Lyla Lindsey
Alien: Covenant is a 2017 science fiction horror film and the sixth movie in the Alien series. The film was partly produced in Australia, with the Australian government providing AU$47.25 million in grants to attract the film's production to the country. The film was written by John Logan and directed by Ridley Scott, who is known for his work on other science fiction films such as Prometheus and Blade Runner. Alien: Covenant follows the crew of the colony ship Covenant, who encounter a hostile alien life form after travelling to a dark and dangerous planet. The film received mixed reviews, with some praising its scary and violent elements, while others criticised it for not offering anything new to the franchise.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Rating | 65% on Rotten Tomatoes |
| Worldwide gross | $240.9 million |
| Gross in the US and Canada | $74.3 million |
| Gross outside the US and Canada | $166.6 million |
| Production budget | $111 million |
| Australian gross | $3.1 million |
| Australian government grants | AU$47.25 million |
| Composer | Jed Kurzel |
| Director | Ridley Scott |
| Screenplay writers | Jack Paglen, Michael Green, Dante Harper, John Logan |
| Actors | Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demian Bichir |
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What You'll Learn
Alien: Covenant's rating in Australia
Alien: Covenant is the sixth movie in the Alien series or the eighth movie if the Alien vs. Predator movies are included. It is a sequel to Prometheus and serves as a prequel to the original Alien movie. The film was directed by Ridley Scott and stars Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, and Michael Fassbender, among others.
In terms of its rating in Australia, the film is rated MA 15+ (Mature Accompanied), according to the Australian Government's Classification website. This means that people under 15 years of age cannot watch the film unless they are accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.
The MA 15+ rating is due to the film's horror themes, violence, and coarse language. There are intense and frequent violent scenes, including alien attacks, blood, gore, and a beheading. The film also includes occasional coarse language and sexual references, as well as some themes that may disturb younger viewers.
Alien: Covenant has received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. Some praise the film for its scary and violent content, strong female character, and special effects, while others found it disappointing in comparison to Prometheus, with some viewers feeling that it did not bring anything new to the franchise.
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Australian production involvement
Australia played a significant role in the production of Alien: Covenant, marking the first time in the Alien franchise that the country was chosen as a filming location. The Australian government attracted the production of the film to the country by providing AU$47.25 million in grants.
Principal photography for Alien: Covenant began on April 4, 2016, at Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, New Zealand, and wrapped up on July 19, 2016. However, much of the filming for Alien: Covenant took place in Australia, specifically in Sydney, New South Wales. The film occupied various stages at Fox Studios Australia, where large sets were built to create the colony ship Covenant and eerie new worlds from the Alien and Prometheus films. The film also utilised backlot areas, including a former Sydney Water reservoir, which director Ridley Scott praised as "one of the best movie backlots in the world."
The production employed more than 600 local cast and crew directly and many more indirectly, contributing over AUD$60 million to the New South Wales economy. This included visual effects work by Australian-based effects house Animal Logic, which provided the film's digital visual effects.
In addition to the economic benefits, the Australian locations and talent were also attractive to the production. Sydney offered world-class studio facilities and a talented crew, while the country's states competed to offer separate regional incentives. The natural beauty and accessibility of Sydney, with its clean beaches and proximity to the city, were also highlighted as advantages.
Overall, the involvement of Australia in the production of Alien: Covenant was significant, contributing to both the economic and creative aspects of the film's development.
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Comparisons to Prometheus
In terms of tone, pace, and overall direction, Alien: Covenant was designed to pay homage to Prometheus. Director Ridley Scott wanted to create a horror movie that recaptured the feel of the original Alien while also paying respect to the deeper implications of Prometheus. Scott also revealed that the film would explore the dark turn that David, the synthetic survivor of the Prometheus expedition, would take in Covenant, stating that David hates both the Engineers and human beings.
While Alien: Covenant was intended to be a sequel to Prometheus, some viewers were left disappointed. Some felt that the film lacked the vision of its predecessor, with one viewer commenting that the film felt like something they had seen before. Another viewer criticised the decision-making of the crew in Covenant, noting that, in contrast to the characters in Prometheus, their choices were not realistic and were driven by the need to further the plot.
