Alien is the perfect blend of science fiction and visceral horror. Other films have tried to replicate the results but none have been as effective. John Carpenter’s The Thing comes close. I’ve always wondered if the director’s cut of Event Horizon might have been part of the conversation if it hadn’t been watered down by an overly nervous film studio. We’ll probably never know.

The Alien franchise has strayed in action, and a more intellectual kind of horror. With Alien:  Romulus director/writer Fede Alvarez looks to throw us back into claustrophobic places shared with creatures that were seemingly only created to gestate inside us in both a metaphorical and incredibly real way.

And remember, entire species have been eradicated by xenomorphs who came in through an open door. For heaven’s sake, don’t open the door.

Alien: Romulus” opens exclusively in theaters nationwide August 16, 2024, and will be available in IMAX®, Dolby Cinema®, Screen X, 4DX, and premium screens everywhere.