I watched Alien: Resurrection for the first time ahead of Alien: Romulus, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet's messy, maligned film is now my second-fave in the sci-fi franchise

EntertainmentMoviesSci-Fi MoviesAlienI watched Alien: Resurrection for the first time ahead of Alien: Romulus, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s messy, maligned film is now my second-fave in the sci-fi franchiseWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. EntertainmentMoviesSci-Fi MoviesAlienI watched Alien: Resurrection for the first time ahead of Alien: Romulus, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s messy, maligned film is now my second-fave in the sci-fi franchiseWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. Ahead ofAlien: Romulus, many sci-fi horror fans have taken it upon themselves to revisit every entry in the long-running franchise, from the iconic 1979 original to 2017’s Alien: Covenant. I’m built different, though, so I decided just to watch the only film of the bunch I’d not seen before, Alien: Resurrection, in the run-up, and well, it wasquitethe experience. Double the fun Resurrection’s Ripley being an alien-human hybrid, who’s confused and colder than the character we knew from the previous films, is pretty inspired, really, when you consider how reluctant Weaver was to do a fourth movie. “They said they were writing this script and I was stunned, frankly. One of the reasons I died was to liberate the series from Ripley, because I didn’t want her to keep waking up, you know, ‘Oh god, there’s a monster…'” Weaver, who went on to co-produce the movie,once said. “I heard there was gonna be an Alien versus Predator, or something awful, I wanted out.” Ripley 8 gave Weaver the opportunity to offer up something new (and wear iconic, dark green false nails), for starters, but with Ripley having famously dying at the end of David Fincher’s Alien 3, sacrificing herself to stop the alien queen, the hybrid stuff also feels like a daring, veiled comment on Weaver’s relationship with the series, and how she’d become so symbiotic with it. Might the scientists even be a stand-in for 20th Century Fox executives? It’s not too far-fetched of a theory. Then there’s how deliciously queer-coded it is. Among the mercenaries that hitch a ride on the Auriga, is Winona Ryder’s Call, a next-gen android who’s masquerading as a human in order to take out Ripley, whom she’d learned was being used to weaponize xenomorphs. An early encounter between Call and Ripley is dripping with sexual tension; all cheek caresses, sly smirks, and throat grabs as the former chooses not to kill her target. And the undertones never really let up, as the pair go on to express genuine concern and save one another on several occasions. (Let’s face it, Jeunet wasn’t exactly being subtle when he has Ripley inexplicably stick her fingers in Call’s oozing wound in the third act). It’s pretty bold of the French filmmaker to sexualize the movie so much, albeit not explicitly, given that the franchise has always been concerned with themes of consent and how, for many, it’s regarded as allegory for assault. “Who do I have to fuck to get a ride out of here?” Ripley quips to the Betty crew when things start to go south. Later, she looks to exhibit some level of attraction to the xenomorphs. But to me, it’s a pretty interesting way to subvert expectations and Ripley’s characterization. She’s in control this time round, and it’s clear Weaver enjoyed playing with that. Under(water)rated (Image credit: 20th Century Fox) Now, I realize that all of the above caters tome– a horror-obsessed, Cronenberg-loving lesbian – very specifically, but Alien: Resurrection also boasts moments that are just undeniably cool, like the underwater chase sequence. With no other way through the ship, Ripley, Call, and co find themselves having to swim through a flooded kitchen. With all of the characters submerged, there’s no room for dialogue, which makes for a cute spin on Alien’s tagline “in space, no one can hear you scream” and makes it all the more suspenseful. The xenomorphs move like sharks, deftly swaying from side to side as they relentlessly pursue the increasingly disorientated group. Trying to evade an alien is scary enough; having to do so while holding your breath is nightmarish. Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox While Alien: Resurrection is frequently ranked last in people’s Alien movie rankings, it’s worth noting that it currently has a 55% score on Rotten Tomatoes, which is higher than Alien 3 (44%), Alien vs. Predator (22%), and Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (12%). In short, I’m far from the only one who got something out of it. That said, I’d argue that it’s better than Alien: Covenant, and gives Prometheus a run for its money, too. From its trailer, Fede Alvarez’s upcoming instalment Alien: Romulus looks to have taken a leaf out of Resurrection’s book and will feature a similarly franchise-fresh set piece; this time involving zero gravity. “Often tense and tangible, sometimes mean and majestic, Romulus also freights its leaner pleasures with excess franchise matter to frustrating effect,” Kevin Harley writes in ourAlien: Romulus review, as he awards it three out of five stars. I can’t wait to see how it lives up to my newfound second-favorite Alien movie. Alien: Resurrection is streaming now onDisneyPlus. Alien: Romulus releases in cinemas on August 16. For more, check out our guide on how to watch theAlien movies in order, or our breakdown of the most excitingupcoming moviesheading our way. 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heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1 Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”