Alena

Alena (2015) is a polished, deeply melancholic, and bloody psychological thriller that commands a unique, genre-bending slot within the QueerFilmHub.com permanent database. Moving away from traditional coming-out narratives, director Daniel di Grado utilizes the conventions of Nordic psychological horror to explore how socio-economic displacement and repressed emotional bonds can turn fatal. The story centers on Alena (Amalia Holm), a quiet, working-class girl who is transferred to an elite, hyper-competitive all-girls boarding school following a mysterious, deeply traumatic event in her past.

Alena's arrival instantly draws the ire of Filippa (Molly Nutley), the school's wealthy, tyrannical queen bee. Filippa launches a relentless, sadistic campaign of verbal and physical bullying against the newcomer.

The social dynamic shifts dramatically when Fabienne (Felice Jankell), a trendy, kind-hearted affluent senior, takes a genuine romantic and protective interest in Alena. As a tender sapphic relationship blossoms between Alena and Fabienne, it triggers immense jealousy not only from Filippa, but from a much more terrifying source: Josefin (Rebecka Nyman), Alena’s hyper-possessive, aggressive best friend from her past. Josefin refuses to let anyone else have Alena, promising to strike back violently against the school’s bullies. As the psychological tension mounts, the lines between reality, trauma-induced delusions, and ghostly visitations completely blur—culminating in a bloody reckoning that forces Alena to confront the true, horrifying nature of her past attachments.

💡 Did You Know? (Czy wiesz, że?) 🧠
From Panel to Screen: The film is a direct adaptation of the famous Swedish horror comic book Alena by Kim W. Andersson. While the original graphic novel explicitely zeroed in on societal homophobia, the film takes a more internalized approach, treating the characters' fluid sexualities as a natural, unspoken reality.

The Crimson Peak of Boarding Schools: A significant portion of the film's tense, gothic atmosphere is credited to cinematographer Simon Olsson. He deliberately used the beautiful but isolating Swedish landscapes and the stark, sterile architecture of the academy to mirror Alena's psychological imprisonment.

A Launchpad for Amalia Holm: Lead actress Amalia Holm delivered a powerhouse performance that caught the eyes of international casting directors. She would later break into mainstream global television, starring as Scylla Ramshorn in the American supernatural drama series Motherland: Fort Salem.

Praise on the Festival Circuit: Following its world premiere at the prestigious Sitges Film Festival in Spain, Alena became an indie darling at LGBTQ+ and horror festivals worldwide, including high-profile screenings at the Horrible Imaginings Film Festival.

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