a screenplay he wrote with frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues (“Don’t Breathe 2”) based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett. “Alien: Romulus” is produced by Ridley Scott (“Napoleon”), who directed the original “Alien” and produced and directed the series’ entries “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” Michael Pruss (“Boston Strangler”), and Walter Hill (“Alien”), with Fede Alvarez, Elizabeth Cantillon (“Charlie’s Angels”), Brent O’Connor (“Bullet Train”), and Tom Moran (“Unstoppable”) serving as executive producers.

The score is from composer Benjamin Wallfisch (“IT” and “IT: Chapter Two,” “Shazam!” “Annabelle: Creation”).

The time has come. See ALIEN: ROMULUS in theaters and IMAX on August 16.

If you catch the film at an Alamo Drafthouse, be sure to get the FaceHugger Fries, Escape Hatch Queso, Acid-For-Blood drink and Xenoburger : https://drafthouse.com/st-louis/show/alien-romulus

The Xenomorph Stars In New ALIEN: ROMULUS Posters – Catch The Sneak Peak

With all the excitement coming out of Comic-Con for Fede Alvarez’s ALIEN: ROMULUS panel, fans can tell the filmmaker gets it. For those of us who saw Alien and Aliens in the cinema opening night in 1979 and 1986, along with the screams and cheers from the audience, he knows what a Alien movie should be! He’s sticking with canon and it’s going to be vicious fun.

With an energetic enthusiasm for the franchise, Alvarez decided to go back to the basics when shooting the film. “I knew that I wanted to take this chapter back to the beginning, not only story-wise but in terms of visual style,” explains Alvarez. “I wanted to keep it simple and focus on a few characters you could get to know and love.”

A new sneak peek from Alvarez’s ALIEN: ROMULUS has been released. Check it out, as well as these scary new posters.

A truly terrifying cinematic experience from director/writer Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe) and producer Ridley Scott, “Alien: Romulus” opens exclusively in theaters nationwide August 16, 2024, and will be available in IMAX®, Dolby Cinema®, Screen X, 4DX, and premium screens everywhere.

“Alien: Romulus” takes the phenomenally successful “Alien” franchise back to its roots: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

The film stars Cailee Spaeny (“Civil War”), David Jonsson (“Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy”), Archie Renaux (“Shadow and Bone”), Isabela Merced (“The Last of Us”), Spike Fearn (“Aftersun”), Aileen Wu. Fede Alvarez (“Evil Dead,” “Don’t Breathe”) directs from a screenplay he wrote with frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues (“Don’t Breathe 2”) based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett.

“Alien: Romulus” is produced by Ridley Scott (“Napoleon”), who directed the original “Alien” and produced and directed the series’ entries “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” Michael Pruss (“Boston Strangler”), and Walter Hill (“Alien”), with Fede Alvarez, Elizabeth Cantillon (“Charlie’s Angels”), Brent O’Connor (“Bullet Train”), and Tom Moran (“Unstoppable”) serving as executive producers.

To create a visually spectacular world that transports audiences to the darkest corners of the universe, director/co-screenwriter/executive producer Fede Alvarez recruited an impressive creative team, including director of photography Galo Olivares (“Gretel & Hansel”), production designer Naaman Marshall (“Don’t Breathe”), editor Jake Roberts, ACE (“Civil War”), visual effects supervisor Eric Barba (“Oblivion”), costume designer Carlos Rosario (“Shogun”), set decorator Zsuzsanna Sipos (“Dune: Part Two”), prosthetics makeup designer Ivān Pohārnok (“Midsommar”), property master Graeme Purdy (“Spider-Man: Far From Home”), and special effects supervisor Gábor Kiszelly (“Poor Things”).

The score is by Golden Globe®-, BAFTA-, two-time GRAMMY Award®-, Emmy Award®-, and five-time World Soundtrack Award-nominated composer Benjamin Wallfisch. (“IT” and “IT: Chapter Two,” “Shazam!” “Annabelle: Creation” and music based on Elgar’s Enigma Variations for “Dunkirk.” His most recent project is “Kraven the Hunter,” directed by J. C. Chandor, to be released in the fall of 2024.)

ALIEN: ROMULUS will make it’s UK premiere on August 15 at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and will open the Midnight Madness program.

Don’t forget to purchase advance tickets today for the sci-fi/horror-thriller at Fandango or wherever tickets are sold.

Awesome ALIEN: ROMULUS Comic-Con Panel Includes Cast, Facehuggers And A Chestburster!

