There’s no way around saying it: Alpha Gang is bizarre. In fact, It’s amazing this is a product of 2026.
The latest from brothers David and Nathan Zellner feels like the zaniness of Zoolander (2001) intergalactically collided with the old school philosophical sci-fi of Star Trek (1966-1969). Alpha Gang is an offbeat comedy about the banality of evil, the needlessness of war, and the bitter-sweet aspects of being human.
Alpha Gang follows a group of leather-studded jacket-toting, motorcycle riding aliens. The group (called Alpha Gang) have been transported to Earth and into human bodies on a mission to conquer the Earth. Standing in their way are unruly humans who– as we’re all too aware– commit atrocious violent acts against one another and wage inexplicable wars.
The film is packed with a powerhouse of talent, starring Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Lily-Rose Depp, Riley Keough, Bae Doona, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Chris Pine, and Cate Blanchett (who also produces). The whole cast does great work with the script they have, even when the film struggles during moments when it leans too heavily into absurdism.
The Zellners’ work is always visually stunning and Alpha Gang is no exception.
The Alpha Gang is teleported to an ambiguous European landscape full of mountains, castles, bombed-out churches, and ongoing wars. The landscape, architecture, soldiers’ costumes, and music make its location and time period intentionally difficult to pin down.
Unfortunately, I found myself distracted during the first act trying to figure out exactly who the gang were fighting. Were they Nazis? Regio Esercito? The Francoist regime? Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. By refusing to locate the conflict precisely, the army becomes less representative of one particular historical regime and a stand-in for the recurring machinery of fascism and war.
As their conquest continues, members of the Alpha Gang experience both the joys of human life (dancing, playing badminton, communal dinners) and the problems that come with living in a human body. This also means Alpha Gang is full of toilet humour that didn’t land with much of the audience.
Perhaps that shouldn’t have been a surprise. David and Nathan Zellner’s last picture, Sasquatch Sunset (2024), was similarly committed to finding comedy in the gross.
But reducing Alpha Gang to its gross-out comedy would miss what makes the film thought-provoking. Beneath its absurdism and alien antics is a surprisingly curious exploration of humanity.
The Alpha Gang come to earth prepared to conquer a violent world only to encounter the tiny pleasures and connections that make human existence worthy of not only experiencing, but fighting for.
Alpha Gang won't be for everyone, but if you're a Star Trek fan I think you'll be in for a real treat.
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