Alpha Review

I know what you were likely thinking when you saw the previews for this film: did I ask for this? I know I was asking that when I randomly saw a trailer for this film during The Last Jedi. Then, I remember seeing the laughably bad commercials, which involved a prehistoric boy and dog/wolf to the backdrop of Imagine Dragons. No problem with Imagine Dragons, just a strange choice for this type of film. I was planning on watching this movie in a completely ironic way until suddenly, people started to watch the movie. And to my shock, they liked it in a non-ironic way. So then I was curious: is this film actually legitimate? Well, I’ve finally seen Alpha and I have my verdict.

It’s really good.

I’m not even saying it’s a goofy movie that I had a lot of fun watching like The Meg or The Cloverfield Paradox. No, it’s a great movie. I never thought I’d be saying this, but maybe even one of my favorites of the year. Regardless, Alpha is the most pleasant surprise I’ve seen in 2018.

This film excels on all technical standpoints that I can think of. The cinematography is absolutely gorgeous and is probably my favorite aspect of the film. Many shots are well thought out and feel unique to this film. Also, the lighting is always utilized to its best capability, which sets the mood well in each scene. The effort is just astounding in this area and I think it might even be a front runner in the corresponding Oscar category (along with A Quiet Place, First Man, and Isle of Dogs). The visual effects are used well and aren’t too distracting. I think it works better considering that practical effects are used whenever it’s possible. I appreciate this approach, because it edges more towards realism. However, I understand that practical effects aren’t always feasible, so VFX is sometimes necessary. Fortunately, the effects don’t take away anything from the film experience. They only add to it. Finally, the great score combined with the cinematography and effects truly make most scenes pop in this film.

The creative aspects are also very well done. The story has a very narrow focus, which helps the film stay on track and maintain a certain pace. Basically, it’s about this young man from Europe (20,000 years ago) as he gets separated from his tribe and family. We first see his efforts to survive by himself, until he injures a wolf that attacked him. Rather than leaving the wolf for dead, he decides to tame it and they eventually work together to survive as the wolf basically becomes a dog. It seamlessly combines aspects of a typical survival story with a man-dog relationship tale to create a truly unique film. The performances only elevate this story. It mainly features Kodi Smit-McPhee (the boy who gets separated from his tribe) who uses his fictional language and nuanced actions in order to create a truly believable and captivating performance. The other actors’ performances are fine, but they don’t make as much of an impact as Kodi’s does. Finally, the story manages to be gritty in its realism but also a sweet tale about why dogs are basically the best things ever. It’s a healthy balance of shock and awe.

However, I do have only one issue: the beginning. While the finished product almost entirely manages to not be cheesy, boring, or completely ridiculous, the first 10-15 minutes are just that. Most of it is an entirely too-slow prologue showing the cavemen’s lives and hunting journey leading up to them finding a pack of bison. It’s at this point that the movie gets as dumb as I thought it would, where a bison charges at Kodi and then makes a conscious decision to run off a cliff while dragging him. That’s right. The bison actually picks up Kodi and decides to Kamikaze while holding him. That’s preposterous. Luckily, everything past that point manages to be very realistic with a tight pace, which is redeeming for the film.

SCORE: 9/10

Check this out if you can. I think you’ll be able to appreciate it as much I did. At the very least, I think it will be a pleasant surprise for you viewers.