Alpha (2018 film)

Lore & Background

The film was delayed several times from its original September 15, 2017 release date, eventually being released in the United States on August 17, 2018, by Sony Pictures Releasing. The production was investigated after five Alberta bison were allegedly killed in the making of the film, and the American Humane Association denied its 'No Animals Were Harmed' certification. Two days before release, PETA called for a boycott. The film grossed over $99 million worldwide and received generally favorable reviews from critics, who praised the performances and cinematography.

Reader's Guide

Alpha is significant as a prehistoric adventure film that dramatizes the possible origins of dog domestication, using constructed languages to enhance authenticity. Its critical reception was generally favorable, with an 80% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 63, indicating 'generally favorable' reviews. The film's visual presentation and the relationship between the human protagonist and the wolf were noted as key strengths. The controversy over animal treatment during production, including the denial of the 'No Animals Were Harmed' certification and PETA's boycott call, adds a layer of ethical discussion to its legacy. The film's box office performance, grossing $98.2 million worldwide against a $51 million budget, was modest but profitable. Its home video release included both the theatrical cut and a shorter director's cut, along with deleted scenes and commentary.

Did You Know?

• The wolf Alpha is played by Chuck, a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog.
• The film's original title was changed from 'The Solutrean' to 'Alpha' in December 2016, not June 2017 as some sources claim.

The Epic Journey of Keda and Alpha

The film is set in Upper Paleolithic Europe roughly twenty thousand years ago, following a teenage hunter named Keda as he is thrust into a harrowing solo survival ordeal. After refusing to kill a captured boar and witnessing his friend Kappa snatched by a lion, Keda is accidentally cast over a cliff during a bison stampede. His tribe, believing him dead, performs a funeral ritual and moves on. Waking alone with a broken leg, Keda stumbles upon a wounded wolf and, after wounding one of a chasing pack, takes in the injured animal. Their bond deepens as they hunt together and navigate the changing seasons. The journey through winter brings encounters with cave hyenas, a deadly lion in a cave, and a frozen lake where the ice gives way beneath Keda. By the time he reaches his village, both he and the wolf are near death. In a surprising twist, the wolf—Alpha—is revealed to be female, and she gives birth to a litter of pups. The film closes with the tribe and their now-domesticated wolves hunting as one.

Crafting a Prehistoric World

Albert Hughes first announced the project in September 2015 under the working title The Solutrean, and it would ultimately be shot in the IMAX 3D format to immerse audiences in the vast, ancient landscape. Principal photography began in February 2016 across multiple Canadian locations, including Drumheller, Burnaby, and Vancouver, where a large purpose-built set was constructed near East Kent Avenue on Boundary Road. The crew also traveled to Dinosaur Provincial Park near Patricia, Alberta, and to Iceland for additional scenes. One of the film's most distinctive creative choices was its language: anthropologist Christine Schreyer, a professor at UBC Okanagan, developed a constructed language called Beama, spoken in two dialects and drawing inspiration from Proto-Nostratic, Proto-Eurasiatic, and Proto-Dené–Caucasian linguistic roots. She also crafted a separate Neanderthal language for a single scene, adding another layer of authenticity to the prehistoric setting.

The Cast and the Wolf at the Center

The human ensemble is led by Kodi Smit-McPhee as Keda, the young hunter whose refusal to kill a boar marks him as different from his peers. His father Tau is played by Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, while Natassia Malthe portrays his worried mother Rho. Supporting roles include Marcin Kowalczyk as fellow hunter Sigma, Leonor Varela as the tribe's shaman, and Spencer Bogaert as Kappa, the friend lost to the lion. The most unconventional cast member is Chuck, a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog who embodies Alpha, the wolf at the heart of the story. An interesting regional distinction exists in the film's narration: in the cut released for the United Kingdom and Ireland, Morgan Freeman provides a voice-over, whereas the American release contains no narration or Freeman involvement at all. The film also carries a gender reveal that recontextualizes the central animal relationship—Alpha is ultimately shown to be female, giving birth to a litter of pups that the tribe welcomes into their community.

Controversy, Delay, and Critical Response

Alpha's path to theaters was anything but smooth. The film was delayed multiple times before Sony Pictures Releasing finally put it in U.S. cinemas on August 17, 2018. Just two days before that release date, PETA publicly called for a boycott, and the controversy stemmed from allegations that five Alberta bison were killed during production. Following an investigation, the American Humane Association revoked its standard "No Animals Were Harmed" end-credit certification, a significant mark against the production. Despite the negative publicity surrounding animal welfare, audiences and critics responded positively to the finished product. The film grossed over $99 million worldwide, and reviewers generally praised the on-screen performances and the cinematography, suggesting that the visual spectacle and emotional core of the story resonated even as the behind-the-scenes disputes cast a shadow over its commercial launch.