Alpha Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Alpha Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 7, 2026

Writer/director Julia Ducournau has built a career on provocative pictures, and while she doesn’t work often, she’s managed to capture attention with her first two features. 2016’s “Raw” stirred up film festival hype with its gruesome imagery, and 2021’s “Titane” turned Ducournau into a force of nature, delivering a wild examination of murder and sex that also burned brightly in pre-release circles. “Alpha” is her latest endeavor, and one can sense Ducournau struggling to produce something to compete with her previous work, looking to meet expectations with a surreal story of relationships and viral fears, returning to her love of body horror. “Raw” and “Titane” were bizarre offerings, but they remained interesting due to Ducournau’s strange ways and general storytelling fearlessness. “Alpha” doesn’t offer such a thrill, remaining limited in its emotional reach and characterization, making for a cold, sluggish viewing experience.

At a party filled with drugs and drinking, 13-year-old Alpha (Melissa Boros) receives a crude tattoo from a dirty needle. Her mother, Dr. Maman (Golshifteh Farahani), is greatly concerned, aware of a viral plague that’s crossing the land, turning the infected into marble. She’s also distracted by Amin (Tahar Rahim), her brother, who’s been battling an addiction to heroin for a long time, always pulled back from the brink of death by Maman, who refuses to give up on the ailing man. Alpha is subjected to a blood test to make sure she’s healthy, and as she waits for results, her school life falls apart, dealing with bullies and classmates who want nothing to do with a potentially sick girl. As time passes, Maman witnesses the virus overtake her community, doing whatever she can to make sure her patients don’t suffer as they swarm the hospital, and Alpha is often left in the company of Amin, watching her uncle go through an addiction situation she doesn’t fully understand.

Alpha is in a haze when she receives her tattoo, a crudely created letter A on her arm. It’s a brand of defiance, received during a party where her classmates are out of control, embracing a temporary freedom by going wild, though Alpha comes home with a permanent brand from the event. The decision shocks her mother, as was the intention, and “Alpha” begins to introduce the state of the union, as an unnamed virus is increasing its spread, turning bodies into marble, which is a visual effect the production pulls off with skill. Maman is acutely aware of the danger, and she’s horrified to learn about the needle situation, making sure Alpha receives a blood test to confirm her health (Emma Mackey portrays a nurse). She’s also providing space for Amin, hoping to give him a shot to conquer his habit, emerging as a skeletal figure Alpha is cautious around.

Ducournau explores a sense of escape for Alpha, who seems to be rejecting family life, unable to connect with her mother, who’s occupied with other concerns. “Alpha” provides a few scenes with the child’s extended family, sampling an old-world living experience that includes lots of cousins and a grandmother who speaks a language Alpha doesn’t understand. Feelings of confusion and isolation are also found at school, finding her inability to control wounds inspiring condemnation from classmates, adding to her despondency. Alpha makes an unexpected connection to one of her teachers (Finnegan Oldfield) as well, learning about his lover, who’s gradually turning into marble, leaving the man emotionally wrecked. “Alpha” observes a lot of trauma, as Amin isn’t interested in living, and Maman is faced with crisis everywhere, unable to help others, which is all she wants to do. Stress registers strongly in the picture, but Ducournau doesn’t remain there for long enough.

Alpha Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The image presentation for "Alpha" provides a clear understanding of color, with the production offering different hues to defined different times and places. There's the coolness of Alpha's work, and the hotter, orangey intensity of Maman's hospital experiences. The marbling of viral victims also registers as intended, with grayish black appearances. Red blood is vivid at times. Greenery is distinct. Skin tones are natural. Detail is capable, exploring the crumbling textures of the sick, along with rougher skin particulars on addicts and wounds. Interiors are dimensional, exploring medical areas and bedroom decoration. Exteriors maintain depth. Delineation is satisfactory, preserving evening activity. Banding is periodically detected, and slight blockiness creeps into view at times.

Alpha Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix provides clear dialogue exchanges, following hushed emotional moments and heated argumentative encounters with compelling balance. Scoring selections offer crisp instrumentation, and soundtrack offerings maintain sharp vocals. Musical moods do work into the surrounds for greater immersion. Atmospherics also go circular at times, following community interactions and echoed environments. Psychological freak outs maintain active position as well, and vehicle movement plays with panning effects. Low-end perks up with heavier musical beats and stormy action.

Alpha Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (9:53, HD) is a discussion of "Alpha" with Writer/director Julia Ducournau.

• A Teaser Trailer (:43, HD) and a Theatrical Trailer (2:12, HD) are included.

Alpha Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Performances are committed in "Alpha," as Ducournau pulls a lot of pain out of her characters, with Farahani especially powerful as Manam attempts to reject hopelessness, which is a losing battle. The helmer creates an intriguing study of strained relationships that slip into moments of grief, and time is toyed with to help land something of an ending. However, as much madness and sorrow is highlighted throughout the movie, it never gets under the skin, becoming a steady display of distress instead of an involving examination of despair and responsibility. Ducournau can create striking visuals, but "Alpha" ends up a picture that's technically appreciable, but not deeply felt.