As soon as Alpha Rift opens, you are immersed in the visual vocabulary of the superhero tentpole, with angles and dynamic styling that feel like comic book panels come to life on the big screen. All of the conventions of the big-budget spectacle are met with camera craft instead of budget. Also, Lantz nails the power dynamic, as the helmet’s magic is exceptional but limited, leaving Nolan with lots of vulnerability. The hidden world of modern-day knights Corbin reveals has this nifty Tombs of the Blind Dead vibe that works well. Also, the obligatory romance is sweetly handled, with tension established and the payoff earned.
The main characters are first introduced in broad comedic fashion, making their transformations much more interesting as they become forged by the dark turns of the narrative. Dalla Villa shows he can do zany, but when it is time to show the gravity of the situation, he pulls it off with grit. He is utterly believable as a raised-on role-playing game nerd thrust into a real-world Dungeons & Dragons. The great Lance Henriksen struts his stuff doing the Professor X/Niles Calder role that he should be doing a lot more of these days. He is one of our most incredible acting resources.
“When Alpha Rift is building its superhero mythology, it is at its best.”
Wolfe does a great job of playing his knight role seriously throughout everything that transpires. It really helped reinforce the stakes. Malandra hits exactly the right tone, and her being the bridge between the real world and the secret one is what makes it all believable. However, special mention has to be given to Williams as the heavy. Great superhero films are usually built on the strength of their villains, and Williams keeps it nasty to the core throughout.
When Alpha Rift is building its superhero mythology, it is at its best. However, when it is indulging in comic relief in the other sections, it isn’t as engaging. That’s not to say humor and levity aren’t an integral part of the genre, as without jokes, the proceedings can get overly grim to the point of camp. Also, some of the most innovative superhero pictures are full of wall-to-wall comedy. However, it seems like the balance between comedy and action is just slightly off in this case. It is sort of like that delicious chicken sandwich people are fist fighting over when it has just a tad too much mayo on it. If Lantz dialed down the laughs just a smidge, the production would be all the stronger.
Regardless, I am hooked. If this were the first in a comic book series, I would buy the next several issues. However, as Alpha Rift is a movie, I am eager to see what direction this potential franchise could go. What really excites me is the idea that original properties can be developed on such a seemingly big scale on the independent level, just like they were done decades ago with indie comics. The power has been unleashed.
Alpha Rift screened at the 2021 Dances With Films.
"…if this were the first in a comic book series, I would buy the next several issues."