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 26: Guests in cosplay attend the Alien: Romulus Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

Director/writer Fede Alvarez and cast members from the upcoming sci-hi/horror-thriller “Alien: Romulus,” including Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, and Spike Fearn took to the stage of Hall H at the San Diego Convention Center earlier today for a special Comic-Con panel in partnership with IMAX®.

The marketing for the movie is now in high gear and we caught a glimpse of it over the weekend at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin with this amazing billboard for the film.

During the panel, which featured exclusive footage from the film as well as special taped content from Ridley Scott, Guillermo del Toro, and Dan Trachtenberg, a swarm of facehuggers flooded the room, overtaking the stage and facehugging a few attendees in the process.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 26: (L-R) Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson speak onstage during the Alien: Romulus Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

The culmination of the stunt was the iconic chestburster moment on the floor of Hall H, which surprised and terrified Comic-Con attendees. At the conclusion of the panel, the 6,000+ guests were gifted their own facehugger mask, which they wore for a group photo with Alvarez and the cast.

“Alien: Romulus” takes the phenomenally successful “Alien” franchise back to its roots: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

Fede Alvarez directs from a screenplay he wrote with frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett.

The path from inception to filming results from several creative breakthroughs on Alvarez’s part. “There is a deleted scene in ‘Aliens,’ where a bunch of kids are running among the workers in the colony,” explains Alvarez. “I remember thinking about what it would be like for teenagers to grow up in a colony so small and what would happen to them when they reached their early 20s.”

The premise gave birth to the story of “Alien: Romulus,” while giving the franchise a new spin. Alvarez’s and Sayagues’s original story is set roughly 20 years after the first “Alien” movie and about 37 years before “Aliens.” While scavenging a decommissioned space station, hoping to find the technology necessary to leave their doomed planet behind, a group of young colonists unwillingly awaken the most terrifying organism in the universe

“Alien: Romulus” is produced by Ridley Scott, who directed the original “Alien” and produced and directed the series’ entries “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” Michael Pruss, and Walter Hill, with Fede Alvarez, Elizabeth Cantillon, Brent O’Connor, and Tom Moran serving as executive producers.

Tickets are now available for purchase at Fandango or wherever tickets are sold. The film from producer Ridley Scott opens exclusively in theaters nationwide August 16, 2024.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 26: (L-R) Spike Fearn, Fede Álvarez, Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux and Isabela Merced pose onstage during the Alien: Romulus Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

Watch The Final Trailer For ALIEN: ROMULUS And See It On IMAX On August 16

Xenomorph in 20th Century Studios’ ALIEN: ROMULUS. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

The Alien franchise is a cornerstone of science fiction horror, following the terrifying encounters between humans and the deadly Xenomorph alien species. The Xenomorph has returned in 20th Century Studios’ ALIEN: ROMULUS and franchise devotees couldn’t be more excited!

Today, 20th Century Studios released the final trailer for director Fede Alvarez’s film. The Xenomorph, the terrifying alien creature, was designed by H.R. Giger and remains one of the most iconic movie monsters ever created.

ALIEN: ROMULUS takes the phenomenally successful “Alien” franchise back to its roots: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

The fact that the song Ripley sang in ALIEN, “You Are My Lucky Star”, is a part of this trailer is brilliant – just genius and a huge wow factor for fans!

The film stars Cailee Spaeny (“Civil War”), David Jonsson (“Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy”), Archie Renaux (“Shadow and Bone”), Isabela Merced (“The Last of Us”), Spike Fearn (“Aftersun”), Aileen Wu. Fede Alvarez (“Evil Dead,” “Don’t Breathe”) directs from a screenplay he wrote with frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues (“Don’t Breathe 2”) based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett.

ALIEN: ROMULUS is produced by Ridley Scott (“Napoleon”), who directed the original “Alien” and produced and directed the series’ entries “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” Michael Pruss (“Boston Strangler”), and Walter Hill (“Alien”), with Fede Alvarez, Elizabeth Cantillon (“Charlie’s Angels”), Brent O’Connor (“Bullet Train”), and Tom Moran (“Unstoppable”) serving as executive producers. 

The score is from composer Benjamin Wallfisch.

A truly terrifying cinematic experience from producer Ridley Scott and director/writer Fede Alvarez, ALIEN: ROMULUS opens exclusively in theaters nationwide August 16, 2024, and will be available in IMAX®, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, ScreenX, and formats everywhere.

