Allegorical infection drama "Alpha" gets stuck in a red haze

Julia Ducournau's latest offering, "Alpha," presents itself as an allegorical horror film centered around a mysterious blood infection, but ultimately gets lost in its own ambitious narrative. The film, set against the backdrop of a Saharan sandstorm that blankets Crete in red, immediately establishes an ominous tone. Thirteen-year-old Alpha awakens with a tattoo, coinciding with the outbreak of a strange contagion that turns victims into marble statues. Her uncle Amin's arrival, battling drug withdrawal, adds another layer of mystery and potential threat.

The film's core, as with Ducournau's previous works like "Raw" and "Titane," seems to be female metamorphosis. However, "Alpha" struggles to define its protagonist, Alpha, who initially appears wild but later settles into a more conventional teenage role. This inconsistency, coupled with the slow pace of test results in the 1990s setting, contributes to a sense of unease, amplified by nightmarish cinematography and a powerful score. The narrative weaves through various subplots, including Alpha's encounter with her gay teacher and her uncle's drug use, hinting at themes of blood, needles, and sexually transmitted diseases, reminiscent of the AIDS epidemic.

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Alpha had the potential to become an exciting puberty horror film with a virus theme, but Julia Ducournau's script pulls in all directions, and across two parallel timelines.

Despite its potential as a coming-of-age horror story, "Alpha" falters due to a script that "drags in all directions." The film attempts to tackle too many themes simultaneously, particularly the battle between good and evil, across two parallel timelines. This lack of focus prevents the allegorical elements from fully resonating, leaving the audience with a sense of narrative diffusion rather than a cohesive and impactful story. While the female performances, especially Mélissa Boros, are commendable, they cannot entirely salvage a film that feels conceptually overstretched and narratively unfocused.

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The best performances come from the female actors, with young Mélissa Boros at the center.