As a longtime fan of Ridley Scott’s seminal work, I must confess that the introduction of Ian Holm’s android character, Rook, in “Alien: Covenant” left me with a bittersweet feeling. Don’t get me wrong, seeing Holm on screen again was an absolute delight, but the execution felt somewhat lackluster.
Contains spoilers for “Alien: Romulus“
As a diehard fan, I can confidently say that director Fede Álvarez’s “Alien: Romulus” has undeniably earned its place in the esteemed “Alien” film series, given the chest-bursting praise it’s been receiving. The tension here is as tight as a Facehugger’s grip, and the ensuing horror is enough to make your stomach turn. However, one crucial plot twist and an unexpected cameo by a legendary “Alien” cast member will give you chills that no Xenomorph could induce.
While infiltrating Remus for essential equipment, Rain (Cailee Spaeny) and her team stumble upon Rook, a severely damaged Hyperdyne Systems 120-A/2 android. This model bears striking resemblance to the deceitful Ash (Ian Holm) from the original 1979 film who attempted to eliminate Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and deliver the cargo back to “the company”. Recognizing this uniform – blue shirt with a white undershirt – die-hard fans will instantly recall Ash’s identity.
Álvarez navigates a tricky situation with the addition of a suspicious crew member who’s always seemed a bit on edge. Given that Holm passed away in 2020, it results in another instance of deep faking a deceased actor. Although it’s not as extreme as some portray, it’s still problematic. “Romulus,” despite its quality, mirrors the same problems seen in a recent franchise and one infamous for bombing in a galaxy this franchise should avoid at all costs, also linked to one of the biggest flops in comic book movie history.
Alien adds insult to artificial injury just like the Star Wars movies and The Flash
In a similar fashion to how “Alien” built upon the success of “Star Wars” by introducing a revolutionary science fiction universe, the franchise has mirrored the issues that arise from extended use of either digitally de-aged or deceased cast members from prior films. Iconic actors like Peter Cushing, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill were given the CGI treatment in recent “Star Wars” productions. Despite advancements in technology since their reappearance in the saga, the utilization of George Reeves, Christopher Reeve, and Helen Slater as Supermen and Supergirl in “The Flash” demonstrated that the art of applying it effectively is yet to be mastered.
Every time “Romulus” comes close to imitating Ian Holm’s performance, it only takes a few moments to undermine the suspense that the film maintains so effectively elsewhere. The more we scrutinize Rook, the more artificial he seems. Regrettably, there are too few instances when his portrayal truly evokes the legendary performance we associate with Holm on screen.
What’s truly vexing is that the movie has all the necessary elements to pull off this trick flawlessly, yet it seems to ignore using them effectively. Instead of centering on Rook, “Alien: Romulus” could have leveraged what made earlier “Alien” films successful by keeping the audience guessing and focusing even more intently on the mystery.
Rook didn’t have to be that much of a close encounter
The introduction of Rook sets a hopeful tone. Found lying face-down in a liquid reminiscent of milk and sporting exposed pasta-like structures from his body, the crew raises him to unveil the distinctive profile of Ian Holm, shrouded in shadow. This confirms the type of android we are about to encounter. It appears that this is all we should initially see of him, and there’s a solid explanation for it. In a movie that primarily takes place in darkness, with only emergency lights illuminating crowded spaces or the radiance of space filling long corridors, it makes sense that Rook was kept more out of sight. Maybe revealing him less could have made the android an even more striking figure.
In a possible alteration of the scene, the room where the characters encounter the treacherous robot might have been illuminated by emergency lights, casting an ominous glow on Rook’s face similar to when Ripley activated the self-destruct sequence in the initial movie. This lighting choice would not only be a tribute to the late actor but also heighten the tension for viewers and maintain that anxiety. Additionally, director Fede Álvarez could have intensified the static on the monitors during Rook’s conversation with the potential intruders, causing them to flicker inconsistently instead of maintaining a constant light on the android. As it stands, the current presentation seems overly devoted to fan service and is particularly jarring in a film that emphasizes practical effects. In this instance, employing more practical effects could have enhanced the overall experience.
A more broken Rook could’ve worked so much better
The history of Weyland Yutani synthetics is such that they are built to withstand significant damage and keep operating. Even when characters like David, Ash, and Bishop have been severely damaged, they still function to some extent. Given this, could it be possible that the Romulus android endured more physical abuse than depicted in the film, to the point where its appearance bore only a resemblance to Holm’s character, Rook? If half of Rook’s face or even half his head had been destroyed, the camera could have focused on the android for as long as required while still paying homage to the nostalgia the movie was trying to evoke. This extended focus would also allow for greater manipulation of Rook’s voice, which only intermittently resembled Holm’s distinct English accent.
As a gamer, I can’t help but feel that Rook’s inclusion in this movie is a smart move, even if some might view it as overdoing the franchise reference and paying homage to the past in an excessive way. This character serves to clearly define what our bumbling space invaders are up against, and strengthens the connection between this “in-between sequel” and the original “Alien”. Unlike “Prometheus” and “Alien Covenant”, it does a great job of tying this story to the Alien franchise. The damaged android character, much like Ash, is a logical and crucial plot point. However, the way it’s executed feels more hollow than it should, leaving me with mixed feelings towards Álvarez.
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2024-08-17 17:30