Advance tickets for the sci-fi/horror-thriller are now available for purchase at Fandango or wherever tickets are sold.

For those of you lucky enough to watch it at an ALAMO Drafthouse, you can pickup one of the collectible ALIEN: ROMULUS Collector’s Glasses. This Alamo-exclusive ticket add-on features custom art by Mutant artist Ken Taylor and is the best way to add a Xenomorph to your collection without the risk of it melting your couch with acid blood. These are only available while supplies last.

Fede Alvarez’s ALIEN: ROMULUS New Trailer Features More Airducts, More Trackers And More Facehuggers!

With throwbacks to the ALIEN, ALIENS and ALIEN3 movies, featuring facehuggers, trackers, the Xenomorph and female protagonist, this new trailer for ALIEN: ROMULUS, made for the die hard fans dropped today. There are winks and nods to all the original movies.

The all-new sci-hi/horror-thriller from producer Ridley Scott and director/writer Fede Alvarez opens exclusively in theaters nationwide August 16, 2024.  

ALIEN: ROMULUS takes the phenomenally successful “Alien” franchise back to its roots: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

Check out this past weekend’s interview with the director at Monsterpalooza. Alvarez said: “I want to believe in the canon of this movie is like gospel. I played “Alien: Isolation” and its what made me want to make this movie. I played 10 years ago. I was playing the game and I think we felt like ALIEN wasn’t that scary anymore. In playing the game and being terrified, I was like, this is can be actually terrifying and that’s when my mind start going like, oh man, someone give me a chance to make this movie, so definitely playing the game many times, I thought how do you reproduce the atmosphere? You hire these guys, you hire the people that worked on them.” He went onto say, “I tried to get everybody that was involved in those movies to get them back and also channel my own emotions of how I felt when I watched that and what what will create the same emotion today.”

The film stars Cailee Spaeny (“Civil War”), David Jonsson (“Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy”), Archie Renaux (“Shadow and Bone”), Isabela Merced (“The Last of Us”), Spike Fearn (“Aftersun”), Aileen Wu. Fede Alvarez (“Evil Dead,” “Don’t Breathe”) directs from a screenplay he wrote with frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues (“Don’t Breathe 2”) based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett.

ALIEN: ROMULUS is produced by Ridley Scott (“Napoleon”), who directed the original “Alien” and produced and directed the series’ entries “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” Michael Pruss (“Boston Strangler”), and Walter Hill (“Alien”), with Fede Alvarez, Elizabeth Cantillon (“Charlie’s Angels”), Brent O’Connor (“Bullet Train”), and Tom Moran (“Unstoppable”) serving as executive producers. 

Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine in 20th Century Studios’ ALIEN: ROMULUS. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

(L-R): Xenomorph and Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine in 20th Century Studios’ ALIEN: ROMULUS. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Xenomorph in 20th Century Studios’ ALIEN: ROMULUS. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

CIVIL WAR – Review

Writer/director Alex Garland explored the near future in two of his previous three features. In EX MACHINA he pondered the possibilities of emerging technology and the rise of sentient artificial beings. Then in ANNIHILATION, he tackled the results of alien contact and the impact on the ecology and the military response to it. With this new film, Garland goes “back to the future”, though it’s not centuries ahead, but rather a time that could be “just around the corner”, spawned from events happening right now. And it’s not gizmos or ETs that propel the cautionary fable. No, it’s the dangers of hatred and intolerance that divide the country and lead to a CIVIL WAR. It’s not the first time, but it could be the last…

We’re not shown the causes or origin (no “first shot heard ’round the world” flashback). Instead, we’re “backstage’ as the “third-term” President (Nick Offerman) readies himself before a televised address to the fractured United States. War is already raging between the federal military and the Western Forces (WF) of California and Texas, and some other states may be joining them (Florida is mentioned in the speech). And where there’s war, there are journalists (writers and photogs) on the ground. In NYC, celebrated “shutterbug” Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst) is at the front lines with scribe pal Joel (Wagner Moura) during a violent clash between citizens and soldiers. During the mayhem, Lee assists a battered young woman named Jessie (Cailee Spaeny), who has a dream of following in Lee’s footsteps. However, Lee strongly discourages her and insists that she return home. Later, at a local hotel filled with press from around the globe, Lee and Joel meet up with an old pal, veteran New York Times reporter Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson), who gets the duo to share their big plans, They’ll go the “long route” to get into the now fortress-like D.C. and somehow get an interview with the President (who has been “unavailable”). They give into Sammy’s pleading and decide to take him along. Early the next morning Lee is shocked to discover that Joel has taken on another travel partner, Jessie. After some bickering they hit the trail, making a “big circle” to enter the “back door” of the Capital. But can they survive the horrors and threats that await them down every highway and side road?

