'Alien: Romulus' Reinvigorates the Iconic Franchise

         On August 16, 2024, 20th Century Studios released 'Alien: Romulus', which has received rave reviews from critics, currently holding fresh at 81% on Rotten Tomatoes alongside a Critics Consensus that reads, "Honoring its nightmarish predecessors while chestbursting at the seams with new frights of its own, Romulus injects some fresh acid blood into one of cinema's great horror franchises." In the film, the discovery of a derelict space station that we all know all love a fear by a new group of individuals results in the return of a certain alien and this time she is not completely alone. The ensemble cast includes Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Spike Fearn, Isabela Merced, and Aileen Wu. But what did the critics say? 

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         Laura Clifford of Reeling Reviews notes, "Alvarez has come up with a way to tie the original 1979 “Alien” to “Alien: Prometheus” in a third act stunner of creature design and visual effects." Adding, "Spaeny may not project Sigourney Weaver’s badassery, but she holds her own and she and Jonsson create a relationship worth rooting for.   “Alien: Romulus” is the eighth movie in this franchise and Alvarez and producer Ridley Scott are still finding stories worth exploring."

        Sophia Ciminello of AwardsWatch praises the film, stating, "The best horror films use genre convention as a Trojan horse to introduce and comment on relevant political themes plaguing people in the current landscape. Alien: Romulus only lightly scratches the surface." Adding, "At times, Alien: Romulus feels similar to Star Wars: The Force Awakens in that it’s essentially a remake of the first entry existing solely as a nostalgia play for fans of the franchise. Admittedly, it’s easy to get sucked into a story that’s blueprint is one of the greatest science fiction horror films of all time, but it should also be in service of something greater, something new. It’s fun to spot shot-for-shot references to Aliens and character details that recall Alien 3, but when they have no true connective tissue to the story, it begins to feel like a vacuous exercise that unfortunately aligns with the current interests of franchise filmmaking. The reference to Prometheus feels particularly out of place, as if you can hear Scott telling Álvarez not to forget about his prequels. The film falters when Álvarez and Sayagues begin to shoehorn as many references to earlier films as possible, jettisoning any trace of ingenuity. It’s particularly frustrating that small glimpses of a bold, cool new science fiction classic lie within an egg that the studio doesn’t care to see hatch."

       Linda and Al Lerner of Movies and Shakers says, "Spaeny is tough, and Jonsson is a standout in a film that moves forward but still harkens back to the iconic original film. While they say “In space, no one can hear you,” this film will leave Alien fans screaming for more." Continuing, "There is one chase after another as they split up looking for some way to use whatever they can on the ship to get to safety. It’s not that different than when Sigourney Weaver bounced all over her ship to elude the monstrous creatures who are so hard to kill. But the special effects of emerging slimy monsters from inside victims loses some effectiveness because have seen it before. The Backlit scan here lets you know what’s about to happen. And this naive group of young explorers make some pretty silly, dangerous decisions. The eeriest character is brought back to life through AI for this film. It interacts with the rebels, but their motivations were not always aligned. It’s a very creepy character."

       David Rooney of Hollywood Reporter notes, "The creatures remain among the most truly petrifying movie monsters in history, and the director leans hard into the sci-fi/horror with a relentlessly paced entry that reminds us why they have haunted our imaginations for decades." Continuing, "Along with the nerve-shredding sound, a big assist in that area comes from cinematographer Galo Olivares’ agile camerawork and Benjamin Wallfisch’s haute horror score, incorporating echoes of Jerry Goldsmith and James Horner’s music for the first two movies."

Third Season of 'Industry' "is the increasingly rare television show that follows a weekly release schedule, and it's incredibly well suited for it"

         On August 11, 2024, HBO and Max premiered the third season of 'Industry', which has received predominantly positive reviews from critics. In the series, graduates compete for full-time employment at one of London's top investment banks. The ensemble cast includes Marisa Abela, Mark Dexter, Myha'la Herrold, Harry Lawtey, David Jonsson, and Kit Harrington. But what did the critics have to say?

       Meghan O'Keefe of Decider writes, "Industry Season 3 is a fabulous level up for an already great show. The impressive ensemble cast continues to excavate the beautiful, broken characters the play." Adding, "However, the two new characters who are apt to get the most attention are the aforementioned Sir Henry Muck and Sarah Goldberg’s Petra Koenig, an ice queen portfolio manager in Harper’s orbit. Kit Harington gets to shed the dour honor of Jon Snow for the oft unintentionally hilarious Henry Muck. His green energy company, Lumi, is a huge bet for Pierpoint, but it’s unclear if Muck, or the organization, has the goods to back up the risk. Petra, on the other hand, is skeptical of the green energy movement her company is dead set on investing in. Harper impresses her with her ruthless streak and inside intel on how Pierpoint works."

        Allison Picurro of TV Guide praises the series, stating, "Without spoiling too much (Industry is the increasingly rare television show that follows a weekly release schedule, and it's incredibly well suited for it), the Season 3 finale wraps things up so precisely and satisfyingly that it leaves you wondering whether co-creators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay planned it as a series finale. A fourth season has not yet been confirmed, and while there's certainly enough story to leave the door open for more, it would be so fitting to get out right when the show (potentially) blows up. Maybe that would be the ultimate reward for those who were on the ground floor of the spectacular journey that is Industry."

        Abe Friedtanzer of Awards Buzz says, "Myha’la, Abela, and Lawtey offer even more depth in their exploration of their original characters, guiding a show that often seems like it lacks any moral compass with a vivid fidelity to stressful and satisfying storytelling."

       Sophia Ciminello of AwardsWatch notes, "Industry’s third season is bolder and even more lavish (complete with a Barry Lyndon reference), reflecting both the rise in the show’s critical acclaim and the characters’ salaries and responsibilities at their Pierpoint desks." Continuing, "One of those key partnerships is with Pierpoint’s new client, Henry Muck (Game of Thrones’ Kit Harington), and his green energy tech company/rich boy pet project, Lumi. Lumi aims to bring affordable energy to as many people as possible, so it’s a natural fit for Pierpoint’s new strategy. Robert is managing the firm’s relationship with Lumi, which is further complicated when Henry expresses interest in Yasmin. Robert, with his heart of gold and cocaine, is still in his Sunset Boulevard phase with Nicole (Sarah Parish) but continues to pine for Yasmin. The sometimes exhausting “will they/won’t they” dynamic that dominated the show’s first two seasons is even more discouraging this season, given one man has a salary and the other a net worth. Lawtey is perfectly vulnerable as Robert, convincing us he’s one of the only characters worth rooting for. Harington is a wise casting choice for Henry as he effortlessly channels the type of bravado only found in a gorgeous man who has no clue what he’s doing–a particular Cruel Intentions-inspired pool scene is naturally a highlight. His over-the-top aggression at the Lumi offices doesn’t feel much different than Jon Snow heading into battle in The North, though, and is less interesting than the scenes that expose his insecurities more subtly. With a kink straight out of an episode of Girls and a bottle of wine so expensive that it could be up for auction at Sotheby’s, Henry feels at times like a composite sketch of some of the world’s richest playboys and, at others, a less-realized take on Succession’s Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgard)."

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