Alpha Rift (2021) Film Review
Can you define a film as just “nice”?
A film that does not suppose more than what it proposes with a cheesy plot, but whose fantasy element is compelling to arouse the viewer into accompanying a character through a journey?
We’ve seen countless films like these, but it’s not often that current fantasy films end up being more than just a franchise entry. Big studio films have the budget to make it a worthwhile experience in theaters. Lesser films lack the necessary infrastructure to make them well known.
However, in their most basic form, they’re just stories in different formats. I like to think we all have stories to tell and fictional or not, some just have the capacity.
It’s what Dan Lantz has accomplished with a small film like Alpha Rift. Full of naive wonder, the film does much more than what you get from a first introductory look. After that lousy start of modern and uncomfortable sword fighting, there’s actually a good movie. A fun exploration of a young man overcoming the obstacle of finding out he’s more than just a geek who coincidentally knows a lot about a certain culture.
Nolan Parthmore is a jolly guy who works in a store where people go and play role games. He’s always beside a coworker who messes with him all the time. They both engage in knighting small kids and fight with foam swords.
One day Nolan receives a package containing an ancient helmet. When he tries it on it’s just too much for him. He faints after removing it. When the ambulance arrives, Nolan quickly realizes these are not paramedics. At the same time, a very strong man with green eyes appears out of nowhere and fights everyone with super strength. Everyone yells at Nolan to wear the helmet for some reason and when he does, the monstrous man scares off.
Nolan’s bloodline is important. His descendants have always fought evil, and now it’s his turn to wear the helmet and continue the fight. Training’s important, and perhaps too much for him. It’s not easy to be a clerk in a store one day, and becoming a warrior the next.
Alpha Rift is a joyous film that takes place in a very specific mindset. Its narrative and style pertain a family adventure that never goes awry with too much violence or gore. Sword fights are quick and not very well shot. Fortunately Lantz doesn’t experiment much. The second act is too long and monotonous for my own liking (seriously, how much time does Nolan need to realize his role?), but he never strays away from a happy tale of fantasy, legends, and finding true self. At one point, they even reference Star Wars.
The film isn’t boring at any point. Perhaps the ending will feel a little lukewarm for those expecting more action, but its definitely not the film’s key element. Lance Henriksen‘s Corbin plays a secondary role that’s too much of a guru but in his words lies the film’s narrative objective: The importance of Nolan’s true reason. Don’t let those actions scenes drive you away from a compelling character’s path.
Indie films are obviously not known for their visual effects. And yet Alpha Rift doesn’t play much in this field. Lantz lands safely in a territory of character development that’s more adventurous than we think at first. This is not an action thriller. It’s a fantasy film about warriors fighting evil. Violence is necessary because of some sequences but they don’t shadow the innocent tone of the film. And when it’s time to get serious they do. That scene in the cage with a very bad guy is proof that it doesn’t matter if you make a fantasy film, you can always make your viewer think for a while. And you should.
