Alpha Male revels in the absurd. It’s a smart satire that strikes at deeper issues, namely misogyny. It’s the type of film that hits at just the right time, as the U.S. faces a rollback of women’s rights that mirrors some of what Poland underwent just a few years ago and some of what the film addresses.

Written and directed by Igor Priwieziencew and Katarzyna Priwieziencew, the film is based on their 2018 short, Leader. It follows Piotr/Piatrek (Adam Bobik), who, at the urging of his girlfriend, tries to quit smoking and seeks out a group. He wanders into the wrong room and stumbles upon a strange therapy session led by the mysterious Leader (Miroslaw Haniszewski). Leader trains the small group to become more alpha. It’s impossible not to laugh at some of his training techniques. The men have dance parties and then bemoan the fact their wives ask them to take out the trash. They stomp, growl, and chant that they’re “alpha males.” The guys blame everything wrong in their lives on women that they know, while Leader creates a boogeyman of sorts called MENSTOP to keep his followers in line. This organization of female activists wants to keep a good man down, according to Leader.

Though Piotr keeps attending sessions, he’s also smart enough to question what Leader says. The film also references other so-called alphas in not-so-subtle ways. There’s a picture of Leader shirtless on a horse, much like that famous picture of Putin. New members are given red hats with the words “alpha male” spelled out in large white letters. Yet, the misogynistic rhetoric Leader spews and the way the men lap it up is horrifying and hits a raw political moment, namely the rollback of abortion access. In Poland, just a few years ago, the country’s far-right government banned virtually all abortions, despite massive protests. The U.S. appears poised to follow Poland’s lead, once the SCOTUS rules on the fate of Roe v. Wade this summer. It’s impossible not to think about all of this while watching the film.

The movie is certainly timely, while not being too on the nose, which is never an easy feat. Both Bobik and Haniszewski give captivating performances and play off of each other well. Janiszewski especially makes a good villain. The cast is rounded out with some other strong performances, too. Konrad Eleryk plays fitness-obsessed Andrzej, while Tomasz Schuchardt stars as businessman Bartek, who’s willing to do anything to get into Leader’s good graces. He wants to out alpha the other guys. Everyone in the group is given a distinct personality. These characters are scary and funny, a real credit to the writers/directors.

Alpha Male touches a nerve. This is a film made against the backdrop of Poland’s current events, but for American audiences, it will resonate. It’s a perfect combination of humor and horror and a sleek, stylish satire that hits close to home.

7 Out of 10