ALIEN: COVENANT

Cert Running time

Cinema’s iconic outer space killer is back to make you scream in this epic episode of the long-running franchise. It’s a superbly crafted adventure of spine-busting action and stunning design. The alien Xenomorph became an instant star when it first terrorised a starship crew in 1979’s classic slasher-movie-in-space, Alien.

Director Ridley Scott kickstarted the franchise and then sat out the sequels of variable quality.

He returned to the series in 2012 with a prequel, Prometheus. Although visually ravishing and ideas heavy, it was over-stuffed with inconsequential characters and lacked a strong alien presence.

Covenant takes place 10 years after events in Prometheus, and benefits from a more streamlined narrative thrust.

And Scott takes care this time to deliver all the things we expect from the series, such as acid blood and explosive chest-bursting gore.

The mesmeric Michael Fassbender reprises his role as the synthetic android, David. The German–Irish actor also plays another android, called Walter.

It’s a fascinating dual performance, made possible by the actor’s absolute command of his considerable talent.

He’s joined by Katherine Waterston. The Fantastic Beasts star makes a decent fist of filling the sizeable boots left by the undisputed queen of the franchise, Sigourney Weaver. Waterston plays Daniels, one of a small team of colonists stranded on a planet and unable to communicate with the orbiting mothership. Meanwhile, Billy Crudup is a weakkneed worry-ball of insecurity as the out-of-hisdepth team commander. As our heroes struggle to survive, the script grapples with big ideas of our human existence. It plays on fears of being wiped out by biological warfare and being usurped by machines. It’s refreshing to be stretched by an action script which engages the brain. Especially as all the other bodily organs are being horrifically ripped to shreds. The word covenant means a deal or pledge, and this film guarantees a great night out.