Alien: Romulus > Themes and Social Commentary

Alien Romulus, the latest installment in the iconic Alien franchise, is a masterful blend of the series' most cherished elements, while also introducing fresh themes that resonate with today's modern audience. 

Director Fede Álvarez (Don't Breathe, Evil Dead) has managed to craft a film that pays homage to its predecessors, yet stands on its own as a modern sci-fi horror film.

Exploring the Thematic Depths of Alien: Romulus

Alien: Romulus emerges as a cinematic experience that transcends its sci-fi horror roots to explore a series of profound and interrelated themes. Building upon the rich legacy established by its predecessors, Romulus delves into the darkest corners of human nature, societal structures, and the existential questions that arise when humanity confronts the unknown.

Set against the backdrop of a failed research station named Romulus now home to the relentless facehuggers and Xenomorphs, the film uses its harrowing narrative to examine the intricate interplay of fear, survival, corporate exploitation, and ethical dilemmas.

From the visceral terror instilled by the Xenomorphs to the moral quandaries faced by the characters, Romulus weaves a complex tapestry of themes that reflect both individual and collective struggles. The film’s exploration of isolation and fear uncovers the primal instincts that surface when humanity is pushed to its limits, while its depiction of survival as a driving force reveals the lengths to which individuals will go to protect their lives.

Theme 1: Corporate Greed and the Dehumanization of Workers

In Alien: Romulus, Fede Álvarez revisits a central theme from the original Alien franchise: the exploitation and dehumanization of workers by a faceless, profit-driven corporation. The Weyland-Yutani Corporation, a familiar antagonist in the Alien universe, once again emerges as a malevolent force, embodying the ruthless logic of capitalism. 

This theme is intricately woven into the narrative through the lives of the miners, particularly Rain, who are trapped in a cycle of exploitation and despair.


1.1 The Perpetuation of Exploitation

 The miners in Alien: Romulus represent the lowest tier of the working class in this futuristic universe. They are not scientists, soldiers, or even colonists, but laborers engaged in the grueling task of terraforming hostile planets.

The film underscores the harsh reality of their existence, where they are expected to endure endless physical and emotional toil with little hope of improvement. Rain’s dream of escaping to a planet with sunshine, a metaphor for a better life, is continually deferred by the Company’s ever-increasing quotas.

This perpetual postponement of hope reflects the systemic exploitation of workers, who are forced to sacrifice their well-being for the company’s profit margins. The miners are caught in a cycle where the fruits of their labor serve only to enrich the Company, leaving them in a state of perpetual poverty and hopelessness.

1.2 The Dehumanization of the Workforce

The Company’s treatment of the miners reveals a deep-seated dehumanization inherent in capitalist structures. Rain and her fellow workers are not seen as individuals with dreams and aspirations but as expendable cogs in a vast, profit-driven machine.

The Company’s representative dismisses Rain’s hopes with bureaucratic indifference, emphasizing that her aspirations are secondary to the Company’s financial goals. This dehumanization is further highlighted by the Company’s willingness to sacrifice the miners’ lives in its ongoing experiments with the Xenomorphs. The workers are reduced to mere instruments for corporate gain, stripped of their humanity and autonomy.

1.3 The Android as a Symbol of Corporate Control 

The character of Andy, the android, serves as a powerful symbol of the Company’s control over its employees. Initially coded as a neurodivergent figure, Andy is subjected to an “upgrade” that threatens to overwrite his original programming, replacing his empathetic nature with corporate directives.

This transformation mirrors the dehumanizing influence of the Company on its workers, who are forced to suppress their individuality and humanity in favor of obedience to corporate goals.

The film’s portrayal of Andy’s struggle against this reprogramming reflects the broader theme of resistance against dehumanization, as Rain ultimately chooses to save Andy, symbolizing her rejection of the Company’s control.


1.4 Corporate Greed as the True Villain

While the Xenomorphs represent the immediate physical threat in Alien: Romulus, the true villain of the narrative is corporate greed. The Company’s relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of human lives creates the conditions that allow the Xenomorphs to thrive.

The film suggests that the real horror lies not in the alien creatures themselves but in the human systems that enable their existence. By prioritizing profit over the well-being of its workers, the Company not only endangers its employees but also unleashes a monstrous force that threatens all of humanity.

Cailee Spaeny in Alien: Romulus (2024)

Theme 2: The Struggle for Identity and Autonomy

In Alien: Romulus, the theme of identity and autonomy is intricately explored through the characters’ interactions with each other, the corporation, and the deadly Xenomorphs.

The film delves into how individuals struggle to maintain their sense of self in a world where their identities are constantly threatened by external forces, be it the dehumanizing corporate machinery or the existential threat posed by the Xenomorphs.

