Alpha (2018) Movie Review

Leaders are born from survival.Source

Alpha is a historical adventure film starring Kodi Smit-McPhee as Keda, an inexperienced young hunter-gatherer living in 18,000 B.C. Europe around the time of the last ice age. The film features the story of human survival and inter-species friendship between humans and wolf-dogs. Tau (portrayed by Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson), who is the chief of his clan and father of Keda wants to see his son become a great hunter and a future leader. Rho (portrayed by Natassia Malthe), the mother of Keda seems to think otherwise, as she says “He (Keda) leads with his heart, not his spear.” The movie is essentially about Keda’s survival, his journey from boyhood to manhood and the story of how humans and wolves became allies.

Experience the Incredible Story of How Mankind Discovered Man's Best Friend.Source

The story continues with Tau leading an expedition to hunt for the coming winter’s food. Keda accompanies his father and the clan set off on their journey during which they meet a herd of steppe bison. During the hunt Keda is attacked by a bison and is thrown off a cliff. Keda falls down to a ledge unconscious meanwhile the clan presumes he is dead. When Keda wakes up he realizes the situation he is in unable to walk and attempts to climb down the cliff. A sudden heavy rainfall causes the narrow gorge below to flood. Keda loses his grip and falls down into the water, during the fall he survives but injures his foot. Keda realizes that he has to survive the wilderness and return back to the village on his own. This epic journey continues as Keda is attacked by a pack of wolves and he injures one of them. Keda takes pity on the wolf because he leads with his heart, not his spear and takes care of the wolf, building a trust relationship by establishing his dominance. Keda names the wolf Alpha, as their friendship grows Keda and Alpha hunt together, survive the winter and return back to the village uniting Keda with his family. Upon his return, Keda discovers that Alpha is pregnant and gives birth to a cub which eventually leads to the alliance between wolves and humans.

Source

The plot of the film is very simple, straight forward and is told in a fictional language, which adds a special dimension to the film. Kodi Smit-McPhee’s acting is believable and commendable along with the emotional weight added to the film by Chuck, the Czechoslovakian wolfdog who portrayed Alpha. Alpha is a visually stunning/aesthetic adventure film; the cinematography, editing, sound effects, visual effects and the set/filming locations/landscapes (filming took place in Canada and Iceland) are a cinematic masterpiece.

Final Verdict

7.5/10