Alien: Romulus Digital Review
Brief Recap
Alien: Romulus, the latest entry in the Alien franchise, follows young space colonists encountering Xenomorphs on a derelict station. While the film disappoints in storytelling, its digital release showcases impressive technical merits. For a full analysis of the film itself, check out my detailed review here.
While Alien: Romulus disappoints as a film, let's examine how it fares as a digital release. The technical presentation and bonus features might offer some redemption for home media enthusiasts.
Video Quality
Xenomorph in Alien: Romulus. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved
The digital release of Alien: Romulus boasts impressive video qualitThe 2160p transfer (2.39:1 aspect ratio, HEVC/H.265 encoded) brings out exceptional detail in the gritty, industrial environments. HDR implementation enhances contrast in darker scenes, crucial for the film's claustrophobic atmosphere. Textures, from worn corridors to Xenomorph surfaces, are rendered with striking clarity. The muted color palette aligns with the franchise aesthetic, while occasional bursts of color from control panels pop vividly.
Compared to recent 4K releases like Possessor or Signs, Alien: Romulus holds its own, particularly in its handling of shadowy environments and practical effects detail. The transfer truly elevates the viewing experience, rivaling the quality of top-tier sci-fi horror home releases.
★★★★★ out of five stars
Audio Quality
The Dolby Atmos audio mix is equally impressive. Even on a non-Atmos setup (Sony WH-1000XM4s via MacBook Pro), the sound is dynamic and immersive. Directional audio, from distant machinery to Xenomorph movements, creates palpable tension. Dialogue remains clear throughout, while Benjamin Wallfisch's score complements the on-screen action effectively. Lee Gilmore's sound design shines, making every quiet moment pregnant with potential danger.
This release's audio quality stands out even among recent high-profile sci-fi releases, offering a more nuanced and atmospheric experience than many of its contemporaries.
★★★★★ out of five stars
Bonus Features
The digital edition of Alien: Romulus comes with a selection of bonus features that provide insight into the film's production. However, the overall package feels somewhat lacking compared to previous releases in the franchise.
Here's what you get:
Return to Horror: Crafting Alien: Romulus (HD; 25:34 total)
The Director's Vision (HD; 3:28) – Discover how one of today's greatest horror directors, Fede Alvarez, collaborated with master filmmaker Ridley Scott to craft a new, heart-pounding chapter in the Alien franchise.
Creating the Story (HD; 2:20) – Learn what inspired the story of Alien: Romulus and see the many easter eggs from previous Alien installments you may have missed.
Casting the Faces (HD; 6:29) – Meet the stars of Alien: Romulus as they take us inside the hearts and minds of their characters. Explore the parallels between Rain and the iconic franchise heroine, Ripley, and learn how filmmakers brought back a face from the past.
Constructing the World (HD; 13:16) – Explore the massive, practical sets of Alien: Romulus that hearken back to the futuristic style established in the '80s and get up close and personal with a hoard of practically built facehuggers, chestbursters, and xenomorphs.
Inside the Xenomorph Showdown (HD; 11:07) – Experience the film's climactic zero-gravity sequence from every angle as filmmakers break down what it took to make the moment spectacular. From sets and performances, to wirework, stunts, and VFX, see how it all came together.
Alien: A Conversation (HD; 9:22) – A special conversation with Ridley Scott and Fede Alvarez for the Alien 45th Anniversary theatrical re-release.
Alternate / Extended Scenes (HD; 11:28) – Check out scenes that didn't make the final cut.
While this collection of bonus features offers some good insight into the making of the film, the total runtime of less than an hour (57 minutes and 31 seconds, to be exact) feels very light for the first new Alien film in seven years. The "Constructing the World" featurette, at 13 minutes, provides the best look at the production process, and given how many times the "Return to Horror" featurettes repeat themselves, feels like the only major highlight for fans interested in the actual making of the film, especially the practical effects and set design.
The worst of these bonus features has to be "Alien: A Conversation", as it is simply reused material from the Alien 45th Anniversary theatrical re-release and feels more like something Disney should've added to a home media re-release of Alien than to Alien: Romulus. I understand the two films have a connection and Ridley Scott and Fede Álvarez have a connection as the original creator and the new director. However, it just doesn't fit here.
The alternate and extended scenes don't fare much better, either. While they're described as "scenes that didn't make the final cut", all of these scenes appear in the movie and these versions of those scenes don't add anything interesting to the overall package.
While I'm sure dedicated fans of the franchise will like what few insights into the creative process behind Alien: Romulus, these bonus features disappointed me. This is not only because of its relatively short total runtime and how brief the features are offered but also because the release does not offer any audio commentary track or any kind ofcomprehensive deep dive into the film's production. I fear this may be a result of Disney wanting to hold off on these bonuses until the film releases on Hulu, which is usually when the company releases an hour-long mini-doc about the making of the movie.
★★★ out of five stars
Score and Recommendation
While Alien: Romulus may disappoint as a film, its digital release offers exceptional technical quality. The 4K transfer and Dolby Atmos mix provide a reference-quality home viewing experience, rivaling or surpassing recent high-profile sci-fi horror releases. However, the lackluster bonus features prevent this from being a perfect package.
★★★★ out of five stars
Conclusion
The digital release of Alien: Romulus presents a conundrum for franchise fans and collectors. On one hand, its technical presentation is spectacular, showcasing the film’s production design and sound work brilliantly. On the other hand, casual viewers or those unimpressed by the film might find the package lacking, especially given the disappointing bonus features.
Compared to previous Alien home releases, Romulus offers superior visual and audio quality but falls short in supplementary content. While it outperforms many recent sci-fi horror digital releases in technical aspects, it underdelivers in bonus materials.
If you're curious about Alien: Romulus but not committed to owning it, waiting for its Hulu streaming debut on November 21st might be the best option. For those who do decide to purchase, you'll at least be treated to a top-notch experience, even if the extras leave something to be desired.
Where to Watch
Alien: Romulus is now available for digital purchase at your preferred retailer, including Amazon, Apple, Fandango at Home, Google Play, Microsoft, Movies Anywhere, Verizon, Xfinity, and YouTube. You can also rent it on most of these services. Hulu subscribers will be able to stream Alien: Romulus starting on November 21st. Additionally, it will be available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, and VHS at Amazon, Target, and Walmart on December 3rd.
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