In a recent exclusive with Empire, director Fede Álvarez reveals his approach to his upcoming film, Alien: Romulus, which aims to be a hybrid of the original Alien and its action-packed sequel, Aliens. Álvarez explains, “To ask an Alien fan to choose between them is a perverse question. So I thought, ‘How do I do both?’”

Set between the events of the first two films, Alien: Romulus seeks to combine the slow-build horror of Alien with the intense action of Aliens. The movie’s setting, the galactic Renaissance Station, is divided into two sections reflecting this blend: the Remus side with the haunting atmosphere of Alien, and the more advanced Romulus side reminiscent of Aliens. Álvarez describes a pivotal scene where characters move from areas resembling the Nostromo to hallways akin to Hadley’s Hope, the colony in Aliens: “There’s a moment where the characters are walking around areas familiar from the Nostromo. Then they cross through that building and on the other side: boom! You’re in a hallway that looks like Hadley’s Hope.”

The film stars Cailee Spaeny as Rain, seen wielding an Aliens-esque Pulse Rifle, and David Jonsson as her android foster brother Andy. Álvarez explains their relationship: “When her father was dying, he left Andy to be a kind of caretaker. But Andy is a bit damaged and he’s an older model. So more than a surrogate father, he becomes a younger brother to her. And that was always the heart of the story: this relationship between the two… and how that relationship unfolds once shit hits the fan.”

With a mix of suspenseful scares and thrilling action, Alien: Romulus promises to deliver a unique addition to the beloved franchise.

Bill Skarsgård is returning to the Stephen King universe for the Hulu series Welcome to Derry as the fear monger killer clown Pennywise, a role he rebooted for Andy Muschietti‘s 2017 adaptation of King’s novel It. 

Deadline reports that Skarsgård will join two other execs from both the first and second chapters: producer Barbara Muschietti and co-producer Jason Fuch. 

The series is currently filming in Canada and probably won’t be ready to air until 2025. 

Meanwhile Skarsgård is having a bumper year. He recently starred in the hyper-graphic martial arts action movie Boy Kills World and is awaiting how fans will respond to his character Eric in The Crow, another reboot of a popular work of literature. 

Furthermore, he’s starring in another horror adaptation, Nosferatu, as Count Orlok, a blood-thirsty vampire who invades a small town.

As for Welcome to Derry, it is based on a story by Andy Muschietti and a prequel to his previous two It films. It’s projected to be ready to air in 2025.

It happens to the best of us, we are so focused on the big horror movies coming out that the smaller, better ones with no publicity budget get passed over.

Lowlifes (2023)

Available on Tubi

This is a weird and wild horror movie. Mark those words because there are so many twists and turns my head was spinning. Lowlifes is a twist on the hillbilly trope and contains everything you need for a good time.

Synopsis: The survival instincts of a road-tripping family are put to the test when they have no other choice but to stay the night at a remote homestead.

Humane (2024)

VOD

Another Cronenberg enters the box office race, unfortunately, Caitlin’s movie is being ignored over her brother Brandon’s work. That’s unfair because Humane is well worth a watch and may even be better than her older brother’s Infinity Pool.

Synopsis: In the wake of an environmental collapse that is forcing humanity to shed 20% of its population, a family dinner erupts into chaos when a father’s plan to enlist in the government’s new euthanasia program goes horribly awry.

Lovely, Dark and Deep (2023)

Available on Tubi

This one just went undetected and it’s a mystery as to why. Yes, it has its problems but it is a solid and interesting horror movie. Plus it stars Barbarian’s Georgina Campbell who is always great in every role she plays.

Synopsis: Lennon, a new back-country ranger, travels alone through the dangerous wilderness, hoping to uncover the origins of a tragedy that has haunted her since she was a child.

Infested (2024)  

Available on Shudder

Hundreds of real spiders were used in this creature feature which is as pulse-pounding as it is spine-tingling. Great performances and practical effects are just two of the reasons you should watch this French horror movie.

Synopsis: Residents of a rundown French apartment building battle against an army of deadly, rapidly reproducing spiders.

Frogman (2023)

VOD

It’s been a while since we have had a good found-footage cryptid monster movie. This one is worth a watch if you miss them and it’s not as rudimentary as the poster art would imply.

Synopsis: Three friends in search of the Loveland Frogman finds out that he is more than just a local legend

Founders Day (2024)

VOD

If you missed this one it’s okay. The marketing on it was horrible and then it disappeared for months before being available on digital. It’s a bit convoluted but still worth a watch. In fact, make this one and Thanksgiving a double feature.

Synopsis: A small town is shaken by a series of ominous killings in the days leading up to a heated mayoral election.

Slay (2024)

Available on Tubi

Okay hear me out, this one is actually a hidden gem. It’s unfortunate that no one has seen it especially since it’s filled with plenty of gore, a great homage to Tarantino, and belongs along side some of the best vampire movies. IOf you do decide to watch it, how many Easter eggs did you catch?

Synopsis: After a booking mistake, four drag queens find themselves performing for a mostly unwelcoming crowd, but when vampires attack, the crowd looks to the queens to save the day.

Departing Seniors (2023)

VOD

This one came out about the same time as Founders Day. Both are good, but Founders Day came out the victor. This is a fun slasher with a twist and no, it’s not a Blumhouse production.

Following an act of bullying, witty high school senior Javier develops psychic abilities which he must use to stop a mysterious serial killer targeting his classmates.