I’d be lying if I said that Carmen Ejogo and Jussie Smollett weren’t the main two reasons I decided to check out Alien: Covenant. However, I was presently surprised at how the film managed to pull me in and go straight for my innate love of thrillers. In the follow-up to the 2012 Alien prequel series starter Prometheus, Ejogo and Smollett join a cast of space explorers headed for a far-flung planet with hopes of colonization and new beginnings.
With the legendary Ridley Scott at the helm, the film quickly amps up the thrills (and fear factor) while still staying true to the eerie, almost haunting sci-fi aesthetic the seasoned director made famous with the first Alien films. I’m still captivated by Michael Fassbender’s performance and the film’s not-so-underlying focus on creation — which are another two reasons I’d dare to call Alien: Covenant a sleeper pre-summer hit.