Title: Alpha
MPA Rating: R
Director: Julia Ducournau
Starring: Mélissa Boros, Golshifteh Farahani, Emma Mackey
Runtime: 2 hrs 8 mins

What It Is: Thirteen-year-old Alpha (Boros) lives with her single mother, Maman (Farahani). After going off with a boy from her class, Alpha gets a tattoo. In their world, a bloodborne disease is spreading, and Maman, who is a doctor, becomes worried that Alpha may have contracted it. When Maman’s drug-addicted brother, Amin (Tahar Rahim), suddenly shows up, it is not the houseguest Maman wants, nor is it one Alpha expects.

What We Think: I do not think Julia Ducournau’s films are for me. While I liked Raw, I truly hated Titane, and this was not much better. It is a step up in terms of quality and narrative, but only slightly. The film juggles too many ideas and fails to deliver on any of them in a meaningful way.

Golshifteh Farahani is a tremendously talented actress, and Ducournau is fortunate to have her here. Without her committed performance, there would be very little holding this together. Young Mélissa Boros is also terrific. The issue is not the acting, but the narrative structure, which I found overly convoluted. The pacing is such that you spend most of the runtime wondering how long you have been watching.

Our Grade: D, Neon continues to push this film, and Ducournau more broadly, but I just do not see it. There are a few striking scenes and set pieces, yet none of it comes together in a way that feels worthwhile. I am genuinely baffled by the praise this film will likely receive upon release, including being called one of the year’s best. I simply do not understand the appeal.

Skip it. It is out sometime in February, but who really cares? There is nothing here worth keeping up with.