Alien: Covenant (2017)
★★½ — Alien: Covenant (2017)
Alien: Covenant arrived in 2017 as the second instalment in Ridley Scott's Alien prequel series, following the divisive Prometheus (2012) and sitting awkwardly between that film's philosophical ambitions and the straightforward creature horror of the original 1979 Alien. Scott, who had returned to the franchise after three decades away, was by this point working at a considerable pace for a director in his late seventies, with The Martian (2015) fresh behind him and All the Money in the World already in production. The film was shot largely in New South Wales and New Zealand on a budget just shy of $100 million, a modest figure by blockbuster standards, and while it turned a profit at the box office, the returns were considered underwhelming given the franchise's heritage. Michael Fassbender reprises his role as the android David, also playing a second synthetic named Walter.
Just... average. It’s like Ridley Scott couldn’t decide if he wanted to continue Prometheus or reboot Alien, and instead we got this muddled middle-ground of both. There are moments of intrigue, Michael Fassbender is by far the standout, especially when he’s playing off himself, but the rest is meh. The horror beats feel recycled, the characters are thinly written, and despite some solid visuals, it just doesn’t have the suspense or originality to stand out. The mythology stuff gets a bit overcooked too, and honestly, I found myself checking out by the final act. Not the worst in the franchise, but a far cry from the heights it could have reached. Just about lands a pass mark... just.
Rating: ★★½ | Year: 2017 | Watched: 2025-04-10
Where to watch (UK)
Stream: Disney Plus
Rent: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
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Physical: Amazon UK
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Related on Movies With Macca
More from Ridley Scott: Black Hawk Down (2001) · Gladiator (2000) · Prometheus (2012) · Alien (1979)
More with Michael Fassbender: Assassin's Creed (2016) · X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) · X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) · X-Men: First Class (2011)
More from the 2010s: Wonder (2017) · Beautiful Boy (2018) · The Witch (2015) · What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
More horror: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) · Viy (1967) · Nightmare City (1980) · Angst (1983)
More science fiction: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) · Fantastic Planet (1973) · Nightmare City (1980) · The Long Walk (2025)