Her role as the veteran photojournalist proves to be a “high-water mark’ in the now 35-year feature film career of Ms. Dunst. The early street riot sequence gives us an insight into Lee’s character with merely Dunst’s “coiled” body language and her “taking in everything” glare under heavy “seen it all” eyelids. it appears she’s trying to file this with the far-flung conflicts she’s covered until the realization that this is happening in her “old backyard” truly hits home (it nearly paralyzes her in the big finale). A “fun” visit to a dress shop reminds her of a life she could have lived. The same is true in her relationship with Jessie as Lee tries to push her aside, then experiences a maternal joy (or perhaps as a “big sister”) in protecting and mentoring her. This film, coming off her splendid work in THE POWER OF THE DOG, really showcases Dunst’s mature acting skills. Interestingly, Ms. Spaevy’s career trajectory is so similar to the first decade of Dunst on screen. So terrific in last year’s PRISCILLA, Spaevy captures the dichotomy of Jessie, bouncing from young wide-eyed innocent to devious “climber” to headstrong post-teen making very dangerous choices to get her “props” from the seniors. We want to shield her while she still annoys us. And we finally see her ‘take the reins” as Spaevy shows us that Jessie is now a true battlefield daredevil. Much like Moura’s aspiring “swashbuckler for truth” Joel who plunges into the thick of “it”, then must try and bluff his way out of the consequences. On the opposite end is Henderson, who has also seen too much but can’t shake the “rush” even as he becomes more frustrated by his failing physicality. He knows he has his cohorts’ respect, but he fears becoming a burden and slowing them down. Offerman uses his stern gravitas to give a sinister spin on the typical blustery lying politico. But the film’s big scene stealer may be Jesse Plemons as a taunting militia bully who becomes the biggest “poster boy” for the erosion of humanity via callous banal acts of evil.

As mentioned earlier, Garland dives confidently from the worlds of science fiction, with the detour into horror with MEN, into speculative fiction with a slight hint of satire as he distorts the already twisted political atmosphere of these times. Once we get past some of the wilder concepts (“blue” Callie and “roarin’ red” Texas teaming is a big stretch), he drops us into this nightmarish “what if” fable. The villains are not easily labeled as each side commits truly barbaric acts. In one scene we side with WF who seem hopelessly “pinned down” until the battle takes a turn, ending when we find the “underdogs” take no prisoners. Yes, it is a cautionary tale, but also a tribute to the recently maligned press (we’re told that they kill members of the press on-site in DC). Lee and her team could turn back, but it’s just not in their DNA, even as they use any “downtime” to numb themselves with booze and weed. Perhaps that’s to chronicle the carnage and snap pics of a steaming pile of entrails that was a person mere seconds before. Garland also has elements of a road trip/odyssey as the crew encounters a stadium-turned-tent shelter city and a serene main street that seems removed from it all, until a big reveal. Surprisingly the film is beautifully rendered, whether driving on a highway as bodies dangle from rope tied to the overpass, to that excruciatingly tense encounter with Plemons and his murderous cohorts. Kudos to the sound techs who have crafted an immersive mix of arsenal fire, screams, and nature still being heard. The audio may be at its best, along with the rest of the film, in the dizzying final act assault on democracy’s home which gives us a sense of the chaos and desperation of those “boots on the ground”. Maybe it took a filmmaker from the “mother country” to craft the compelling, haunting, and very sobering “wake-up call” that is CIVIL WAR.

3.5 Out of 4

CIVIL WAR is now playing in theatres everywhere.

ALIEN: ROMULUS Trailer, Poster And Photos Are Here

The teaser trailer and poster for a truly terrifying cinematic experience from producer Ridley Scott and director/writer Fede Alvarez, 20th Century Studios’ ALIEN: ROMULUS, is here!

The sci-fi/horror-thriller takes the phenomenally successful “Alien” franchise back to its roots: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

ALIEN: ROMULUS opens exclusively in theaters nationwide August 16, 2024.

The production and set design are incredible – it’s a terrific combination of the Nostromo from the original 1979 film as well as the elevator from the 1986 sequel ALIEN.

In today’s interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Alvarez said of Ridley Scott and James Cameron:

James Cameron is also someone I’ve met through the years, and when he learned that I was doing it, we started chatting about it. So I also had that conversation with him at the script level. He’s now seen the movie and loved it. It’s also fascinating because [Cameron and Scott’s] notes and comments are completely different. (Laughs.) They wouldn’t repeat a note. Whatever Ridley said, Cameron said something different. They were all super smart comments, notes and thoughts on the film and the filmmaking, et cetera, but both of them have completely different approaches. So the fantastic part of being able to make this film is to have the chance to work with them.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/alien-romulus-trailer-ridley-scott-1235856321/

Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine in 20th Century Studios’ ALIEN: ROMULUS. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

When asked about the Xenomorph, Alvarez said:

For the creatures, we brought in all the guys from Aliens. They were in their early twenties when they made Aliens, and they were a part of Stan Winston’s [special effects] team. And now we had them at the top of their game. They have their own shops, and so we brought them all together to work on all the creatures, because we went with all animatronics and puppets at every level. I even got the chance to be under the table with them, puppeteering all these animatronics.

I have this obsession with no green screens, so we built every creature and set. Everything had to be built so we were really living and breathing in these spaces. But I’m not an anti-CG guy. I got the chance to do Evil Dead, because I had made this short movie called Panic Attack! with a couple of friends and we did all the CG. So I come from a background where I know how to build the effects myself. I still do VFX shots in my movies to this day. I’ll cut and do VFX shots on my computer, sometimes. So it’s just whatever is best for the shot, and when it comes to face-to-face encounters and moments with creatures, nothing beats the real thing. For the sets, we built spaceships and we built miniatures. We went back to all of that. And then we figured out ways to marry it with the CG world. 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/alien-romulus-trailer-ridley-scott-1235856321/

Xenomorph in 20th Century Studios’ ALIEN: ROMULUS. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

The film stars Cailee Spaeny (“Priscilla”), David Jonsson (“Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy”), Archie Renaux (“Shadow and Bone”), Isabela Merced (“The Last of Us”), Spike Fearn (“Aftersun”), Aileen Wu. Fede Alvarez (“Evil Dead,” “Don’t Breathe”) directs from a screenplay he wrote with frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues (“Don’t Breathe 2”) based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett.

“Alien: Romulus” is produced by Ridley Scott (“Napoleon”), who directed the original “Alien” and produced and directed the series’ entries “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” Michael Pruss (“Boston Strangler”), and Walter Hill (“Alien”), with Fede Alvarez, Elizabeth Cantillon (“Charlie’s Angels”), Brent O’Connor (“Bullet Train”), and Tom Moran (“Unstoppable”) serving as executive producers.

The below the line artists include Composer Benjamin Wallfisch, Cinematographer Galo Olivares, Editor Jake Roberts, Casting Directors Sydney Shircliff & Mary Vernieu and Production Designer Naaman Marshall.

Isabela Merced as Kay in 20th Century Studios’ ALIEN: ROMULUS. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

David Jonsson as Andy in 20th Century Studios’ ALIEN: ROMULUS. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

PRISCILLA – Review

Woo boy, here’s a new flick that’ll make the multiplex shake, rattle, and roll (well, the screens that aren’t still running the Taylor Swift concert juggernaut). Yes, it’s a brand-spankin’ new biopic centered around the king of rock and roll, the ruler of Graceland, the ….whoa, wait a minute! This is 2023, not 2022, Last Christmas we got a big-budget musical docudrama all about the man who was always “takin’ care of business” from Baz Luhrmann. Yes, and this is quite a different spin. For one thing, it’s from an indie studio with a more modest budget. There is a highly regarded director behind this, but rather than focusing on “E” or “the Colonel” it follows the path of the “Queen of the King”. As the title implies, this is the story of PRISCILLA.