Despite these criticisms, Alien: Covenant was still considered a good sequel and prequel by some, offering more scares and fantastic performances. The film also grossed a worldwide total of $240.9 million, although this was less than Prometheus, which made $403.4 million.
In terms of production, Alien: Covenant was filmed in Australia, and the Australian government provided grants to attract the production of the film. The film's digital visual effects were also provided by an Australian-based effects house, Animal Logic.
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Plot summary
In Australia, Alien: Covenant was given an MA15+ rating by the Australian Classification Board. The film is a science fiction horror/thriller and is the sixth instalment in the Alien film franchise. It is a direct sequel to Prometheus (2012) and serves as a prequel to the original Alien (1979) film.
Set in 2104, Alien: Covenant follows the crew of the colony ship Covenant, who are on a mission to Origae-6, carrying over 2,000 colonists in cryogenic hibernation, with the goal of building a new world. However, their plans are derailed when they receive a rogue transmission from a nearby habitable planet. The planet resembles Earth, and the crew views it as a potential home for the colony.
As an expedition team descends to the planet's surface, they discover the dark secrets it holds. The planet has an ionized exosphere that hinders proper communication with the Covenant. During their exploration, security team members Ledward and Hallett are infected with alien spores that enter through their ear canals.
The expedition team also encounters David (Michael Fassbender), the synthetic survivor of the Prometheus expedition. David reveals that he and chief science officer Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) were the sole survivors of the Prometheus spaceship, which crashed on the planet. The crash led to Elizabeth's death and released a deadly pathogen that wiped out the planet's fauna and created aggressive hybrids.
The story takes a thrilling turn as the crew of the Covenant finds themselves in a deadly fight for survival against hostile alien life forms. They experience close-quarters deep-space terror and must navigate the treacherous terrain of the unknown planet. The crew members also uncover a conspiracy related to the planet and face the constant threat of the aliens, including the Xenomorph, a deadly creature that infiltrates and attacks the crew.
The film explores the relationship between David and Walter, a next-generation android, adding depth and humour to the narrative. It blends horror and philosophical elements, paying homage to both the Alien franchise and Prometheus while attempting to introduce new ideas and expand the Alien lore.
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Viewer reception
The viewer reception for Alien: Covenant was mixed. While some viewers praised the film's visuals, special effects, and landscapes, others criticised the story and character development. Some viewers also felt that the film did not live up to the expectations set by its predecessor, Prometheus.
Many viewers took to IMDb to express their thoughts on the film. One user praised the film's first 20 minutes, describing it as "sharp" and "atmospheric" with "interesting character situations, emotive moments, and infinitely better writing than we had in Prometheus". However, they went on to say that the film then "indulges in convoluted ideas about creation and destruction", resulting in a film that feels like "three different films slapped together". Another user gave the film a mediocre review, stating that while it has some undeniable strengths, it also commits the same faults as Prometheus and lacks a compelling story. This viewer also noted that the film's writing and performances were lacking, resulting in a lack of engagement with the characters.
Other viewers took to Rotten Tomatoes to share their thoughts on the film. One user felt that Alien: Covenant was a "good sequel and prequel" with "more scares and some fantastic performances". They also noted that the film provided a satisfying round of close-quarters deep-space terror, even if it didn't take the saga in any new directions. However, another user expressed disappointment, stating that they had expected a sequel to Prometheus and that Alien: Covenant did not live up to their expectations. They described the film as "structurally challenged" and felt that it lacked the vision of its predecessor.
Common Sense Media also featured a range of reviews from viewers. One user praised the film's moody visuals and strong female character while highlighting the violence and gore, including aliens bursting from body cavities and a beheading. They recommended that parents be cautious before allowing their children to watch. Another user on the same platform noted that the story felt "patched together" from Alien, Prometheus, and even Blade Runner. However, they praised director Ridley Scott's "moody, thoughtful style" and believed that the film was worth seeing, despite its familiarity.
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