Worthwhile Addition to the Alien Franchise

Rating: 7/10 (20 May 2017)

Almost four decades after moviegoers saw "Alien" on the big screen for the first time, this new installment has arrived. Titled "Alien: Covenant," it is linked to both the early "Alien" films as well as "Prometheus." The plot involves the crew of the Covenant exploring an uncharted area while en route to a planet in a remote location of the galaxy--but of course things don't go as smoothly as planned. Despite the fact that the first half does not have very much in the way of action scenes, the film is paced very well and provides for a slow-burn narrative. The film's visual effects do not disappoint, and the acting is very good throughout--particularly from Michael Fassbender. While good, the film is not quite great for two main reasons. First, some of the main characters are incredibly dumb as they attempt to survive--particularly in the second half. At times, their lack of common sense makes it somewhat difficult to suspend your disbelief. While the action scenes are intense and visceral (with plenty of gore,) the film unfortunately is lacking in the genuine psychological fear of "Alien" and "Aliens," which makes the action scenes just feel more bombastic for the sake of it. However, this is still a visually arresting, thoughtfully paced sci-fi horror. Fans of the franchise will probably not be disappointed (unless they go in expecting it to be as good as "Alien" and/or "Aliens.") 7/10