Alien: Romulus - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

In the vast cinematic and often unpredictable odyssey of the Alien franchise, Fede Álvarez's Alien: Romulus has successfully reinvigorated the xenomorph universe. The movie fascinatingly functions as both a sequel and prequel, a side story snuggly nestled between the first two original installments — an "interquel." And yet, it emerges as a refreshing entry to a series that has captivated audiences since Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi horror classic, breathing new life into the overall narrative and mythos while also paying loving homage to its predecessors. The talented, astute Uruguayan filmmaker of horror favorites Evil Dead and Don't Breathe returns the franchise back to its origin basics, encapsulating the essence of what made the first two films so compelling and memorable. He skillfully intertwines gripping suspense with an apprehensive atmosphere and familiar themes of corporate greed and the alienation of the working class. 

Set a few years after the doomed Nostromo disaster, the plot is a self-contained tale that's simultaneously interconnected within the series's existing lore. In fact, the script, which Álvarez co-wrote with long-time collaborator Rodo Sayagues, is essentially modeled after the first two movies, opening with eerily similar camerawork as an extraction mission is already in progress. Afterward, a group of six young colonists on a perpetually dark, desolate planet unwittingly stumble upon the remnants of the derelict space station Romulus. We meet them already complaining and grumbling about the working conditions under the Weyland-Yutani corporation. But to be perfectly honest, most of these characters are sad, forgettable throwaways — serving little beyond setting the plot in motion and as gory fodder for the xenomorphs — except for Cailee Spaeny's orphaned miner Rain Carradine and David Jonsson's android Andy.

Looking for a way off the planet by any means necessary, their plight of survival and arcs are terrifically engaging, and they're the only ones that ultimately matter, providing just the right amount of depth and gravitas necessary to keep us invested. And Álvarez's prowess is on full display with these surrogate siblings, as he adeptly balances their ordeals and development with intense moments of terror and a near-constant feeling of suffocating dread. The pacing is meticulously crafted, allowing tension to build organically while keeping us deeply focused on Rain and Andy's struggle. His camerawork is one to marvel at — a masterful use of dark, grimy shadows and a claustrophobic stage production. Echoing the nightmarish splendor of Scott's original and the suspense action of James Cameron's follow-up, I genuinely admire Álvarez's efforts to prioritize atmospheric tension and gripping thrills over gore and jump scares. 

On top of the excellent direction and engaging story, Alien: Romulus is also replete with references to previous installments. And as a long-time, childhood fan of the franchise — including some of the, ahem, weaker entries — I found myself actually enjoying the various callbacks, from the iconic visuals reminiscent of H.R. Giger and the thematic plot elements to Benjamin Wallfisch's familiar musical motifs. More importantly, the subtle allusions and intentional nods are not merely superficial fan service but are seamlessly woven into the fabric of the story from which the film builds its own unique identity, providing a deeper sense of continuity and cementing its place within the broader legacy of the series. Steeped in the franchise's DNA, Álvarez's Romulus is a noteworthy addition to the series that's marked by riveting visuals, atmospheric dread and outstanding camerawork, establishing a new standard for future installments. 

For other takes on the film -

Sam Cohen's Theatrical Review

Bryan Kluger's Theatrical Review

Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
20th Century Studios and Disney/Buena Vista bring Fede Álvarez's Alien: Romulus to 4K Ultra HD as a two-disc combo pack with a flyer for a Digital Copy, unlocking the 4K version in Dolby Vision HDR with Dolby Atmos audio. The Region Free, dual-layered UHD66 disc sits comfortably opposite a BD50 containing the movie and all the supplemental material. Both are housed in a black, eco-elite case with a glossy cardboard slipcover. At startup, viewers are taken to a static screen with the usual options and music playing in the background. 

NOTE: As of press time, we haven't been able to pull 4K disc-sourced images. Hopefully, soon we can come back to add new images and/or a video sample.

