Alien Romulus Review: AI Resurrection

Alien Romulus is a riveting addition to the Alien franchise, blending cutting-edge technology with classic sci-fi horror elements. I found it entertaining, suspenseful and thrilling. The standout feature for me was the character of Rook, who was brought seamlessly back to life through AI. Originally portrayed by the late Ian Holm as Ash in the 1979 Alien film, Rook’s digital resurrection is a technical triumph. It was as if the filmmakers had brought Holm back from the dead. It’s that good. What actors feared, their work being copied by AI, in Alien Romulus is now a reality.

Forgetting AI for a moment, the sound design in Alien Romulus is outstanding, enhancing the immersive experience with meticulously crafted audio that heightens tension and draws viewers deeper into the onscreen horror. Alien Romulus is also beautifully shot, well-acted, led by Calilee Spaney and David Carradine, and well-directed, although there is very little character development. The creature design blends practical effects and CGI, paying homage to the original and adding to the nightmarish landscape.

However, the film raises important ethical questions about the use of AI. Is it respectful to resurrect an actor who has passed away? While it can be seen as a tribute, it also risks being perceived as exploitation. The filmmakers did have the blessing of Ian Holm’s family. In Alien Romulus, Rook’s voice is performed by Daniel Betts, augmented by AI to closely resemble Holm’s voice. This combination of digital effects and human performance breathes life into Rook’s character. Even in the close-ups of Rook, I couldn’t tell that it wasn’t Holm, the original actor.

Alien Romulus is an excellent action film, a must-watch for fans of the franchise and sci-fi enthusiasts alike. However, it also invites viewers to ponder the ethical implications of AI. That said, the film had me on the edge of my seat. It’s one of the best movies in the series.

What are your thoughts on the ethical aspects of using AI to bring characters back to life?

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NOEL ANDERSON (Writer & Director) completed NIDA Playwright Studio 1996 and also trained at Stella Adler Studio (New York), The Gate Theatre (London), Independent Theatre (Sydney) and Brisbane Academy of Music. He has worked as an actor, director, writer throughout Australia, his written work includes: Germ Warfare, Circles and The Carer which played at Sydney’s Belvoir Street theatre. Noel's strictly adult play, Sammy & Dave, which he also directed, played to packed houses at the Stables Theatre (Sydney), running for a staggering 3 months. In 2001-2002, Noel’s children’s play Kylie Kastle Throws a Party was performed in hundreds of schools across the country by Troubadour Theatre Co. As director & dramaturg, Noel worked on Kingdom - an Australian musical based on the King Arthur Legend and also The Other Half, a TV pilot for Beyond Films. Noel assistant directed on the first ever Aboriginal sitcom produced on SBS TV called The Masters, and counts Sylvia Plath’s play Letter’s Home at Belvoir Street Theatre among his best directing work. In 2004 -2006, Noel worked on a feature film script, Adult Services and a new play, Moonshot, about the American Lunar landing. But, needing adventure, he packed up and moved to Melbourne where he directed Dark Angels with Pop Diva Katie Underwood (Bardot). In 2008, Noel’s short play "Pulling Out" won Midsumma’s Pink Shorts Festival and Noel's production The Water Sellers at Dante's was awarded Best Director by the Monash Theatre Festival. In 2013, Noel's written work was performed in the show Love Letters at the Melbourne Arts Centre and his play Andy Warhol's Fifteen Minutes of Fame played to full houses at La Mama, Courthouse. Other directing work includes: Oliver (The Gold Coast Performing Arts Centre), Friday Night in Town, A Fitzroy Romance, Blowing Whistles, Australia Dot Com (Melbourne Comedy Festival), Narelle MacDonald : Descent into Pop Madness and Especes Menacees (performed in French) for the Melbourne French Theatre Company. Be sure to catch Noel's six part TV series NEXT... about internet dating on Foxtel and Apple TV in 2017. Other credits include : The Sydney Gay Mardi Gras, The Sydney Olympic Arts Festival, The Sydney Film Festival, and The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and The Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games . In 2015 Noel's play Andy Warhol's Ffteen Minutes of Fame returned to Melbourne, playing to sold out performances at the Jewish Museum of Australia alongside Andy Warhol's Geniuses Exhibition. Noel then directed Price Check the musical at Theatreworks. He finished 2015 with a musical he directed and co-wrote called Audrey Hepburn and I Considers Our Assets at the Melba Spiegeltent, home of Circus Oz.

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