Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Alpha Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 17, 2018

Alpha's survival and coming-of-age story treads familiar ground, but it approaches the tale from a different perspective, that of a young man struggling to survive the natural world's dangers some 20,000 years ago and the then-unlikely bond that increased his chances for survival that, ultimately, as the film would suggest, changed the course of history. Director Albert Hughes, helming his first solo film after years of collaborating with his brother Allen on films like Menace II Society, Dead Presidents, From Hell, and The Book of Eli, makes a sharp tonal turn with Alpha, crafting a touching tale of friendship against the backdrops of both a dangerous world and an unfamiliar way of life. The story is complimented by stunning visuals and breathtaking cinematography courtesy of Martin Gschlacht (Revanche), resulting in a visually triumphant film and an unlikely dramatic, and very absorbing, narrative success.

Young Keda (Kodi Smit-McPhee) and his father Tau (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson) are tribal hunters who traverse Europe's unblemished and untamed wild lands in search of food and clothes to keep themselves and the women and children in the village fed, warm, and safe. Keda is not a rebellious child, but he is unable to channel the energies and mental discipline necessary to do the job. He's a reluctant hunter, but his father identifies a powerful spirit within him. On a hunting trip, with the tribe's warriors herding buffalo to their deaths over a steep, vertical cliff, Keda is attacked by one of the few surviving animals, flung over the ledge, and presumed dead. He awakens some time later, perched on a small outcropping that prevented him from falling into the mangled buffalo far below. He's able to escape when torrential rains create a relatively safe landing spot. He's hobbled by a damaged leg which he fixes as best he can. Along his journey back towards home, he befriends a wounded wolf he names "Alpha." The two become traveling partners as they fight the elements, vicious creatures, and hunger along their seemingly impossible journey back to Keda's village.

Alpha tells the story of one young man's bonds with two individuals. Keda's relationship with is father is built on a common language but not necessarily common values. Keda cannot bring himself to kill an animal that is a necessary sacrifice to feed his tribe. His father almost angrily takes the knife and kills the animal himself; Keda has only heard his father's words, not found the internal ability to put them into action. “You take life to give life to your tribe,” Keda is told. When Keda's father meets up with another tribe, he speaks with his friend who has lost his son. His friend says that he must be a proud father. “I hope he makes me proud” is Tau's response. In this world, success in life is measured by success in the hunt, in contributing to the group's survival, in understanding what it means to be a hunter and a man.

When Keda is left for dead, he is forced to not necessarily abandon his own instincts but to grow into a man who is both himself and the man his father wishes him to be. He must kill small game to survive. But rather than kill an injured wolf for food, he sees in it a commonality, maybe even a spiritual connection, that instinctively tells him that the creature is more than a meal and perhaps a source of warmth but potentially an important part of his life and his survival. In their travels, Keda gains mental strength even as his physical strength wanes. He finds hope in the animal, and it in him. He remains fearful of the obstacles he and the wolf he calls "Alpha" face, which include dangerous and ravenous beasts; frigid, life-taking weather; and almost uncrossable terrain. Keda's battle with his own code and fears are an early obstacle, but with Alpha at his side, he can be himself, he can grow at his own pace, and the animal will always be there for him. With Alpha, he learns the same lessons his father taught but a different perspective triggers his growth. Where the rigid structure of the tribe and his father's strict style failed him, hardship and unlikely friendship propel his growth into a man. His growth is of course forced upon him by the survival instinct, but watching the character grow on his own terms makes for a very rewarding narrative structure.

One of the movie’s great values comes in its use of a tribal language. The film is subtitled rather than the characters conversing in generically defaulted English. While dialogue is not uncommon, whether amongst the tribe or one-sided between Keda and Alpha, the movie truly thrives on character bonds, challenges in the world, and the unspoken emotional connections between the teenager and the wolf. Alpha would have worked, and might have actually worked better, with no dialogue at all, but resisting a more audience accessible verbal structure does wonders to further draw the audience into the movie and its heart. The film’s narrative strengths are further reinforced by beautifully structured cinematic elegance. The movie is a triumph of not only cinematography by itself but compelling narrative-building and character exploration through carefully crafted and elegant shots. Considering the relative dearth of visual complexities -- tribal costumes and natural earth formations are about it -- the precise and absorbing photography becomes only more impressive.

Alpha Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The opening drone shot is very noisy and lacking resolution, but Alpha's 1080p transfer largely excels beyond. The image is typically Sony, a gorgeous, complex presentation that showcases the source material with striking detail, including deep layers of dirt and grime caked onto faces and clothes, the intimate details of largely unblemished terrain, fine stone work, and animal furs. The movie can look a little artificial and flat in more effects-heavy shots. Digitally inserted backgrounds can appear flat and lifeless, even if they are real-world locations digitally inserted into a scene (see the 64 minute mark when Kedo and Alpha are fishing). The digital source photography does rob the feature of a grittier texture that film would have lended to the production. But the overall level of clarity, precision, and textural finesse are largely first-class. Colors fare well, though much of the movie is often some combination of barren, snowy, and earthy. Blood is a standout color, as are intense yellow and orange sunbeams, and some natural greens and auroras offer impressive contrasts to the otherwise bleak palette. Black levels occasionally veer towards a less than desirable purple push but often hold fairly deep and accurate. Flesh tones appear fine. This is a strong, often striking presentation from Sony.

Alpha Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Alpha's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is as rich and precise as the 1080p video. The film opens with an immediate opportunity for the track to take command with with a seamlessly airy and open spacial presence, followed by quality tribal beats with good percussion detail. When the hunting party attacks the buffalo, listeners will encounter strongly defined charge and power through the stage as the creatures run around a plateau and eventually hurtle over the side. Later, surrounds carry gentle natural atmospherics, such as insects and wind. Rolling thunder lingers through the rears in chapter four while chapter five carries more significant and haunting woodland atmospherics. Buzzing flies in chapter six encircle the stage. Striking reverberation as Keda attempts to descend a practically flat cliffside earlier in the film makes for yet another example of the track's ability to open and create a much larger world than the theater would seem capable of holding. Dialogue is clear and refined with commanding front-center placement.

Alpha Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Alpha contains four featurettes and deleted scenes. The disc offers two cuts of the film: Theatrical (1:36:30) and Director's (1:35:19). A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.

• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 9:09 total runtime): Included are Alternate Opening, Starscape, Fighting for Survival, Dream Sequence, and Alternate Ending. With optional commentary by Director Albert Hughes.
• Boy & Wolf (1080p, 4:56): Casting and training "Chuck," the lead wolf dog in the movie and the work and chemistry between the animal and actor Kodi Smit-McPhee.
• Building the World (1080p, 7:34): Creating a "real and genuine" world as far as known historical facts, and the film's structure and needs, allow. The piece explores building the language used in the film, crafting the objects used in the film, shooting locations, digital animal constructs, costumes, and more.
• A Hero's Journey (1080p, 4:55): A closer look at Kodi Smit-McPhee's performance and character.
• Meet Chuck: The Wolf Behind Alpha (1080p, 2:14): A short introductory piece featuring the film's four-legged co-lead. The piece is mostly comprised of footage of the animal working on the set.
• Previews (1080p): Additional Sony titles.

Alpha Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Alpha is one of the most pleasant surprises of 2018. Richly layered, beautifully acted and photographed, and heartfelt, the film proves ever compelling and a treat for the eyes and the spirit. Sony's Blu-ray is quite good, delivering top-rate video and audio along with a nice little assortment of extra content. Highly recommended.