A return to horror roots

Rating: 7/10 (26 May 2017)

Alien: Covenant - More horror than sci-fi, this prequel/sequel adds major elements to the overall canon of the Alien series. After a slow start, the engaging performances and beautiful set design make this a worthy successor to Prometheus.
I have yet to see Michael Fassbender give a bad performance. He is given two roles in this movie and knocks them both out, showing distinct differences between the two. Billy Crudup also shines through with surprising success. I unfortunately can't say the same for Katherine Waterston, who plays the main character. Sigourney Weaver made the strong female an integral part of this series with Noomi Rapace doing an admiral job of carrying that banner in Prometheus. Waterston just seems out of place in her role.
I will say it takes a while for it to feel like an Alien movie. The first third feels like standard science fiction fare with only minor esthetic similarities to the originals. But, when it does start to present story beats of the franchise, it doesn't stop. A common complaint of Prometheus was that it didn't really add to or explain pieces of the originals. Covenant puts those complaints to bed, allowing you to see Alien in a whole new light.
While it wasn't as great as I was hoping, there's no denying the importance of this film to the franchise as a whole. Movies in a series can't just be made to fill in gaps to tell a larger story, however. Luckily Covenant brings plenty to the table that it stands on it's own as a success: great tension, high quality production design, and two Fassbenders. What more could you ask for?