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Drama horror film

Alpha (2025): Cast & Ratings

Alpha (2025) movie poster

Alpha is a 2025 drama horror film directed by Julia Ducournau, starring Mélissa Boros as Alpha, Golshifteh Farahani and Finnegan Oldfield. It runs 2 hours 8 minutes. IMDb users rate it 5.9/10.

IMDb rating
5.9/10
Echo Score
38
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Alpha (2025) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 8m (128 min)
Director
Julia Ducournau
Genres
Horror , Drama
Original language
French
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Alpha About?

The premise of Alpha without spoilers.

When 13‑year‑old Alpha returns home from a party with a self‑inflicted tattoo, everything spirals out of control. Her mother fears Alpha contracted a mysterious virus from a dirty needle—one no one dares discuss, yet everyone believes it is a death sentence.

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Cast & crew

Alpha Cast & Characters

Mélissa Boros leads the cast as Alpha, with Golshifteh Farahani as Maman and Finnegan Oldfield as Professeur d'anglais. Directed by Julia Ducournau; 13 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Alpha

· 9 more
Ratings

Alpha Reviews & Ratings

IMDb users rate Alpha 5.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 38/100, strongest in character & emotion (60) and weakest in sensory experience (35).

38 /100

Alpha Echo Score Breakdown

Alpha presents a starkly divided experience, with its ambitious vision often eclipsed by uneven execution. Critics note moments of visual daring yet frequently describe the film as sluggish, noisy, or overly pretentious. While the cast delivers occasional intensity, the narrative is widely regarded as shallow and confusing. The cumulative effect is a work that struggles to sustain engagement, limiting its appeal beyond a single viewing. Consequently, the film earns a modest overall rating.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 35

    Regarding art and craft, Alpha showcases moments of striking composition and a bold visual palette that signal Ducournau’s distinctive style. However, many reviewers criticize the film’s aesthetic choices as inconsistent, describing the cinematography and editing as noisy, sluggish, and lacking cohesion. The overall craftsmanship thus feels uneven, undermining the intended impact.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    When evaluating character and emotion, the performances receive mixed acknowledgment. The ensemble delivers occasional intensity, with some actors praised for nuanced and mesmerizing portrayals that heighten the film’s emotional charge. Conversely, critics point to a pervasive shallowness in character development and an absence of lasting emotional resonance, resulting in a fragmented emotional core.

  • Story & Flow 45

    In terms of story and flow, Alpha aspires to a bold exploration of trauma but is widely described as disjointed and confusing. Critics highlight a sluggish pace, repetitive structures, and an underdeveloped allegory that render the narrative shallow. These narrative shortcomings impede engagement, leaving the plot feeling unconvincing and uneven.

  • Sensory Experience 35

    Regarding sensory experience, the film’s sound design and visual style receive criticism for being noisy and pretentious, with many reviewers finding the overall aesthetic dry and lacking cohesion. While a few note occasional imaginative visual moments, the dominant impression is that the sensory elements fail to enhance the narrative.

  • Rewatch Factor 40

    The rewatch factor for Alpha is limited, as most critics describe the film as exhausting and unrewarding, with few elements that invite repeated viewings. Though some note its thought‑provoking intent, the pervasive unevenness and lack of lasting appeal diminish its replay value.

Videos

Alpha Trailers & Videos

11 videos: 2 trailers, 4 teasers, 1 clip and 4 featurettes.

All 11 videos
Official UK Trailer [Subtitled]
  • Trailer Official US Trailer [Subtitled]
  • Teaser Official Teaser Trailer [Subtitled]
  • Teaser Julia Ducournau's Genre-Defying film ALPHA is coming to cinemas 14 November. [Subtitled]
  • Teaser The New Haunting Film by Julia Ducournau ALPHA is Coming to Cinemas 14 November [Subtitled]
Details

Alpha Also Known As

5 alternative titles, including “阿尔法” and “알파”.

Also known as
  • 阿尔法
  • 알파
  • Альфа
  • 石殞
  • 殞愛

Seen Alpha?

FAQ

Alpha FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Alpha, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Alpha?

Alpha runs 2 hours 8 minutes (128 minutes).

When was Alpha released?

Alpha was released on May 19, 2025.

Who directed Alpha?

Alpha was directed by Julia Ducournau.

More films by Julia Ducournau

Who is in the cast of Alpha?

Alpha stars Mélissa Boros as Alpha, Golshifteh Farahani as Maman and Finnegan Oldfield as Professeur d'anglais, among 13 credited actors.

How is Alpha rated?

Alpha has 5.9/10 on IMDb and 62% on TMDB.

Does Alpha have a post-credit scene?

No. Alpha has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Alpha in?

The original language of Alpha is French.

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