The recent sci-fi horror legacy sequel Alien: Romulus is all set to get a surprisingly vintage home release, with the movie landing on VHS as well as Blu-ray and DVD. That’s right, VHS. When DVDs started to hit shelves in 1997, with titles such as Twister and Goodfellas, the writing was starting to be written on the wall for VHS. But, the format had enough life in it to last until 2005, when movies like The Legend of Zorro and A History of Violence marked the end of an era. Then, Witter Entertainment started releasing newer genre favorites like Mandy, Suitable Flesh, and Terrifier 2 on the thought-dead format. Terrifier 2 even had a limited-edition run of tapes that could be purchased at Walmart.
And, much like with these movies, and with retro gaming titles before them, it seems this retro trend is starting to catch on. Come December 3, when Fede Álvarez’s Alien: Romulushits shelves on Blu-ray, 4K UHD, and DVD, it will do the same as a limited edition VHS release. It’s somewhat unprecedented, considering the release is fully backed by 20th Century Studios. The release is a fitting one for a film that is, in and of itself, quite retrospective. One can feel the influence of Ridley Scott’s Alien and James Cameron’s Aliens all over Álvarez’s film. Yet, it is an experience that also ultimately feels like a fresh step in the right direction for the franchise.
The fully-functioning tape will be in a Full Screen 4×3 ration with an English Stereo Language Track. But, anyone who buys it might be better off leaving it in its shrink wrap. It’s more than a little likely that it will go on to be a collector’s item in the future, especially with the unique cover artwork by Matt Ferguson.
The Alien: Romulus VHS Release Looks Wonderfully Vintage
Starring Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, and Isabela Merced (all of whom are phenomenal), Alien: Romulus follows a group of young colonizers as they try to steal some cryo pods from a derelict space station called the Romulus. Unfortunately for them, the Romulus was the waystation for a probe that recently investigated the wreckage of the USCSS Nostromo. And, in doing so, they find the very Xenomorph that wiped out most of the Nostromo’s crew.
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New IMAX Box Office Milestones Achieved By Alien: Romulus & Deadpool & Wolverine
Alien: Romulus, in particular, broke a big IMAX global record for a horror film as its box office performance has exceeded the previous installment.
It’s a blast of a horror film, functioning like a space-set haunted house flick just like the classic original. It’s also heavy on action, like with Aliens, and even throws some surprises the audience’s way. But, perhaps even more so than seeing classic, practical effects-crafted Xenomorph frights, the film’s true appeal is the work of the cast. This is especially true of Spaeny, who has turned in terrific performance after terrific performance, and it seems that Romulus has proved to be something of a breakthrough for her as a financially viable leading actor. For now, if you can’t wait to watch (or rewatch) it, Álvarez’s critical and commercial success is also now available to rent and own digitally.
Alien: Romulus takes the phenomenally successful “Alien” franchise back to its roots. While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.
- Release Date
- August 16, 2024
- Cast
- Cailee Spaeny , David Jonsson , Archie Renaux , Isabela Merced , Spike Fearn , Aileen Wu , Rosie Ede , Soma Simon , Bence Okeke , Viktor Orizu , Robert Bobroczkyi , Trevor Newlin , Annemarie Griggs , Daniel Betts