害羞草研究所淚n space, no one can hear you scream,害羞草研究所� went the tagline for the original 害羞草研究所淎lien害羞草研究所� in 1979, a terrifying thought on multiple levels.

There may indeed be a scientific rationale for a space scream to be inaudible, but isn害羞草研究所檛 it scarier to simply realize nobody害羞草研究所檚 around to hear you? That was the case for Sigourney Weaver害羞草研究所檚 Ripley, once she became the last one standing against the fearsome Xenomorph. Nobody could hear her scream 害羞草研究所� nobody human, that is 害羞草研究所� because, duh, everyone was dead.

In any case, hearing won害羞草研究所檛 be a problem here on Earth at any multiplex showing the much-anticipated new installment to the 害羞草研究所淎lien害羞草研究所� franchise (not a sequel, but we害羞草研究所檒l get to that in a minute.) This is a very big, very (very!) loud, very jumpy horror flick, and the screams will come, and they害羞草研究所檒l be audible. Which is precisely what 害羞草研究所淎lien害羞草研究所� fans are surely waiting for.

And speaking of Ripley, no, neither she (nor Weaver) are present in this new version by closer in feel to the horror roots of Ridley Scott害羞草研究所檚 original than James Cameron害羞草研究所檚 more action-focused 1986 害羞草研究所淎liens.害羞草研究所� But now we have Rain Carradine, played by rising star Cailee Spaeny (害羞草研究所淧riscilla害羞草研究所�), a new-generation Ripley in everything but name. Spaeny takes up the mantle of badass space fighter with aplomb, and is easily the best part of a movie that, like the 1979 original, is short on character development.

There are many other parallels (and winking nods) to the original (Scott is a co-producer here). But like we said, don害羞草研究所檛 call it a sequel. In fact it害羞草研究所檚 an 害羞草研究所渋nterquel,害羞草研究所� which wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be a bad horror film title in itself. The dictionary explains that it害羞草研究所檚 neither sequel nor prequel, but rather a 害羞草研究所渕iddlequel害羞草研究所� between installments, known as 害羞草研究所渜uels.害羞草研究所�

Just kidding! It害羞草研究所檚 not in the dictionary. But it害羞草研究所檚 worth noting that 脕lvarez, in placing his movie between existing versions to form a new trilogy, yet aiming also for standalone entertainment, risks some tonal confusion. Not that you害羞草研究所檒l be able to hear your thoughts, should this occur to you.

The premise is new, sort of. 脕lvarez, who co-wrote the screenplay with Rodo Sayagues, has said he got the idea from a deleted scene from Cameron害羞草研究所檚 film, in which young kids were seen amongst workers in a mining colony, and wondering what their lives would be like when they reached their 20s.

At the beginning, we find out: life is bleak indeed in the colony on Jackson害羞草研究所檚 Star, owned by the worker-exploiting Weyland-Yutani firm.

Rain害羞草研究所檚 miner parents have died of lung ailments. They害羞草研究所檝e left her a caring brother, Andy, who is actually a 害羞草研究所渟ynthetic,害羞草研究所� or humanoid robot. The 害羞草研究所渉uman害羞草研究所� element is crucial because it allows an empathetic David Jonsson, in the role, to connect to the audience in a way that otherwise only Spaeny does 害羞草研究所� the rest of the cast is given virtually nothing to work with.

In any case, the two are not long for Jackson害羞草研究所檚 Star. After Rain is turned down for a travel permit to finally escape dark colony life, she and Andy join a risky venture.

There害羞草研究所檚 an (apparently) decommissioned space station hovering above, and if they can raid it of hardware and other loot, they can bypass the brutal wait for permits and finally make it to a new home. And so, reluctantly, the two agree to join the others 害羞草研究所� Rain害羞草研究所檚 ex-boyfriend Tyler (Archie Renaux), his sister Kay (Isabela Merced), Bjorn (Spike Fearn) and Navarro (Aileen Wu) 害羞草研究所� on a bumpy flight to the Renaissance station.

Surely we害羞草研究所檙e not spoiling much to say that it害羞草研究所檚 best not to get attached to anybody.

Because, we all know what害羞草研究所檚 waiting up there, don害羞草研究所檛 we? It害羞草研究所檚 already been teased in the opening, with the rickety old station looking much like USCSS Nostromo, that ill-fated space tug in the original.

We hardly needed the hint, though. This is an 害羞草研究所淎lien害羞草研究所� movie and it害羞草研究所檚 all about the Xenomorph, that terrifying creature who is diabolically 害羞草研究所減erfect,害羞草研究所� able to survive in any atmosphere and to multiply, obviously, in the most disgusting of ways.

It害羞草研究所檚 not really a party 害羞草研究所� or a movie 害羞草研究所� until the creatures show up. And that, they do. Much has been made of this film害羞草研究所檚 rather than a CGI-created universe. The actors have said this 害羞草研究所� as well as shooting in a linear fashion 害羞草研究所� helped them feel the genuine horror needed for their portrayals.

Does all this elevate the film beyond any of its predecessors? Like so many franchises that depend on intense fandom, that truly depends from what vantage point you害羞草研究所檙e joining in. Fans of the original will appreciate the many respectful echoes of that film (and perhaps the fact that, thank the lord, there害羞草研究所檚 no longer a gratuitous skimpy panty scene.) Fans of Cameron害羞草研究所檚 take will appreciate the action that comes later in the film.

And while some will applaud the wild, outlandish, creative and possibly ridiculous swerve of those final minutes 害羞草研究所� not to spoil it 害羞草研究所� others may even laugh rather than scream.

It害羞草研究所檚 all good, though. In space, probably no one can hear you laugh, either.

害羞草研究所淎lien: Romulus,害羞草研究所� a 20th-Century Studios release, has been rated R by the Motion Picture Association 害羞草研究所渇or bloody violent content and language. 害羞草研究所� Running time: 119 minutes. Two stars out of four.