There’s a dark joke (or tragic irony, depending on one’s cynicism) nestled within the appearance of a familiar character in “Alien: Romulus.” The move is a dubious creative decision for the sake of that sprinkle of fan service we’ve come to expect in a reboot. Whatever’s best for the company (i.e. Walt Disney Corp.), indeed.
But this, perhaps, is unfair to “Alien: Romulus” — ultimately a good ol’ fashioned romp — and to its predecessors as a whole. Amid the ongoing gold rush of reboots and revamps, the world of “Alien” has remained a bit of a remarkable creature, so to speak.