Back in June 2016, the news broke that distribution company Universal Pictures had pulled Spectral, a science-fiction thriller with a strong video-game flavor, from its fall release roster. There are a lot of possible factors, some weedier than others, including a 2016 film slate glutted with science fiction and fantasy, and the newness of Legendary’s relationship with Universal, given that the former had just left its longtime distribution deal with Warner Bros. Spectral, which Netflix picked up in November and rushed to its streaming platform on December 9th, is a mishmash of familiar film tropes, with bits and pieces from Black Hawk Down, Edge of Tomorrow, and especially Aliens.