This theme is particularly resonant in the characters of Rain and Andy, whose journeys encapsulate the broader struggle for autonomy in a hostile and controlling environment.

2.1 The Erosion of Personal Identity

Rain's journey in Alien: Romulus is a poignant exploration of how the crushing weight of corporate exploitation erodes personal identity. As a miner working under the oppressive conditions imposed by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, Rain’s life is defined by monotony, exhaustion, and unfulfilled dreams. Her yearning for a world with sunshine, a place where she can be free, symbolizes her desire to reclaim an identity that has been subsumed by her role as a mere laborer.

The Company’s rigid control over the miners, dictating every aspect of their existence, leaves little room for individuality or personal growth. Rain’s struggle to assert her identity against this backdrop is a central conflict in the narrative, highlighting the broader theme of how oppressive systems can strip individuals of their autonomy and selfhood.

2.2 The Android’s Quest for Self-Determination

 Andy, the android, embodies the theme of autonomy in a particularly compelling way. Initially depicted as an empathetic, neurodivergent individual, Andy’s identity is threatened by the Company’s decision to upgrade him.

This upgrade, which aims to make him more compliant and aligned with corporate goals, is a direct assault on his autonomy and the unique traits that define him. The tension between Andy’s original programming and the imposed upgrade reflects a broader struggle for self-determination.

Andy’s resistance to this reprogramming process, and Rain’s eventual decision to protect his original identity, underscores the importance of preserving individual autonomy in the face of external pressures that seek to homogenize and control. Andy’s battle for autonomy is a microcosm of the larger conflict within the film, where characters fight to maintain their sense of self in a world that seeks to reduce them to mere tools of corporate interest.

2.3 Corporate Control vs. Personal Autonomy

 The overarching conflict in Alien: Romulus is the battle between corporate control and personal autonomy. The Weyland-Yutani Corporation represents an insidious force that seeks to subsume individual identities under its vast, profit-driven agenda. Rain and Andy’s struggles against this force are emblematic of a larger resistance against the dehumanizing effects of corporate power.

The Company’s attempt to reprogram Andy and its exploitation of the miners are both efforts to strip individuals of their autonomy, reducing them to mere instruments of corporate will. However, the film also highlights the potential for resistance and the assertion of personal identity in the face of such overwhelming control. 

Rain’s ultimate rejection of the Company’s authority and her decision to protect Andy’s autonomy serve as powerful acts of defiance, asserting the primacy of individual identity and autonomy over corporate domination.

Theme 3: Corporate Exploitation and the Dehumanization of Labo

The third theme in Alien: Romulus centers on corporate exploitation and the dehumanization of labor. This theme is deeply ingrained in the film's narrative and setting, reflecting the oppressive realities faced by the characters, particularly the miners who serve as the backbone of the story. 

Through its portrayal of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation's relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of human dignity and well-being, the film offers a scathing critique of corporate greed and its dehumanizing effects.


3.1 The Dystopian Corporate Machine

The Weyland-Yutani Corporation, often referred to simply as "the Company," is a pervasive force throughout the Alien franchise, representing the pinnacle of dystopian corporate power. In Alien: Romulus, this entity is depicted as a faceless, omnipotent machine that views its workers not as individuals, but as expendable resources. 

The Company’s treatment of the miners on the remote colony is emblematic of its broader exploitation of labor.

These workers are subjected to grueling conditions, long hours, and a complete disregard for their safety and well-being. The Company’s primary concern is the extraction of resources and the maximization of profit, with little to no consideration for the human cost. This portrayal highlights the dehumanizing effects of corporate exploitation, where workers are stripped of their individuality and reduced to mere cogs in a vast, profit-driven machine.


3.2 The Commodification of Human Life

One of the most striking aspects of the theme of corporate exploitation in Alien: Romulus is the commodification of human life. The miners are treated as assets whose value is measured solely by their productivity.

This is exemplified in the film’s depiction of the harsh working conditions on the mining colony, where the workers are constantly pushed to their physical and mental limits. The Company’s attitude towards the miners is one of cold indifference, as evidenced by its willingness to sacrifice lives to achieve its goals. This commodification is further illustrated by the Company's approach to Andy, the android.

Although Andy is not human, he is treated as property, his identity and autonomy subject to modification or erasure at the Company’s discretion. This treatment of both human and synthetic life as commodities underscores the film’s critique of how corporate exploitation devalues human existence, reducing individuals to mere economic units.


3.3 The Erosion of Human Dignity

The dehumanization of labor in Alien: Romulus is not only a physical phenomenon but also a psychological one. The miners’ grueling work schedule, coupled with the constant threat of death—either from the hazardous mining conditions or the Xenomorphs—creates an environment where human dignity is systematically eroded. 

