Alpha (2018)
C – 96m
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Untitled Albert Hughes Project, The Solutrean
Story By: Albert Hughes
Screenplay By: Daniele Sebastian Wiedenhaupt
Dir.: Albert Hughes
Starring: Kodi Smit–McPhee, Natassia Malthe, Leonor Varela, Johannes Haukur Johannesson, Jens Hulten, Mercedes de la Zerda, Spencer Bogaert, Priya Rajaratnam, Marcin Kowalczyk, Patrick Flanagan, Michael Kruse–Dahl, Kyle Glenn Sutherland (as Thomas Kyle), Louis Lay, Taran Kootenhayoo, Nestor de la Zerda, Blake Point and Nashon Douglas.
In the prehistoric past, a young man struggles to return home after being separated from his tribe during a buffalo hunt and finds a similarly lost wolf companion to start a friendship that would change humanity (human and dog). This is a fairly well done origin story with okay acting and unfortunately way to obvious CGI. The pacing is slow but several scenes do create extreme tension and suspense. The cinematography is solid leaving out the CGI in many shots. In the interest of full disclosure this was a tough movie to watch for this reviewer due to cruelty to animals. See Trivia for one detail on that point. Another couple of others to note are these: The young man hits the dog / wolf hard a few times too many and he kills a vulture, which bites his lip thinking he is a morsel to feast on. As such, with the specifics pointed out, this reviewer was only able to see small snippets of the film between much of the time averting eyes from the screen. To reiterate: Some may handle the depictions better than others. As a film there is enough good here to make it a worth–while watch but it may be a tough watch for those who love animals, particularly dogs.
Trivia:
The breed of the dog in this film is Czechoslovakian Wolfdog. The theatrical release was delayed for an entire year. It was originally slated for September 2017 release, this film was moved to March 2018. In December 2017, this film was moved once again, this time to September 2018. The trailer was released in July 2017, more than an entire year before the actual film's release, rarity these days. This film could not bear a, "No animals were harmed in the making of this film," tag, as four bison were slaughtered for use on a skinning/hide–removal scene. Staff from Longview Beef Jerky dispatched the bison humanely. This film marked the first feature film directed by Albert Hughes without his brother, Allen Hughes. It also is the first of his films not to carry an [R]–rating. This film was shot near East Coulee, Alberta Canada and at Dinosaur Provincial Park near Patricia Alberta, Canada.
Rated: [PG–13] – Some Intense Peril
Available on 4K & Regular Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy