Julia Ducournau directs Mélissa Boros, Tahar Rahim and Golshifteh Farahani in this French art house flick about a schoolgirl who gets a dirty needle tattoo during blood borne virus hysteria.

More French extremity from Ducournau. This plays with harsh emotions and oppressive imagery to create a sensual nightmare-scape. The oppressive use of close-ups and a child at the centre of this matter of fact body horror meant I had to take a few breaks from the screen. Yeah, I felt faint and claustrophobic so I popped out a caught my breath, cooled down and had a glass of water. More than once. Alpha is a very overpowering piece of cinema, purposefully disorientating. I will say its ultimate attitude to explore HIV, Covid, addiction and generational trauma justify what a difficult watch it is. There are tremendous performances here, especially Rahim’s lost junkie uncle. Ducournau knows she has the goods, so seeds Easter Eggs and wild set pieces that hint at the ultimate revelations.

7

Perfect Double Bill: Inside (2007)