The tagline for the original Alien was, “In Space No One Can Hear You Scream”. Twenty-eight years later, we have learned that this is fundamentally untrue, despite being scientifically true. And therein lies the difference between the theater and reality. The two are intertwined but theater favors drama for the sake of asking deeper questions or making a point. That’s the mission of Alien: Covenant.

The premise is that 10 years after the events of Prometheus, a ship carrying a colony of 2000 passengers is headed to a distant planet in an effort to expand the human race. During the journey, a chance solar flare damages the ship, causing an emergency situation in which the emergency crew is to be awoken from hibernation. Upon waking, a rogue human-sounding radio signal is picked up from a nearby planet that could support life. Being much closer than the planet they were aiming for and reluctant to return to hibernation, they decided to explore on the off chance of finding something extraordinary.

Although I tried to remain in a vacuum of informationless space until I had the chance to see the film for myself, I was unable to unsee the flashing scathing headlines, mostly proclaiming that the film was less than good. And I had to imagine that it must be difficult to follow up Prometheus with something of equal or lesser value. And I am happy to say that it certainly isn’t as clumsy with its overall narrative, though it does stumble with some of the basics. While I will refrain from dishing out spoilers, this review may include some information that may skew your preconceived notions of the film.

First, I want to focus on the good aspects, primarily in comparison to Prometheus. The set design for this film was stunning. It improved upon the space faring ships internal and external design, the sci-fi landscapes, and the overall feel of its predecessors with sharp, crisp colors and lines. You will no doubt be looking at something beautiful in every shot. Another improved aspect is the focus on dramatic intensity. This time, Ridley Scott decided to let the atmosphere and set speak to the science-fiction aspect and let the characters simply be humans interacting with that environment. It was a welcome departure from having them discuss the pseudo science that breaks the overall focus and seriousness of their plight which, due to the core concept of the titular creature, they inevitably have to find themselves in. Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, and Danny McBride all do a spectacular job, but outside of Fassbender’s character(s), you get the sense there was so much more to them that never really gets a chance to shine.

Now, onto the attack. The bad aspects are peppered in throughout the film, leaving an overall flavor throughout, not detestable, but noticeable. One of the glaring issue is that there are about 10 or so total crew members, most of which you really never get the chance to know, so it narrows down pretty quick who your main cast of characters will be. On top of that, they all appear to be married to each other for the most part. Why would you have an entire crew of married people, even on a colony mission? Most of the problems are with the direction the characters take, like the lack the crucial logical skills it takes to make rational decisions. In the original Alien and subsequently Aliens, the actions taken are self explanatory. The first film follows space truckers as they are forced into a situation by their parent company wherein they meet the xenomorph. The second film follows a group of marines who underestimate their enemy while the same evil corporation tries to retrieve a sample of the creature, again. All the decisions they make, on the surface, seem easy to follow and are reinforced by the plot twists later in the film.

However, unlike Covenants predecessor, I was able to give the story much more room for error because its nature is akin to that of a Shakespearean tragedy. The characters don’t perform naturally because the story as a whole serves to prove some larger point and ponder deeper questions. Arguably, how many people have you actually heard of that act in the nature of Romeo and Juliet or Hamlet, going to the extent of suicide and murder in the wake of misunderstandings. For the sake of drama and to imbue a significant point, large leaps are taken. Personally, it was the highlight of the film for me, so I would like to direct your attention there instead. You aren’t about to watch a traditional Alien franchise film. You are about to watch a tale in which man, his creations, and his creator converse on a stage for our amusement. In space, no one may be able to hear you scream, but they may be able to see you weep.

~* 7.5/10 *~