Good, but limited by being a prequel

Rating: 7/10 (1 October 2017)

It is the year 2104. The spaceship Covenant is headed for a remote planet in order to colonise it. The ship's captain is killed in a freak accident, leaving the Executive Officer in charge. He makes the decision to investigate a nearby planet in order to colonise it, as a possible substitute for their original mission. This has dramatic and far-reaching consequences.
The sequel to Prometheus and prequel to the original 1979 Alien. Does not necessarily rely on you having seen Prometheus, as the relevant details from that are provided during the movie.
Good background and plot development, with some interesting and intriguing initial twists and turns. Good special effects and solid performances (with the exception of Danny McBride - he looks out of his depth in a drama).
However, far from perfect. The David / Walter plot device felt contrived, and was generally confusing.
Moreover, if you've seen Alien (as I have), you know how things are ultimately going to end up. So you know that any plot development that indicates a conclusion in a different direction is only temporary. The fact that it is a prequel to another movie severely limits the intrigue and conclusion.