Alpha

This opening scene looks so innocent, and then it becomes completely heartbreaking when you realize exactly what is going on. Be prepared for a shock, as this is unlike anything I've ever seen on film and truly beyond words to describe.

We've now got a refreshing look at family life amongst the trauma these people are facing, and it's wonderfully comforting. I've not seen the underlying epidemic that this family is dealing with from this side, and it's being portrayed in the loudest way I've even witnessed.

The film is visually demanding on the senses, and you can't be sure how to feel or if there is any sense to the madness. In the midst of the tragedy that is the plight of the film, there is a rebellious outpouring showing the will to live.

I really like Julia Ducournau's previous works as Raw and Titane were quite unique horror story of our modern climate of horror movies. However, this latest movie still remains ambitious and has some very good moments, but the overall execution feels somewhat overcomplicated, and messy.

It's pretty clear that Ducournau has an interesting direction on presenting the narrative, atmosphere and themes throughout. As many of her direction choices on handling the AIDs/HIV allegory, societal norms, and the tension between mother and daughter is personal and clear. I did appreciate some aspects Ducournau was exploring in the writing and setting. Alongside with some solid camerawork, the colorful environment and presentation feels ugly, yet, purposeful. As it helps establish the time era, but also the current tension and the heavy themes.

However, what prevents the movie being a masterpiece is the characters and overall, story-presentation. The performances were all pretty good, as Tahar Rahim, Golshifteh Farahani, Melissa Boros, and the rest of the cast were all fantastic. But, I had a little hard time engaging with the characters at certain point, as they didn't feel too emotionally connected as Ducournau wanted to be. Alongside with some of the writing choices. I love weird writing and strange concepts, but certain moments with how dynamics were played out, the pacing, and how certain themes were handled felt all over the place.

The musical score felt overbearing, as it feels forced and cheesy, and there are some dialogue moments that felt a bit silly. The special effects, and make-up designs were pretty good, and at times, a little horrifying. Showcasing some themes of body-horror within the narrative.

Overall, I am a little underwhelmed that I didn't like this movie as much as I would have. However, having listened to Ducournau discuss about the movies purpose, it definitely still is a ambitious horror take on the AID's crisis, and I do like to see where Ducournau goes next.

This film had a fantastic director who shot some beautiful scenes. The story got confused along the way and became nonsensical towards the end. Had great potential but poor execution.

The scenes especially that confuse the continuity of the film should have been cut.

The story should have stuck to the point.

Firstly, I think I need to rewatch this film. The end of it got a bit too ambiguous. I think I know what happened. But it got very esoteric as if the audience was too young to understand and so it shifted to a metaphor. I think it was meant to be a twist in the end scene but it got confusing.

The film reminded me so much of Requiem for a Dream. So many interconnecting dream sequences. It's hard to figure out if the disease was real or a figment of imagination. The "disease" was more of a backdrop to a story about hurting the people left behind. There was an imbued theme of medical ethics by a hopelessly conflicted Alpha's mum. She is driven by trauma to do her duty.

I really enjoyed the first half and the slow build. The fear and horror of others. There is this almost 80s like paranoia of life is normal but it's really not which affects parents and teachers. It's when the film moves into the second half. That it gets highly disorientating and needed a bit of additional narrative. It's still a very very difficult watch.

Utterly remarkable acting which brought me to tears more than once. The powerful performances are to such great degree that it overshadow the story sometimes. However, Alpha is a film I do need to rewatch; Julia Ducournau is not required to tone down her imagination if the audience can't follow, just like the mathematical Julia set. Music lovers are equally in for a treat.