This look at her life with EP begins after he’s gone into the Army and is stationed over in Germany. In the military diner, we first encounter the 14-year-old “Army brat” Priscilla Beaulieu (Cailee Spaeny) as she enjoys a milkshake at the counter, She’s approached by another high-ranking soldier, the entertainment co-ordinator of the base, who invites her to a party being held for their most famous recruit. After much pleading with her parents and a visit from that officer, she’s allowed to attend. There she is naturally dazzled by the charismatic Private Presley (Jacob Elordi). Soon he escorts her away from the other partygoers for a private “chitchat”. He’s smitten as Priscilla seems to be more of a regular “downhome” gal, briefly kissing her before she is driven back home. Soon, they begin a secret courtship, always with escorts, causing her to daydream of a future with him while distracted at school. Priscilla is heartbroken when Elvis finishes his “stint” and flies back home to restart his career in music and the movies. The two continue to communicate via letters and phone calls, as he insists that all the fan magazine romance stories with his co-stars are lies. Ann Elvis does come back to her and asks her parents to sign an agreement making her the ward of his Papa Vernon and promising that she will finish her education in Memphis while living in her own room at his estate Graceland. There it’s all-day parties with EP and his “Memphis mafia” and long lonely days when he’s off at a movie set. The romance has its ups and downs as Elvis molds her (makeup and fashions) into his “ideal woman” before marrying her. Years pass, they have a daughter Lisa Marie, and their mutual dependence on pills and booze begins to take its toll. Priscilla’s fantasy of her perfect life with her dream man starts to crash and crumble.

Anchoring the love story at the film center is the title role performance by a most compelling young actress. Though she’s had several supporting roles in TV and the movies. Ms. Spaeny gives Priscilla a real arc as she begins to mature from a pre-teen to a strong-willed young mother. In the beginning of the relationship, Spaeny conveys the all-consuming awakening of first love, drifting as though on a cloud, apart from the mere mortal teenagers in her school hallway. Soon we see her deal with the pangs of jealousy, working up the courage to confront her famous beau. Spaeny makes it seem as though Priscilla is passive as her look is formed, but her eyes tell us that she knows that something is very “off”. Over time she shows us how Mrs. P strived to break out of her hubby’s long shadow. Elordi plays him with loads of genteel Southern charm (perhaps it was the sound system, but I lost lots of words due to that strong drawl), especially as the chaste, respectful suitor. Later he reveals his manipulative darker side with the dress shop scene invoking Scotty’s “makeover mania” from VERTIGO. Then the fame and the drugs seem to seal him off emotionally, as Elordi makes E more distracted and secretive, exploding in quick scary outbursts followed by pleading apologies. In much smaller roles (mainly in the first act) Dagma Dominczyk and Art Cohen are effective as the wary parents of Ms. P, while Tim Post is a grumpy Vernon, always looking out for his “boy”.

Directing this new look at the music icon through the eyes of his first true love is Sofia Coppola who also wrote the adaptation of Priscilla’s memoir “Elvis and Me” that she penned with Sandra Harmon. And though it may have followed that tome very closely, the pacing is dragged down by the near-endless scenes of Presley playing with his posse while his wife sulks, then dealing with her loneliness as he leaves for a concert or a film, then starting the cycle again (yes, I’m sure that’s much like her life then but it becomes so tiring). The sets evoke the locales and the costumes and hairstyles give the film a real nostalgic authenticity. But after the stylish splash and “eye candy’ of last winter’s spectacle, it all feels somber and “scaled down” with the feel of a TV movie. However, the biggest absence is the King’s music itself. There are a few fleeting chords of classics, but the estate wouldn’t okay their use. Yes, there are a few songs, but on the first “date”, Elvis regales the partygoers with a hit from another 50s icon. That may turn off his ardent fans along with eschewing the sweetness of Baz’s take to this “groomer” of a child ten years his junior (accentuated by the height difference between the two leads). Also, the film ends too abruptly with no postscript to the lead’s life post-Memphis. Ms. Spaeny and Mr. Elordi are very good, but they can’t quite inject a spark into the whirlwind romance of Elvis and PRISCILLA.

2.5 Out of 4

PRISCILLA is now playing in select theatres

First Trailer For Sofia Coppola’s PRISCILLA Stars Starring Cailee Spaeny And Jacob Elordi

When teenage Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley at a party, the man who is already a meteoric rock and-roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, a vulnerable best friend. Through Priscilla’s eyes, Sofia Coppola (LOST IN TRANSLATION) tells the unseen side of a great American myth in Elvis and Priscilla’s long courtship and turbulent marriage, from a German army base to his dream-world estate at Graceland, in this deeply felt and ravishingly detailed portrait of love, fantasy, and fame.

Starring Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi, and Dagmara Dominczyk, watch the first teaser now.

Written and directed by Sofia Coppola, PRISCILLA is based on the book “Elvis and Me” by Priscilla Presley with Sandra Harmon. Produced by Sofia Coppola, Lorenzo Mieli, Youree Henley, with music supervision by Randall Poster and an original score by Phoenix

This October, see the film PRISCILLA in cinemas.