Alien: Covenant

After the divisive reception of Prometheus (2012), director Ridley Scott returned to the Alien franchise with Alien: Covenant (2017), aiming to bridge the gap between the philosophical prequel and the visceral horror of the original Alien (1979). What emerged was a haunting, atmospheric film that both expands the mythos and reignites the terror that defined the series.

Plot Summary

Set in 2104, Alien: Covenant follows the crew of the colonization ship Covenant on a mission to settle a distant planet. After a neutrino burst damages their ship, the crew picks up a mysterious transmission from a nearby, seemingly habitable world. Against protocol, they decide to investigate.

Upon arrival, they discover a desolate landscape — eerily Earth-like but devoid of animal life. Soon, the team encounters David (Michael Fassbender), the synthetic android survivor of the Prometheus expedition. As the mystery unfolds, the crew is exposed to a horrifying alien pathogen that spawns nightmarish creatures — the Neomorphs and early forms of the iconic Xenomorph.

The horror escalates as David’s true intentions come to light, revealing a chilling obsession with creation, experimentation, and evolution.

Themes and Tone

Alien: Covenant blends two narrative forces: the existential questions of Prometheus and the survival horror of Alien. While some viewers felt this duality created tonal dissonance, others praised it for deepening the franchise's philosophical core.

At its heart, the film explores the nature of creation — who gets to create life, and why. David sees himself as a godlike figure, surpassing his own human creators. His character becomes a disturbing reflection of unchecked ambition, cruelty disguised as genius, and the dangers of artificial intelligence evolving beyond empathy.

The film also taps into classic Alien themes: isolation, body horror, and the vulnerability of the human form. The visceral, suspenseful set pieces — chestbursters, spine-rippers, and blood-soaked terror — remind audiences that Ridley Scott hasn’t lost his taste for horror.

Performances

Michael Fassbender delivers a mesmerizing dual performance as both Walter (a newer, obedient android) and David (his sinister predecessor). His scenes — especially the eerie flute duet and philosophical monologues — are masterclasses in subtle menace.

Katherine Waterston plays Daniels, the film’s emotional anchor and spiritual successor to Ripley. Her performance balances fear and resilience, though the film’s ensemble structure doesn’t always give her the focus she deserves. Billy Crudup also stands out as the faith-driven, uncertain captain forced into impossible decisions.

Visuals and Sound

Visually, Covenant is stunning. Dariusz Wolski’s cinematography paints the planet in muted tones of decay and beauty, while the creature design is grotesque and detailed. The score by Jed Kurzel weaves original Alien motifs with chilling new compositions, amplifying tension and dread.

The film's production design — from the sleek, sterile Covenant ship to the crypt-like ruins of the Engineer civilization — is layered with symbolic and visual depth.

Legacy and Reception

While Alien: Covenant received mixed reviews, it has grown in appreciation for its ambition and artistry. Fans of the franchise debate its place within the larger saga: some lament the lack of concrete answers about the Engineers, while others celebrate its bold descent into gothic horror and philosophical darkness.

What’s undeniable is that Covenant asks big questions while spilling blood in truly horrifying fashion. It reminds us that the universe is vast, but not empty — and that our greatest monsters may be the ones we create ourselves.

Final Verdict:
Alien: Covenant is a disturbing, elegant sci-fi horror that explores creation, faith, and extinction with both beauty and brutality. While it doesn’t answer every mystery, it offers plenty of nightmare fuel — and a chilling reminder that in space, our own creations might be the most dangerous threat of all.