I’ve been an avid fan of the Alien film franchise for as long as I can remember. From the moment I first saw Ridley Scott’s iconic 1979 film, I was hooked. It might have been the very first film I had seen where the sole survivor was a woman, played by the extraordinarily talented and gorgeous Sigourney Weaver.

The film’s eerie atmosphere and soundtrack, the terrifying xenomorph, and the intense, claustrophobic tension of the Nostromo crew’s fight for survival were unlike anything I’d ever seen, and I’ve eagerly followed every installment since. So, when my daughter Elle suggested that we go see Alien: Romulus as one of her belated birthday presents to me, I was absolutely thrilled.

As a lifelong fan, I knew this was not going to be an ordinary movie outing. Elle has grown up hearing my enthusiastic retellings of the Alien saga, and she’s even joined me in watching a couple of the movies when she was younger.

But this was different. This was a chance to experience the franchise’s latest chapter together.

From the very first frame, I was on the edge of my seat. The film is action-packed from start to finish, a non-stop rollercoaster ride that kept my pulse racing throughout. Director Fede Álvarez truly delivered with this ninth installment, seamlessly capturing the dark, suspenseful tone that made the original films so iconic. Set between the events of Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986), Romulus feels like a natural bridge between the two, filled with the kind of gritty, intense action that we fans crave.

What I appreciated most was how Álvarez managed to balance the familiarity of the original films with new, exciting elements. The tension was palpable, the stakes higher than ever, and both the old and new xenomorphs were utterly terrifying.

It was clear that Álvarez understood the essence of what made the original Alien so great, and he embraced the franchise’s roots with a few carefully placed homages to previous films as well as the original film’s concept artist HR Giger, while not shying away from pushing the story forward in new, thrilling directions.

Watching Alien: Romulus with Elle was a special experience. It was more than just a movie; it was a shared moment between father and daughter, a chance to pass on my love for the Alien universe to the next generation. Seeing her eyes widen at the intense scenes, and hearing her gasp at the unexpected twists – reminded me of my first encounter with the terrifying Alien Universe.