"Alien: Covenant" Review

Title: Alien: Covenant

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Written by: John Logan and Dante Harper

Year: 2017


The Alien franchise has a notably divisive fanbase. It is generally agreed upon that Alien and Aliens, the first two installments, are cinematic classics. On a personal note, those are two of my favorite films. Alien 3 has created passionate enemies and dedicated defenders. Alien: Resurrection and the Alien vs. Predator flicks seem to be hated by most, and Prometheus, the precursor to this newest picture, split the viewers once again with its philosophical angle and lack of Xenomorphs. With more eponymous creatures involved this time around, can this film win over die-hard Alien fanatics?

Taking place 11 years after the events of Prometheus, a colonization crew aboard the ship Covenant is seeking a new planet on which to live. Along the way, the team receives a message from a nearby planet that is seemingly hospitable. They are not prepared for what they are about to find.

Ridley Scott, I believe, is one of the greatest directors to have ever graced Hollywood. His films consistently impress on a visual level, especially in the realm of science fiction. His vision is brought to life beautifully here, and each shot is immaculately composed. A cinematic painter, Scott makes Alien: Covenant look absolutely stunning. The environments are lush, but haunting and foreboding, telling a story all by themselves. In addition, the visual effects are great, with the Xenomorphs looking excellent and fluid in motion.

The cast is well assembled, each of them contributing to a set of grounded characters. Katherine Waterson makes for a strong female lead without being a Ripley rip-off. Billy Crudup portrays the new captain of the crew effectively. The character is interesting because his religious beliefs put him at odds with the rest of the team, but the film really should have explored this much further. A surprising highlight was Danny McBride as Tennessee, an exuberant and determined fellow. McBride works well as an emotional focal point and as a more lighthearted area of the film.

But it is Michael Fassbender's spellbinding dual performance as the androids David and Walter that truly steals the show. David was the best part of Prometheus and Fassbender has not lost a beat since. Despite being played by the same actor, the characters are easily identifiable by their dialogue and mannerisms, much of which must be credited to Fassbender. His generosity and stalwartness make Walter instantly likable. But the actor's cold and methodical take on David gives the film its real chills. One of the industry's best doing his best.

As for the story, the plot can be divided in two. The first half bears a striking resemblance to the original 1979 picture in its execution. It captures the fear of the unknown and the feeling of helpless isolation wonderfully. The scenes when the characters are first exploring the lifeless planet are seeping with intrigue, mystery, and omen. Many hints as to what has happened are laid out for the audience, but none of it is explained until the second half. This first act is flat-out fantastic, if a little familiar.

Where the first half of Alien: Covenant is reminiscent of Alien, the second half is more similar to Prometheus, once again introducing philosophical and moral inquiries. Mind you, I think Prometheus is a really good movie. But in this case, I found the "meaning of life" aspect of the film to be quite muddled. The last movie set up a storyline where the Engineers created the Xenomorphs as a weapon. But this movie kind of retcons that idea, altering it and providing a different origin for our favorite alien. There are one or two other inconsistencies like this one that make the story in the second half hard to follow. In fact, the entire plot line concerning the Engineers from the previous film is dropped almost completely. The pacing during this part of the story is another problem, as it slows down dramatically but lacks significant tension to compensate.

As for the Xenomorphs, they were a bit disserviced in a way. You see, they have not attained their final evolution yet (the alien that has been heavily promoted is actually a protomorph due to lifecycle changes, but it ultimately makes no difference), which is fine. However, as the creatures are evolving, one of the characters wants to treat them kindly and there is a scene where the neomorph (the white one) is portrayed as a potentially gentle animal. I understand that it is meant to add layers to the nearly 40 year old alien, but the Xenomorph does not require layers. It is the perfect killing machine and that is why it has instilled fear in us over the decades. Furthermore, the Xenomorph spends too much time in the light. Much of the appeal and terror that comes from the beast is how it lurks in the shadows and in places not easily visible. By showing the Xenomorph's full body for extended periods of time, the filmmakers have devalued its presence.

Aside from that, the Xenomorphs remind the audience why they are such a prevalent horror icon. The deaths are appropriately gruesome, showcasing tons of blood and utterly painful fatalities. There are several sequences that will leave the viewer watching behind their shaking hands. The final act is riddled with suspense and nail-biting action. Though it contains an incredibly obvious plot twist, the final 20-30 minutes are exhilarating and give fans the Alien film we have been waiting for. Aiding this is Jed Kurzel, the film's composer. Kurzel has constructed an eerie and nostalgic score that resembles Jerry Goldsmith's music from the first feature. Magnificently done.

For being a sequel to Prometheus, Alien: Covenant oddly abandons some of the former's storylines. Nevertheless, this newest installment sets out to blend Alien with Prometheus and it works far more than it fails. The cast is great, with Fassbender captivating the audience in one of the best performances of the year; the visuals are gorgeous; the Xenomorphs have several shining moments; David is a fabulous villain; and there are some truly horrifying scenes. However, the pacing and storytelling in the second act become slow and confusing, respectively; questionable decisions detract from the aliens and the film's deeper meanings; and the overall plot is admittedly familiar. Though a solid entry to the franchise, I cannot help but feel slightly let down by this picture. Still, with a rousing third act and a cliffhanger of an ending (even if it was forseeable), Alien: Covenant will have you leaving the theatre wanting more, for better and for worse.

Grade: B