Alien Covenant (2017) – Review

The year is 2104 and the spaceship Covenant is heading towards a remote planet in order to colonise it. The ship’s captain, however, is killed in a freak accident, leaving another man in charge. The newly instated captain then makes the decision to investigate a planet that is nearby, after hearing a rogue transmission. Following the decision to explore the planet, dramatic and deadly consequences start to occur. A fairly enjoyable film that certainly started better than it finished.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Director: Ridley Scott
Writers: Dan O’Bannon, Ronald Shusett, Jack Paglen
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Danny McBride

The Alien franchise isn’t something I’m overly familiar with, but with Alien Covenant being the second installment, following Prometheus (2012), in a new trilogy, that will hopefully include a third film in the not-so-distant future, I decided to sit down and give this 2017 release a shot. Prior knowledge of Prometheus isn’t essential, but it’s certainly advised. A review for Prometheus will follow soon.

It has to be said that the first half of Alien Covenant seemed to start incredibly well, with some genuinely dark, intriguing and suspenseful moments being showcased, but sadly that tempo didn’t last, and the film seemed to peter out a little, becoming stale and predictable, especially when you factor in the twists and turns that were thrown into the mix towards the end of the movie.

One of the more positive aspects of the picture, however, had to come in the form of the easy on the eye visuals that the filmmakers provided. Fiordland National Park in Southland, New Zealand, featured heavily and was captured brilliantly, with some equally as impressive computer-generated imagery also on display, primarily when depicting the xenomorph creatures.

In terms of the rather broad and diverse cast, Michael Fassbender spearheaded a large majority of the film, portraying both Walter and David, the two androids that featured heavily. Elsewhere, Katherine Waterston and Danny McBride commanded their fair share of screen presence too, depicting Daniels and Tennessee, respectively, while Billy Crudup and Carmen Ejogo also starred. There was even a short appearance from Guy Pearce in the opening moments of the film, with him adopting the role of Peter Weyland.

All in all, Alien Covenant may not have hit the sweet spot for every viewer, especially those heavily invested in the original Alien franchise, but as an entertaining standalone feature film that involved a somewhat appealing story and some impressive visuals, it certainly came across as watchable. A review for Prometheus (2012) is also available to read.

“It’s your choice now, brother. Them or me. Serve in heaven… Or reign in hell. Which is it to be?”

David – Alien Covenant