A small group of indentured workers look to escape their miserable life of servitude to Weyland-Yutani by escaping to a decommissioned space station, stealing a shit-ton of company materials they need and moving on from there. Of course, what we know and this affable group are completely in the dark about, is that something horrifying has already torn through the outpost and is more than happy to tear through a new group of humans and an android. A brief exposition endears us to our lead Rain (Cailee Spaeny) who is introduced as she looks to be released from her labor contract by the heartless corporation only to find out that it’s been extended for another six years due to a shortage of labor. We also are introduced to lovable Andy (David Jonsson), a broken android who Rain treats as a brother and is essential to the plans of the other miners looking to escape. Tyler is the fellow miner (and Rain’s ex) putting things together and taking along his pregnant sister Kay, dickhead cousin Bjorn (leave Andy alone, you complete knob!) and their friend Navarro on their desperate journey to some form of freedom. The supposedly simple mission quickly goes to hell and we’re treated to all the expected face-hugging, chest-bursting and acid-blooded xenomorph horrors we crave. The outpost design is as grimy and lifeless as it should be, doing a wonderful job of catching that same reality infused set design of the original and keeping the term “space truckers” running through the viewer’s mind. Fede Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues don’t really leave much breathing room and drop something that is a bit predictable but after the ponderous Prometheus and the somewhat flawed Alien: Covenant, the injection of slasher flick sensibility into this franchise feels oddly refreshing and grounded. The fact that it takes place between Alien and Aliens doesn’t leave much room for tinkering or playing with the mythology, but it’s not setting out to redesign anything. Again, I’m completely fine with this when the team behind it is content with offering up more thrills than anything else and getting to mold some solid set pieces. It helps that our two leads are some of the most likable this franchise has seen and it lets things get weird as it comes to the close. I know folks got upset about digitally resurrecting Ian Holm but I thought it worked as long as you don’t mind taking a stroll through the uncanny valley. Plus, he gets to fill the cast in on the shit-storm they’ve waded into and inevitably work as an antagonist.
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