Jeri Jacquin
Now on DVD and Bluray from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
and writer/director Albert Hughes comes the story of a young man and a wolf he
calls ALPHA.
Keda (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is a young man finding his place in
the Paleolithic tribe. Being the son of Tau (Johannes Johannesson) isn’t easy,
especially when Keda must prove himself worthy to hunt as bison season
approaches. Preparing, it is easy to see that Keda wants to be everything his
father expects but has insecurities of his own.
Out in the wilderness the group catches a boar and Tau
expects Keda to prove his worth by killing the creature. Later that night, in
the blink of an eye they lose a member of their group but there is no time to
mourn. A heard of bison is close and they need everyone to do their part to
corral the stampede in one direction. As one breaks away, the bison has his eye
on Keda.
Rushing the boy it only takes a moment before Tau sees his
son go over the edge of a cliff. Believing him lost, he must walk away for the
sake of the others and return home. But Keda isn’t dead, in fact through a
fluke of weather he manages to make it back to the top where the group was last
seen. There he discovers a cairn left by the tribe and knows he is on his own.
With an injured foot, he is suddenly chased by wolves
sending him up a tree but not before he wounds one of them. Staying up high,
Keda wakes the next day to see the pack gone but not the wounded wolf. Knowing
he can not kill the animal, he decides to help him get better.
Finding them a place to be safe, both young man and wolf
take the time to heal from their wounds and get to know one another. Trust
isn’t that easy to come by but they both have time. Keda calls the animal Alpha
and preparing for his journey home is surprised to see the wolf following him.
Their friendship blooms as they face more animals and a
bitter tundra that isn’t about to show either man nor beast any mercy. They
lean on one another with each step taken but both realize they are becoming
weaker with the village no where in site.
Smit-McPhee as Keda basically carries this film through some
of the worst weather imaginable. From the beginning it is clear that the
character Keda isn’t exactly the hunter his father would like but his own
mother knows that Keda does everything with a big heart. Even when confronted
with the boar kill, it is all over the young man’s face that he can’t find it
in him to do it. Smit-McPhee has that unique ability to give us all of that emotion
with very little dialogue. The relationship with Alpha is a joy to watch.
Johannesson as Tau has a duty to the village to feed them
all through the winter and the bison hunt is a chance to show what his son can
do. Unfortunately, Tau is keenly aware that his son has a heart but is hoping
that won’t stop him from being part of the tribe’s hierarchy. It is
heartbreaking to watch this actor grieve because he is totally believable in a
father’s ache for the loss of his son.
Other cast includes Marcin Kowalczyk as Sigma, Jense Hulten
as Xi, Natassia Malthe as Rho
Sony Pictures Entertainment encompasses motion picture
production for television, digital content and theater releases. The studios
include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures
Animation, Stage 6 Films and Sony Picture Classics. To see what is coming to
theaters and to home entertainment please visit www.sonypictures.com.
The Bluray and Digital Bonus Materials Include: Director’s Cut, Alternate Opening and Ending
with Commentaries by Director Albert Hughes, Deleted Scenes with Commentaries
by Director Albert Hughes: Starscape, Fighting For Survival and Dream Sequence. Also, Four Featurettes: The
Wolf Behind Alpha, Boy & Wolf and Building
the World. Finally, A Hero’s Journey
is also included. The DVD includes Two
Featurettes: The Wolf Behind Alpha and
Boy & Wolf.
ALPHA is the film for those who love to see the relationship
between the young man Keda and the first friendship that comes from Alpha. The
wolf has a personality all its own and made me giggle quite a few times.
Besides being stunningly beautiful, Alpha’s facial features were strong and
lovely at the same time.
The cinematography is stunning with its wide open spaces and
harshness that is believable for the times. There are moments of beauty and
then frightening moments where every step can either bring them closer to their
destination or farther away.
Director Albert Hughes is also responsible for such films as
DEAD PRESIDENTS, THE BOOK OF ELI and now ALPHA. Receiving numerous nominations
and a win for Best Director from the Black Reel Awards for THE BOOK OF ELI,
Hughes is currently in pre-production for the film THE FURY OF A PATIENT MAN.
ALPHA is a film I enjoyed from start to finish with its
lovely story of a young big hearted boy who would find the best friend he would
ever know. It’s a story of trust, loyalty, friendship and survival all wrapped
up a beautifully shot film.
In the end – mankind discovers man’s best friend!
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