'Alien: Covenant' Review: Fassbender's Scenes Are Both Freakish and Fascinating

Set 10 years later, “Alien: Covenant,” a sequel to 2012 “Prometheus,” follows a new space ship, Covenant, on a space odyssey to a distant planet. On board the Covenant is a load of thousands of sleeping colonists and human embryos. The only inhabitant who's awake? Android Walter (Michael Fassbender).

After a bout of unexpected turbulence, Covenant’s computer, Mother, wakes up the sleeping crew from hibernation — seven years too early. Far from their final destination, they decide to explore the seemingly beautiful universe they've discovered. What could possibly go wrong, right?

It’s no wonder that the original title of “Alien: Covenant” was actually “Alien: Paradise Lost.” Fans of the series know all too well that "paradise" can be a facade. Behind it lies horrific chills and despair, both of which the ship’s scientist Daniels (Katherine Waterston) can feel in her bones even before pandemonium strikes. The cause, of course, is a clan of bone-chillingly creepy Xenomorphs ready to attack.

The "Covenant" stage truly belongs to Fassbender. He's magnetic playing both Walter and David from the previous “Prometheus” film. The intense "mano-a-mano" scene between the two androids will leave audiences captivated to say the least. (It's probably not what you're imagining...)

As expected, director Scott displays his mastery of evoking fear, urgency and survival with well-orchestrated, visceral thrills and cerebral musings. However, for all of the movie’s heart-pounding tremors and trails of genius, the narrative meanders a bit by the end. A disappointing third act could leave some annoyed thanks to confusing philosophical questions about faith, ethics and creation.

All in all, despite its shortcomings, “Alien: Covenant” is visually stunning, thought-provoking and gripping. See it: Fassbender and the creepy Xenomorphs are immensely watchable.

Watch the official "Alien: Covenant" trailer:

Fan of the first "Alien" film? Watch stars react to the original sci-fi flick:

Top photo: Michael Fassbender and Katherine Waterston attend the 'Alien: Covenant' World Premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square on May 4, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)