I did not like everything about Alpha. It seemed at times like there were three or four separate movies trying to grab the wheel: coming-of-age drama, plague allegory, immigrant assimilation narrative, journey through grief, some body-horror nightmare fuel and more.

I didn’t vibe with all of them and there were long stretches when I was confused by what was happening and mystified by the characters’ actions.

But I did not hate this movie! It was a big swing and very clearly the film Ducournau wanted to make, and I love shit that’s weird and challenging.

Some gutsy performances, some tense and affecting scenes. If David Cronenberg had made it we’d be saying the genius has done it again.

I was never bored by Alpha, and I’ll be thinking about it for a while.

3.5/5