Exploring Sibling Dynamics in Alien: Romulus (2024) — A Review

Spoiler alert: this article contains spoilers of the film Alien: Romulus (2024).

Directed by Fede Álvarez, Alien: Romulus (2024) is the latest installment in the Alien franchise. Álvarez gained recognition for directing the horror films Evil Dead (2013) and Don’t Breathe (2016), setting high expectations for audiences familiar with his cinematic style.

Image credit: 20th Century Studios

The film is set between the events of Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). It follows three pairs of siblings from the mining colony Jackson’s Star. The siblings — Rain and her adoptive brother, a malfunctioning android Andy; Tyler and his pregnant sister Kay; and their cousin Bjorn, father of Kay’s baby, and his adoptive sister Navarro — infiltrate a derelict space station to retrieve cryostasis chambers that will allow them to escape to the planet Yvaga. Upon their arrival to the station, they learn the station is actually a Weyland-Yutani research facility called Renaissance, split into two sections: Romulus and Remus.

Fractured Bonds: Parallels of Myth and Betrayal

The title of Alien: Romulus emphasizes the theme of sibling relationships by invoking the legend of Romulus and Remus, twin brothers nurtured by a she-wolf and raised by a shepherd. The myth ends with Romulus killing Remus after a bitter conflict, thus becoming the founder of Rome. The legend’s theme of betrayal and fratricide mirrors the sibling relationships in the film.

Álvarez draws clear parallels to the myth by centering the narrative on sibling dynamics, especially betrayal. Andy betrays Rain when his “prime directive” changes after she installs a chip from a damaged android. Similarly, Taylor fails Kay, unable to save her as the xenomorph critically injures and drags her away. However, Álvarez twists the theme of betrayal by allowing reconciliation between Rain and Andy as they prepare for their journey for Yvaga by the film’s end.

Álvarez adds another layer to the sibling dynamic by making Andy an android, which allows him to delve into the complexities of human-android relationships. Álvarez’ portrayal of Andy and Rain’s relationship suggests that the bond between humans and androids could be as profound as that of blood-related siblings, and maybe even more efficient. Through these layers, Álvarez intertwines betrayal, loyalty, and the evolving nature of kinship — both biological and synthetic.

Symbolism and Sibling Bonds: A Missed Opportunity

The sibling theme is well-incorporated into the film and adds a personal touch that sets it apart from previous films in the Alien franchise. At the same time, there is room for improvement in how this theme is communicated to the audience.

The story heavily focuses on the dynamic between Rain and Andy. This way, it overshadows the relationships between the other siblings. Since the majority of screen time is spent on Rain and Andy’s interactions and conversations, other pairs don’t get as much development, which can leave viewers struggling to connect with them. In my opinion, this undermines the film’s central theme. Without reading plot summaries or reviews, it may be unclear to viewers that the main characters are all siblings. Giving more attention to the other sibling pairs would offer the audience more time to engage emotionally with the characters and grasp the sibling theme more deeply.

Additionally, while naming the Renaissance research facility Romulus and Remus clearly references the sibling theme, the symbolism feels disconnected form the siblings themselves. A more organic approach would have been to name the spaceship they used to reach the facility Romulus or Remus. This shift would have tied the symbolism directly to the sibling pairs and made them feel more integral to the story.

Conclusion: Balancing Tradition with a New Sibling Focus

All in all, Alien: Romulus brings a breath of fresh air to the Alien franchise with its focus on the siblings, while still staying true to the classic themes, tropes, and structures that define the series. Although the sibling theme is woven effectively into the film, a few tweaks could have made its impact even stronger.