Alien: Covenant is regarded as a much better prequel than its predecessor, Prometheus. Prometheus was mostly regarded as a disappointment by those who had hoped for a sequel that could match the intensity of Alien and the large-scale terror of Aliens. Ridley Scott’s next film, Alien: Covenant, was an unheralded return to form, and while the Prometheus sequel had its work cut out for it, the 2017 release remains a stronger, more focused prequel that stays loyal to the spirit of the original.
While James Cameron’s 1986 success Aliens received critical acclaim, the subsequent Alien sequels were not as well-received. Despite the fact that it was directed by David Fincher, Alien 3 was criticised upon its release in 1990, and Alien: Resurrection was a polarising fourth picture in the franchise. Meanwhile, Alien Vs Predator (2004) and its sequel Requiem (2007) were widely regarded as poor points.
RELATED: The Original Idea Of John Carpenter’s Halloween 2 Would’ve Been Better
However, Scott did not disappoint with Alien: Covenant and here is why.
Alien: Covenant focused on a small group of characters, as well as new and weird beasts derived from the Xenomorph. This made Alien: Covenant a ruthlessly efficient horror machine. The back-story was scant and easy to follow. It was delivered in one or two brief frightening monologues from David. It also features a number of grisly, imaginative killings, such as Rosenthal’s horrific and surprise neck bite decapitation. The Alien franchise’s reputation for chilling gore is resurrected in Covenant and the shocking fatalities enhance the film’s memorability far above its predecessor’s offerings.
Lastly, the threat offered by David, Ash, and Carter Burke derives from a cynical contempt for human life. The Xenomorph’s menace derives from unbridled ferocity but in the most successful Alien films, it is unleashed and even encouraged by humans and androids who are more interested in the bio weapon potential of the Xenomorph than in the safety of the crew. The emotionless David was the perfect choice to play a ruthless villain and made the movie worth the watch.