Alien: Romulus debuts on Ultra HD with a remarkably gorgeous HEVC H.265 encode that arguably sets a new benchmark with one demo-worthy scene after another. Shot entirely on the Arri Alexa camera system and struck from a freshly made digital intermediate, the native 4K transfer arrives with razor-sharp details throughout, exposing every intricate aspect of the stage production. From the space station and costumes to the xenomorph and the various CG effects, every frame is mesmerizing with striking clarity. And this is despite it being an incredibly dark film, as superb, spot-on black levels wash the action in velvety-rich, stygian shadows that penetrate deep into the screen while allowing for extraordinary visibility within the darkest, murkiest corners. Contrast balance is also right on the money, supplying brilliant, squeaky-clean whites and marvelously crisp, narrow specular highlights that never wash over the finest details. 

The Dolby Vision HDR presentation delivers a vibrant, richly-saturated array of colors whether it's the energetic orange-yellow hues of the flashlights without the slightest hint of banding or the sumptuously rendered primaries of the costumes and the buttons of computer terminals. The highly revealing facial complexions come with a natural, peachy-rose tone in the cast, making for a stunning 4K HDR picture that genuinely adds to the film's overall atmosphere. (Dolby Vision HDR Video Rating: 98/100)

On the audio front, the sci-fi horror flick crashes into home theaters with an equally impressive, reference-quality Dolby Atmos soundtrack that immediately envelops the listener from the start with an intricate sound design. Imaging feels spacious and expansive with the haunting echoes of the ship's interior whether it's metal grating against metal or the subtle electrical pulses circulating through the spacecraft. Background activity moves across the screen with convincing fluidity and outstanding distinction, maintaining exceptional clarity when quiet moments suddenly shift to loud, ear-piercing intensity. This creates a wide, half-dome soundstage that's amazingly engaging, and the vocals are always precise and well-prioritized above the action with excellent intonation in the performances. Atmospherics flawlessly pan between the surrounds and across the overheads for almost the entirety of the movie, generating an immersive hemispheric soundfield that puts listeners right in the middle of the action. 

The visuals are further amplified thanks to a phenomenal, authoritative low-end that provides a wall-rattling punch to the pulse rifles, each stomp of the xenomorph and every explosion. Better still, during the third act when Rain is about to enter the sleep pod, the bass suddenly energizes the room with a constant pulsating tone that reaches ultra-low depths at high decibels, which will really test a subwoofer's capabilities and surely draw the ire of the neighbors. 

The only major complaint is the overall volume coming in lower than normal, requiring it to be boosted to -5 from reference to fully appreciate the audio quality of the object-based mix. But this is typical of most, if not all, Disney releases, and once adjusted to about 4 or 5 decibels higher than usual, viewers will be blown away by the Atmos track. (Dolby Atmos Audio Rating: 96/100)

For this UHD edition, the sci-fi horror flick arrives with a decent if also somewhat underwhelming set of the bonus features, all of which are housed on the accompanying Blu-ray disc. 

• Return to Horror: Crafting Alien: Romulus (HD) is a four-part featurette
• The Director’s Vision (4 min)
• Creating the Story (2 min)
• Casting the Faces (7 min)
• Constructing the World (13 min)
• Inside the Xenomorph Showdown (HD, 11 min) is a closer look at a pivotal action sequence
• Alien: A Conversation (HD, 9 min) is an engaging conversation between Ridley Scott and Fede Álvarez
• Alternate/Extended Scenes (HD, 11 min) is a collection of four sequences

Set a few years after the doomed Nostromo disaster, Fede Álvarez's Alien: Romulus has successfully reinvigorated the Alien franchise, returning the series to basics with riveting visuals, atmospheric dread, suspenseful action and outstanding camerawork. Steeped in the franchise's DNA, the sci-fi horror "interquel" is also replete with allusions to previous installments while carving its own unique identity that cements its place within the broader legacy of the series. The latest entry debuts on 4K Ultra HD with a striking, reference-quality Dolby Vision HDR and Atmos presentation with one demo-worthy scene after another. Although the selection of bonus material leaves much to be desired, the overall UHD package nonetheless makes for a Highly Recommended addition to the xenomorph library. 

All disc reviews at High-Def Digest are completed using the best consumer HD home theater products currently on the market. More about the gear used for this review.

 
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