Ahead of its next screen moment, Alpha (2025) has been making its way through major festivals and split critical reactions. The 2025 body horror drama is written and directed by Julia Ducournau, and its path from Cannes to Sitges and Stockholm is packed with production notes worth knowing. From a 20 kg physical change to the way critics read the central disease, here are eight details from the film’s shoot and release.
Cannes first, then the world
Alpha is a 2025 body horror drama written and directed by Julia Ducournau. It had its world premiere in the main competition of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 19 May, where it competed for the Palme d’Or. It later played the 53rd Norwegian International Film Festival on 16 August, opened the 58th Sitges Film Festival on 9 October, and competed for a Bronze Horse Best Film award at the 2025 Stockholm International Film Festival on 13 November.
Distributors call it most personal
FilmNation Entertainment and Charades described Alpha as writer-director Julia Ducournau’s ‘most personal, profound work’. The film stars Tahar Rahim, Golshifteh Farahani, Mélissa Boros, Emma Mackey, Finnegan Oldfield and Louai El Amrousy.
The disease is an HIV/AIDS allegory
Most critics have analysed the fictitious disease in Alpha as an allegory for HIV/AIDS. The plot is seen as reflecting the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and its aftermath in the 1990s.
The story starts with a stick and poke tattoo
Alpha, a rebellious 13-year-old, receives a stick and poke tattoo with her friend Adrien. The tattoo becomes infected, and her mother fears that she may have contracted the disease. Two weeks later, blood testing and school rumours begin to close in.
A 1980s pool and 35 days in Normandy
Principal photography took place in Le Havre in September and October 2024. From 23-24 October onward, a public swimming pool in Pont-Audemer was used as a filming location, chosen for its 1980s appearance. Production spent 35 days filming in Normandy, then continued in Paris into November.
Tahar Rahim lost 20 kilograms
Rahim lost 20 kilograms for his role in Alpha. The film’s cast also includes Golshifteh Farahani, Mélissa Boros, Emma Mackey, Finnegan Oldfield and Louai El Amrousy.
Neon picked up North America after Titane
In May 2024, Neon acquired North American distribution rights to Alpha at the Marché du Film. Neon had previously distributed Ducournau’s previous film Titane (2021). The film was released in the United States and Canada by Neon on 27 March 2026, and will be distributed by Mubi in Latin America and India.
Reviews split between ‘cult classic’ and ‘misfire’
On Rotten Tomatoes, 58% of 106 critics’ reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.0/10. Metacritic assigned a score of 56 out of 100 based on 25 critics. Radhika Seth of Vogue felt the film ‘feels destined to become a cult classic’, while Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave a one-star review.
Which of these Alpha details are you still thinking about? Tell us your pick.
Facts from Wikipedia: Alpha (2025 film), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Film images from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.