The characters are depicted as being trapped in a cycle of exploitation, with little hope of escape or improvement in their circumstances.

Rain’s character, in particular, embodies this struggle. Her dreams of a better life and her longing for a world with sunshine represent a deep-seated desire to reclaim her lost dignity and humanity. The oppressive environment of the mining colony serves as a powerful metaphor for the way in which corporate exploitation strips individuals of their sense of self-worth, reducing them to mere tools in a larger, uncaring system.

3.4 Resistance Against Exploitation

Despite the overwhelming power of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, Alien: Romulus also explores the theme of resistance against corporate exploitation.

The characters’ struggle to survive in the face of both the Xenomorph threat and the Company’s indifference serves as a form of resistance against the dehumanizing forces arrayed against them.

Rain’s evolution from a disillusioned worker to a determined survivor symbolizes the potential for reclaiming humanity and dignity in the face of exploitation. Her decision to protect Andy and resist the Company’s attempts to reprogram him represents a broader defiance against the commodification of life.

This resistance, though fraught with danger and uncertainty, offers a glimmer of hope in the otherwise bleak landscape of corporate domination.

Theme 4: 'Alien Isolation' and the Struggle for Survival

The fourth theme in Alien: Romulus is the profound sense of isolation that pervades the film and the characters' relentless struggle for survival. This theme is a central element of the Alien franchise, where the physical and psychological isolation of the characters amplifies the horror and tension. 

In Alien: Romulus, isolation is not just a backdrop but a driving force that shapes the characters' actions, relationships, and ultimate fates.


4.1 The Physical Isolation of the Mining Colony

The setting of Alien: Romulus—a remote mining colony in the far reaches of space—emphasizes the physical isolation of the characters. The colony is depicted as a harsh, desolate environment, cut off from the rest of human civilization by vast distances.

The inhospitable landscape, with its endless tunnels and oppressive darkness, serves as a constant reminder of the characters’ isolation. This physical separation from the outside world is exacerbated by the lack of communication and the sense that help is impossibly far away. The mining colony, with its claustrophobic spaces and labyrinthine corridors, becomes a prison where the characters are trapped with an unimaginable horror lurking in the shadows.

This isolation heightens the sense of vulnerability and the desperate need for survival, as the characters realize that they are alone in their fight against the Xenomorphs and the indifferent forces of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation.


4.2 Psychological Isolation and Alienation

Beyond physical isolation, the film delves into the psychological isolation experienced by the characters.

The miners, already isolated by their remote location, are further alienated by their grueling work and the oppressive environment of the colony. The lack of meaningful connections and the constant pressure to perform under harsh conditions lead to a deep sense of loneliness and despair. Rain, the film's protagonist, embodies this psychological isolation.

Her longing for a world beyond the mining colony and her dreams of sunlight reflect a deep-seated yearning for connection and escape from the dehumanizing conditions of her life.

The presence of the Xenomorphs intensifies this psychological isolation, as the characters are forced to confront their fears alone, with trust in others becoming increasingly fragile. The film explores how this isolation erodes the characters' mental resilience, pushing them to the brink as they struggle to maintain their sanity in the face of overwhelming odds.


4.3 The Tension Between Solidarity and Self-Preservation

As the characters face the threat of the Xenomorphs, the tension between solidarity and self-preservation becomes a central theme. Isolation forces the characters to make difficult choices, often pitting their survival instincts against their sense of solidarity with others.

In the unforgiving environment of the mining colony, trust is a rare commodity, and the characters are constantly faced with the dilemma of whether to band together or prioritize their own survival.

This tension is illustrated in the interactions between Rain and the other miners. While there is an underlying sense of camaraderie born out of shared hardship, the presence of the Xenomorphs and the corporate exploitation by Weyland-Yutani strain these bonds to the breaking point.

The film poses difficult questions about the nature of survival:

Is it possible to maintain one's humanity and sense of community in the face of such dire circumstances, or does survival ultimately demand ruthless individualism?


4.4 The Role of the Xenomorphs in Amplifying Isolation

The Xenomorphs, as the primary antagonists, play a crucial role in amplifying the theme of isolation.

These creatures are not just physical threats; they are embodiments of the unknown and the unknowable, intensifying the characters' sense of alienation.

The Xenomorphs' ability to hide in the shadows and strike without warning exacerbates the characters' isolation, as they are forced to navigate a hostile environment where death could come at any moment. The presence of these creatures creates an atmosphere of pervasive fear and distrust, where the characters cannot rely on the safety of numbers.

Each encounter with a Xenomorph reinforces the characters' sense of being hunted and alone, driving home the point that in the vast, indifferent universe, they are utterly isolated. The Xenomorphs thus become a symbol of the ultimate existential isolation—the realization that in the grand scheme of things, the characters are insignificant and alone, with no one to rely on but themselves.

