Alien: Romulus (in theaters)

There is a distinct vibe difference between the first four “Alien” movies and the ones that have come after.

“Alien: Romulus” is the best of the new batch of movies, but it definitely falls into the latter category. It’s incredibly gory, with more effective scares than some of its immediate predecessors, and if you like watching Aliens slaughter people then this should definitely be on your to-watch list. The third-act twist ups the horror to an almost ridiculous degree, and if you’re here for that it should definitely satisfy.

But if you remember the old “Alien” movies, where there was a real plot instead of a set-up and you actually cared about at least some of the characters, then you’re bound to be disappointed. The new movies have really pulled back on that, seeing the characters more as murder fodder than actual people, and “Romulus” doubles down on that. We’re no longer here to watch good people struggle against impossible odds and sometimes die in the process. We’re here to watch the Alien kill count and find out whatever new messed-up addition has been added to the universe’s lore.

If you know that going in, though, you won’t have a problem. The trailers spoil some of the deaths, so try to avoid them if you haven’t seen them already, but director Fede Álvarez is good at creating really grim horror environments. He also does a good job incorporating nods from the previous movies, particularly the ones that are incredibly bloody.

All in all, it’s a good example of the new “Alien” movies. But if you liked the old ones better, this won’t give you what you’re looking for.

Grade: Three stars

The Instigators (Apple TV+)

Charm will only get you so far.

In the case of “The Instigators,” sadly, even Matt Damon and Casey Affleck’s considerable charm isn’t enough to make it all the way through this scattershot heist movie. While Damon and Affleck have good chemistry together, and the movie really leans into opportunities for them to banter, no one seems to care much about the actual heist and everything that follows. What we’re left with is a seemingly unconnected collection of scenes, too random to cohere into anything really interesting.

Damon stars as a morose, down-on-his-luck divorced father who needs a ton of cash to pay off his massive child support bills. Affleck is a small-time crook who drags him into a scheme against a dirty mayor, but when the plan goes sideways they take what they can get. Unfortunately, one of the things they take turns out to be incredibly valuable, and the duo end up running for their lives while trying to get their hands on a worthy score.

With all that going on, the movie should be either a fast-paced thriller or a zanily comedic caper. While there are moments of both scattered throughout – the comedy often thanks to Damon and Affleck’s banter – nothing ever develops enough momentum to stick. The supporting cast is great, full of heavies including Ron Perlman, Alfred Molina, and Ving Rhames, but they only get a couple of scenes before they’re forgotten.

There’s a lot to appreciate about Damon and Affleck, but it would help if someone paid attention to the rest of the movie.

Grade: Two stars

Jenniffer Wardell is an award-winning movie critic and member of the Utah Film Critics Association. Find her on Twitter at @wardellwriter or drop her a line at [email protected].