Plenty of scares - mostly borrowed

This worthy addition to the 'Alien' canon clings to past shock scenes like a face-hugger

- PETER HOWELL

Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson star in “Alien: Romulus,” the latest instalment of the sci-fi/horror franchise.

Alien: Romulus

✩✩1/2 (out of 4) Starring Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu. Written by Fede Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues. Directed by Fede Alvarez. Opens Friday at theatres everywhere. 119 minutes. 14A

There is idol worship and there is Fede Alvarez.

The Uruguayan filmmaker takes fan devotion to new heights (or new lows) with “Alien: Romulus,” a scifi/horror franchise instalment so faithful to previous chapters, the multiple callbacks quickly become rote box-checking.

Grimy spacecraft invaded by revolting space parasites? Check. A corrupt and colonizing corporation seeking to exploit its desperate workers? Check. Grotesque scenes of humans grappling with face-huggers, chest-bursters and canoe-headed xenomorphs? Check, check and ick.

“Alien: Romulus” is set between the events of Ridley Scott’s original “Alien” (1979) and James Cameron’s sequel, “Aliens” (1986), the two best movies in the now nine-film franchise. (That’s if you include two wretched “Predator” crossover flicks, which I suppose we must.)