Alien: Covenant
Direct sequel to Prometheus with returning characters heading to new planet
The brief
Ridley Scott returns to his xenomorph playground with gorgeous visuals and Michael Fassbender doing double duty as two very different androids, but the pacing drags between genuinely shocking body horror moments. The film feels caught between wanting to be philosophical sci-fi and crowd-pleasing monster movie, never fully committing to either mode. When the alien action kicks in, it's brutally effective, but you'll spend long stretches waiting for characters to make obviously terrible decisions. Perfect for Alien completists and anyone who thought Prometheus needed more face-huggers and less existential dread.
The verdict
If you're an Alien franchise fan who craves stunning visuals, brutal body horror, and Michael Fassbender's mesmerizing dual android performance, this delivers the xenomorph goods you've been waiting for. If you expect tight pacing and characters who make logical decisions, you'll spend most of the two-hour runtime frustrated by obvious plot contrivances and philosophical meandering that goes nowhere.
Watch with
- 👥 Horror fans who appreciate practical effects
- 👤 Alien franchise completists
- ⚠️ Skip if you're squeamish about parasites
Heads up
- Graphic alien births and face-hugger attacks (moderate)
- Parasitic creatures emerging from human bodies (frequent)
- Sudden loud alien attack scenes (moderate)
- Gore and dismemberment during alien encounters (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Ridley Scott
- Cast
- Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, Jussie Smollett
Official synopsis
The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with The Thing Expanded (2026)
Both feature isolated crews facing horrific alien threats in confined spaces.
