Alpha

Alpha – The son of a tribal chief is taken out on an important hunt but when disaster strikes, he is left alone and injured, precariously on the side of a cliff. Refusing to give up, he manages to make his way down but is attacked by a pack of wolves, one of which he manages to injure in order to escape. Once the other wolves leave the injured one behind, the boy can’t bring himself to kill it, instead carrying it to shelter and tending to its wound. Thus begins an uneasy alliance between the two which may be the only way either of them will survive the dangers ahead of them.

Alpha (2018) – Director: Albert Hughes

By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54600798

Rating: 12

Running Length: 96 mins

Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Chuck

Genre: Action/Adventure, Period

REVIEW: ‘ALPHA’

How did the wolf evolve to be man’s best friend? ‘Alpha’ explores how this might have happened 20,000 years ago when the son of a tribal chief, Keda, falls off a cliff face and is reluctantly left for dead. Once awake he faces a terrifying descent, a broken foot and attacks from wild animals, but his tenacity pushes him to continue his long journey home; whether he gets there depends on his ability to traverse the unforgiving terrain, learned from his tribe, and his compassion towards the predator that tried to kill him, a trait which disappointed his father and would not have been acceptable to the tribe as he got older.

The story of ‘A boy and his dog’ could easily become twee but ‘Alpha’ shows beautiful restraint in a rare example of ancient history being dealt with sensibly and maturely. Kodi Smit-McPhee is fantastic as the wide-eyed protagonist, Keda, who is forced to learn a lot for survival. It’s impossible not to root for him as he lurches from one crises to another and the brief moments of respite that allow him to take a few breaths are just as welcome for those watching!

Although there is already plenty to like about this movie, where ‘Alpha’ shines is the growing friendship between Keda and the eponymous wolf. The journey they go through from enemies, reluctant allies and beyond is well paced and it is sometimes unclear which way things may go. The story itself may not be entirely new (we are reminded of movies such as ‘Apocalypto’ and ‘The Revenant’) but this is a film that has confidence in its plot, characters and actors so that it truly feels fresh and timeless.

CONTENT: IS ‘ALPHA’ SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?

The movie opens with a group of hunters who charge at a herd of bison at a cliff edge. The ensuing panic urges the bison to run blindly over the edge of a cliff to their deaths. Several attempt to stop themselves but are pushed over by those following them. One hits a boy who is then shown to have blood on his mouth and nose; the bison then charges him again, catching him on its horn so that he is unable to get free. This causes the boy to be thrown over the cliff, the camera then cuts – this scene is continued later.

As two characters speak in the foreground, several teen boys can be seen being beaten in the background as part of a tribal ritual.

A hunted boar is badly inured and squeals in distress as it is brought to Keda to kill. He is unable to and his father kills it instead, This is done off screen.

A big cat stalks the small group of hunters as they sit around a campfire at night. It suddenly attacks, taking a member of the group with it into the darkness. His screams are heard along with the sounds of ripping and bones cracking as he is killed. One character wants to help him but he is stopped as there is nothing to be done.

After Keda has fallen off the cliff, he injures his foot badly when scaling the cliff face. He removes his boot and his foot is discoloured and swollen, seemingly broken. In order to fix it, he puts it between two rocks, the camera pans up as he twists his body. He cries out in pain and a crack is heard but nothing graphic is shown.

Desperate for food and drink, Keda drinks very dirty water and eats a worm. We mention this in case children find this imitable.

When chased by a pack of wolves, Keda stabs one which grabs his foot. It collapses and whimpers in pain. The following day, the wolf is still alive but hasn’t moved and still whimpers. Keda stands over it with a rock in order to kill it but hesitates, choosing to help it instead.

When tending to the wolf’s injury, Keda puts maggots on to the wound.

Keda bathes naked in a nearby lake. He is shown fully from the back from a distance.

Keda comes across a dead man sitting outside a tent who has frozen to death.

A big cat attacks and Alpha is badly injured, the wolf seems fatally wounded however Keda refuses to give up on it.

CAN I SEE A CLIP?

VERDICT: IS ‘ALPHA’ FOR KIDS?

A rare mature and exciting movie about prehistoric tribes, ‘Alpha’ keeps us on the edge of our seats as a boy and his wolf make their way towards safety. We recommend this movie to kids aged 10 and over.

• Violence: 3/5 (hunting for food and animal attacks)
• Emotional Distress: 2/5 (as the movie progresses, Keda’s health deteriorates. It starts to become somewhat bleak, especially when Alpha is badly injured by the large cat)
• Fear Factor: 2/5 (there is high tension regularly throughout the movie)
• Sexual Content: 0/5
• Bad Language: 0/5
• Dialogue: 0/5 (there is minimal dialogue throughout the film)
• Other Notes: Deals with themes of survival, determination, ancient tribes, rites of passage, fear and friendship.

Words by Laura Record