“Alpha” is a doggone good movie

Story by Grant Dillard, Staff writer

Graphic courtesy of SVG Silh

“Alpha” has had a tough journey to actually make it to theaters. Though it had two previous release dates in 2017 and 2018, it was finally released in August 2018. All the time that it took for the film to play in theaters might lead you to think that it won’t be that good. Thankfully, “Alpha” turned out to be an excellent survival tale.

Twenty thousand years ago in Europe, a young boy named Keda is part of a tribe on a hunting exhibition. After an attack on a buffalo herd goes wrong, he gets separated from the tribe. While making his way back home, he is chased by a pack of wolves and injures one of them in the process. Over time, Keda nurses the wolf back to health and the two work together to make their way back to his tribe.

While not the most riveting character, Keda makes for a decent enough protagonist; he has a good story arc about getting home to prove to his father and tribe that he can be strong. Kodi-Smit McPhee gave a great performance and his chemistry with his animal companion is equally impressive. The relationship between boy and wolf is the heart of the film.

What the movie lacks in storytelling, it makes up for in visuals. The film is beautifully shot, with a variety of wide and aerial shots to showcase the gorgeous landscapes. The colors also really pop, be it bright orange with black shadows during a sunset or a somber blue in the cold and dark woods.

The major problem of the film is its pacing. It starts out with a well-shot and exciting sequence in which the tribe encounter the herd of buffalo, then flashes back to before the tribe set out on their expedition. This first act feels the slowest, with neither exciting visuals nor interesting scenarios to show off. When Keda wakes up after being thrown off the mountain the film picks up more. Throughout the third act, the pacing starts to feel off again. Every now and then, there’s a scene that goes on for too long, which makes the film feel drawn out. Thankfully, it’s not enough to make the film boring as a whole, but the pacing is something that needed work.

While it could have been yet another forgettable film, “Alpha” manages to leave an impression thanks to its terrific visuals and strong direction. It’s unlikely to make anyone’s “Top 10 Films of 2018” list, but it also doesn’t deserve to be forgotten. For those looking for a good survival film, or for moviegoers who want a more visual experience, “Alpha” is a great film to check out.

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