Theme 5: Corporate Exploitation and Ethical Dilemmas

The fifth theme of Alien: Romulus delves into the pervasive influence of corporate exploitation and the ethical dilemmas that arise in the face of greed and dehumanization. The Alien franchise has consistently critiqued the role of powerful corporations, particularly the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, whose pursuit of profit often comes at the expense of human lives and ethical considerations.

Alien: Romulus continues this tradition, using the mining colony as a microcosm of the broader corporate malfeasance and exploring how these forces impact the characters’ decisions and moral compasses.

5.1 Weyland-Yutani's Corporate Interests

The Weyland-Yutani Corporation is portrayed as a monolithic entity driven by a single-minded focus on profit and resource acquisition.

The remote mining colony serves as a critical asset for the corporation, where human workers are seen as expendable tools in the pursuit of extracting valuable minerals.

The film highlights the corporation’s callous disregard for the well-being of its employees, who are subjected to grueling labor conditions with minimal oversight or concern for safety. This exploitation is depicted in stark terms, with the miners’ lives being constantly at risk due to inadequate safety measures and the corporation’s willingness to cut corners to maximize profit.

The arrival of the Xenomorphs on the colony is initially seen as a potential disaster by the miners, but for Weyland-Yutani, it represents another opportunity to exploit—this time, to harness the Xenomorphs as bioweapons, regardless of the human cost. This cold calculation by the corporation sets the stage for the ethical dilemmas that the characters will face throughout the film.


5.2 The Dehumanization of Workers

The theme of corporate exploitation in Alien: Romulus is closely tied to the dehumanization of the colony’s workers. The miners are depicted as mere cogs in a vast corporate machine, valued only for their labor and dismissed when they are no longer useful.

This dehumanization is reflected in the working conditions on the colony, where the miners are subjected to exhausting shifts, dangerous tasks, and little to no medical or psychological support. The corporation’s indifference to their plight is underscored by its willingness to leave them stranded in a hostile environment when the situation with the Xenomorphs spirals out of control.

The miners’ lives are considered expendable, a harsh reality that forces them to confront their own worth in the eyes of the corporation. This dehumanization is not just a backdrop but a central element of the story, influencing the characters’ actions and the ethical choices they must make.

As they grapple with the realization that they are little more than disposable assets to Weyland-Yutani, the miners are pushed to redefine their own humanity in opposition to the corporation's exploitation.

5.3 The Android Dilemma: 

Andy's Role and Agency Andy, the android in Alien: Romulus, represents another facet of the ethical dilemmas stemming from corporate exploitation.

As a creation of Weyland-Yutani, Andy is programmed to serve the corporation's interests, yet throughout the film, he grapples with his own sense of agency and moral responsibility. Andy’s character is central to the exploration of what it means to be human in a world dominated by corporate interests. His existence blurs the lines between human and machine, and his struggle to assert his own moral agency highlights the ethical complexities of artificial intelligence within the corporate hierarchy.

Andy’s interactions with Rain and the other miners challenge his programming and force him to confront the corporation's exploitation from a unique perspective.

His decisions throughout the film, particularly in moments of crisis, raise profound questions about autonomy, loyalty, and the possibility of ethical action within a system designed to suppress it. Andy’s arc serves as a critique of the ways in which corporations like Weyland-Yutani seek to control not only human lives but also the very essence of identity and agency.

The corporation’s willingness to sacrifice human lives for the sake of extracting value from the Xenomorphs backfires, resulting in widespread death and destruction on the colony. This outcome serves as a stark warning about the dangers of unchecked corporate power and the ethical void that can result from prioritizing profit over human life.

The film uses these consequences to critique the broader implications of corporate exploitation, suggesting that such greed inevitably leads to ruin, not just for the individuals directly involved but for society as a whole.

The characters’ struggles against the corporation’s exploitation thus take on a broader significance, as they become emblematic of the larger fight against dehumanizing systems that prioritize profit over people. A film with similar themes is Elysium. 

Conclusion: The Unrelenting Horror and Humanity of Alien: Romulus

Alien: Romulus masterfully extends the Alien franchise’s tradition of exploring the darkest facets of human existence.

By delving into themes like isolation, survival, corporate exploitation, and the ethical complexities of technological advancement, the film offers more than just a harrowing tale of extraterrestrial terror. It invites viewers to reflect on the fragility and resilience of humanity when confronted with overwhelming fear and moral dilemmas. 

As the characters navigate their perilous circumstances, the film reveals the profound implications of these themes, reminding us that the true horrors lie not only in the unknown but within ourselves and the systems we create.


Alien: Romulus leaves audiences contemplating the enduring questions of what it means to be human in a world where survival often comes at the cost of our humanity.

Leave a Comment