It’s been 45 years since Ridley Scott gave us a vision of terror in space with Alien. In that time, we’ve seen the titular alien, and its friends, appear in more than a half dozen films. Now, they are back again in a new franchise addition from Fede Alvarez that takes audiences back to the beginning.

The film both literally touches on the original and brings back that sense of dread, suspense, and horror that made Scott’s first film so iconic. It’s a wonderful return to the world and one of the better offerings in the franchise.

In the new film, we begin with a Weyland craft scooping up the remains of the Alien from the wreck of the Nostromo. Flash forward a bit and we’re transported to a grim mining colony. Life is tough there and the planet is so polluted it offers zero days of sunshine. It makes sense then, with her parents gone, that Rain (Cailee Spaeny) is trying to leave.

Rain doesn’t have much, but it seems the company has moved the target for getting off the planet and she may be stuck a bit longer. Her only companion is her brother, Andy (David Jonsson), a synthetic rescued by her parents and programmed to be her ally. Soon, she gets a request from a friend for a meeting.

It turns out some of her friends (Archie Reneaux, Aileen Wu, Isabela Merced, and Spike Fearn) may have found a way out. They have a ship and they’ve detected cryo pods on an abandoned ship floating above. They just need Rain—or more specifically Andy—to help get the pods and make the journey.

Together they set out but what they find is actually a derelict, and damaged, station named Romulus. In addition to cryo pods, the station holds darker secrets that threaten their simple plan.

This film has a solid story and builds up a tight crew of characters. That all resonates with the original and adds a strong layer to the film. Alvarez, in addition to directing, worked on the script with Rodo Sayagues and has a feel for what he wants to say with this world. It is a direct sequel to the original and draws on that story, those characters, and that aesthetic to build out the world.

 Spaeny, who earlier this year starred in another strong film Civil War, offers a quiet determination and strength that works well in the lead here. Jonsson is also quite good. His character goes through a few changes, which allows Jonsson to showcase some good range and ability. Rain and Andy are not only the focal characters but for the heart of this story.

But what sells it is the tense look and feel. This ranges more toward the somber horror of the original and it works well. Alvarez has some wonderful visuals in the film, too, but it’s the moody tension and the savage action that works best.

I am a fan of the original Alien more than most of its sequels. Seeing this film return to that style and deliver a compelling story made for an exciting late summer addition to the cinematic landscape.

Alien: Romulus is now playing nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.