| By John Finnegan
Good - not great! The Prometheus and Alien: Covenant films haven’t exactly been met with open arms by either Alien fans or critics. In conversations with friends or colleagues, I often feel like I’m defending the Star Wars prequels—cue the side-eye and awkward silences. Yet, despite the criticism, I find myself drawn to Alien: Covenant. In fact, it might just be my favorite installment in the franchise.
Hear me out.
In this post, I’ll break down why Alien: Covenant deserves more credit. From its clever nods to franchise lore to its terrifying creatures and complex antagonist, this film brings a lot to the table. So, let’s dive into the reasons why this misunderstood gem deserves a rewatch (and maybe a little love).
1. A Franchise Mixtape That Actually Works
If the plot of Alien: Covenant feels familiar, it’s because it is. A group of colonists answers a distress call in deep space, only to be hunted by alien creatures. Sound familiar? That’s the premise of the original 1979 Alien. Add in elements from Aliens—like the military specialists, quarantine drama, and an eerie, uncharted planet—and you’ve got what feels like a "greatest hits" mixtape of the franchise.
Some might see this as derivative, but I argue it’s intentional. Ridley Scott and his screenwriters cleverly cherry-picked the most compelling elements from the series and wove them into a cohesive story.
Ripley 2.0: Katherine Waterston’s Daniels is a clear nod to Sigourney Weaver’s iconic Ellen Ripley, but with her own unique arc.
The Psychotic Android: Michael Fassbender’s David (more on him later) builds on the franchise’s legacy of morally ambiguous synthetics.
Tropes Revisited: The distress call, alien infections, and quarantine protocols aren’t just fan service—they’re woven into the plot with a fresh, suspenseful spin.
And let’s not forget the Alien itself. From back-bursting horrors to the sleek, terrifying Xenomorph, the creatures here are still capable of giving you chills.
2. It Expands the Franchise’s Mythology
One of Alien: Covenant’s strongest attributes is how it enhances what came before it. Many viewers were left scratching their heads after Prometheus, and while I understand the confusion, Covenant steps in to tie up loose ends.
Answers to Big Questions: Where Prometheus felt cryptic, Covenant provides clarity, particularly regarding the Engineers, the origins of the Xenomorph, and the fate of Dr. Elizabeth Shaw.
Character Depth: David becomes an even more fascinating (and terrifying) character, while Shaw’s story gains tragic resonance. By revisiting and expanding on earlier threads, Covenant accomplishes something unique: it gives back to its predecessors.
No other Alien film has done this quite so effectively. While earlier installments built on what worked, they rarely deepened the mythology in such a meaningful way.
3. Terrifying Creatures That Evolve the Horror
Let’s talk about the creatures, because they’re one of the film’s highlights. From the spore infections to the chilling Neomorphs and the classic Xenomorph, Covenant ramps up the terror in new and inventive ways.
The Spore Infections: Watching crew members fall victim to airborne spores is both horrifying and claustrophobic—an innovative twist on the traditional alien infection.
The Neomorphs: These pale, wiry creatures stalking the crew in the tall grass are as eerie as anything the franchise has ever conjured.
The Xenomorph: It’s faster, meaner, and just as iconic. The classic design has been updated to terrifying effect, especially during its climactic pursuit of the surviving crew.
Every death in this film is creative and gruesome, from being mauled in the tall grass to a spectacularly violent back-bursting scene. It’s Alien horror at its finest.
4. The Crew Criticism: A Fair but Flawed Argument
A common gripe with both Prometheus and Covenant is the crew’s poor decision-making. Let’s face it, some characters do make frustrating choices (looking at you, Billy Crudup’s Oram staring into the alien egg). This often leads to fans asking, "Is Alien: Covenant good?" But let’s not act like earlier films didn’t have their share of head-scratching moments.
Take Aliens, for example. The space marines are supposedly the "best of the best," yet they’re hilariously incompetent. From ignoring basic orders to smuggling ammo into a facility that could explode, their actions are just as baffling as anything in Covenant.
What sets the Covenant crew apart, however, is the emotional weight behind their actions. The characters are paired off as married couples, so every death ripples across the group in a deeply personal way. This adds a layer of emotional complexity that many earlier films lack.
5. David: The Franchise’s Best Antagonist
The secret weapon of Alien: Covenant is David, played masterfully by Michael Fassbender. Over the course of two films, David evolves into one of the most compelling antagonists in sci-fi cinema.
A Genocidal Creator: David isn’t just evil—he’s methodical, poetic, and deeply unsettling. His experiments and philosophical musings elevate him far beyond the typical villain.
A Fresh Threat: Unlike the faceless Weyland-Yutani Corporation, David is a personal, tangible danger. His genocidal schemes feel like a natural evolution of the franchise’s themes of creation and destruction.
Few film franchises develop antagonists with this level of depth, and David’s presence alone makes Covenant worth watching.
Conclusion: Why Alien: Covenant is Good and Deserves More Love
Sure, Covenant has its flaws. The repeated tropes, frustrating character decisions, and polarizing mythology might turn some viewers off. But those same elements are also what make it a quintessential Alien movie. It respects the franchise’s roots while pushing the story forward in bold, unexpected ways.
Ridley Scott, far from being "past his prime," shows that he still has a clear vision for this universe. With Covenant, he delivers a film that’s terrifying, thought-provoking, and surprisingly emotional.
So, what do you think? Did Alien: Covenant win you over, or are you still in the "hard pass" camp? How do you rank it among the other films in the series? Let’s debate—just keep the facehuggers at bay.
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