Exclusive Interview with Daniel Di Grado: Deconstructing Alena (2015), Gothic Realism, and the Sound of Evil

Welcome back to QueerFilmHub. Today, we have an absolute exclusive for our independent film network. We sat down with acclaimed Swedish director Daniel Di Grado to pull back the curtain on his cult psychological LGBTQ+ horror-drama, Alena (2015).
Based on the celebrated graphic novel by Kim W. Anderson, Alena is a fiercely honest, raw coming-of-age queer story that rejects sanitized Hollywood tropes. Instead, it plunges the viewer into a tense psychological matrix of institutional alienation, elite school bullying, and hidden identities.
In this deep-dive interview, Daniel Di Grado unpacks the visual composition, the non-voyeuristic female gaze, the acoustic architecture of trauma, and explains the devastatingly beautiful ending of Alena.
Q1: The Gothic Architecture as a Panopticon
QueerFilmHub: In Alena, the elite boarding school operates not merely as a background setting, but as a rigid, institutional panopticon that monitors, formats, and attempts to erase any form of personal or sexual transgression. How did you approach the architectural blocking and camera compositions to visually manifest this structural claustrophobia and social containment?
Daniel Di Grado: I wanted the style of Alena to stay very close to the original source material, but not be bound by it. Kim W. Anderson’s comic is very beautifully drawn in both tone and look. We worked with a very tight budget, so creating the world within the film came with a lot of challenges. I wanted the school to feel grand, and “old.” And the characters as flowers growing in a hostile world.
One vital part of the visual storytelling is the desolation. In both the comic book and the film, I wanted to create a feeling that the story takes place on the fringes of a larger setting—where we are right there with Alena, experiencing her loneliness. The isolation served as a storytelling tool. We hear the school bustling with life as we follow Alena hugging the walls of the school corridor, but we do not look into the classrooms; instead, we remained with her on the periphery of the action. We simply sense that life goes on and unfolds outside our field of vision. So close, yet so far away. This perfectly mirrors the way Alena experiences her disorientation and isolation.
Therefore, I chose a widescreen format, where the image creates a natural presence and tension, but above all gives the film a cinematic and high-end feel while allowing us to explore the cinematic space, especially the negative space within the movie.
Q2: Subverting the Voyeuristic Lens & Protecting the Female Gaze
QueerFilmHub: Psychological thrillers and horror films centered around female institutions often fall into the trap of commercialized, heteronormative voyeurism. Alena, however, maintains an intensely dignified, non-exploitative female gaze. What was your methodology during pre-production and on set to ensure that the physical intimacy and psychological vulnerability between Alena and Josefin remained entirely sovereign and protected from the viewer's consumption?
Daniel Di Grado: I think this came from my love and respect for the characters in the film. It was always very important to tell the story from the perspective of the girls within the movie. Alena is a film about growing up, and finding your place in the world, and we never wanted the film to feel voyeuristic and exploiting.
Q3: The Somatic Language of Trauma
QueerFilmHub: The film beautifully balances naturalistic psychological realism with stylized, dark Nordic Gothic textures. The characters' bodies are treated as literal archives of trauma, social shaming, and class warfare. How did you collaborate with your lead actresses to translate these complex, internalized wounds into raw, physical, and somatic performances?
Daniel Di Grado: As soon as the cast was set, I held lengthy discussions about the characters with our cast. We discussed the world, and I encouraged them to draw from their own experiences. Especially with Amalia Holm (who plays Alena) and Molly Nutley (Filippa). We laughed and cried a lot, where they brought a lot from their own experiences.
When I work with actors, I find it very important to give them a lot of freedom. They are the ones that do the hard work, creating characters that you can believe in and feel for. I simply work as a guide, where I gently help them through on their journey, gently pushing them if needed.
Q4: The Acoustic Structure of Obsession: Designing the Sound of EvilQueerFilmHub:
 The sound design of Alena heavily relies on micro-designed environmental textures, uncompressed breathing, and low-frequency atmospheric drones rather than predictable, melodramatic jump-scares. Could you break down your directorial philosophy regarding the acoustic architecture of the film? How did you weaponize silence to amplify the protagonist’s internal psychological warfare?Daniel Di Grado: I wanted to create a unique universe that people could relate to. Where you used all your senses. A work where sound and image marry into a single entity that feels, smells, and tastes like horror. A vital building block was therefore the exploration of the soundscape, and designing an audio profile that amplifies and clarifies the emotional chaos that the main character, Alena, is going through."A space where we give evil a distinct sound. Where you constantly feel the electric charge present in Alena’s presence."We achieved this by heightening everyday sounds to create a sense of unease. Contrasted with the menacingly present supernatural elements, it becomes part of the film's reality. In this way, we achieved a rising sense of frustration within our characters, but also within the viewer. Doing the sound design for this movie was one of the most inspiring moments I can remember. It was playful and very joyful.
Q5: Alena (2015) Ending Explained: Radical Self-AuthorshipQueerFilmHub: 
The explosive, violent climax of Alena rejects traditional Hollywood moralizing or punishment. Instead, it feels like a transgressive, necessary counter-strike against an oppressive grid that demands total obedience or destruction. Do you view Alena’s ultimate trajectory as a tragic breakdown, or rather as a radical, sovereign declaration of survival and self-authorship?Daniel Di Grado: I think everything that happens within the movie leads to the final moment of Alena. I think she dies happy. Yes, it’s tragic that she won’t be able to explore the love she feels for Fabienne, but it is also a happy ending in the sense that she is free now. She wrote the final chapter in her life story. So, for me, the final moments in the film are definitely a declaration of self-authorship
.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Where to Watch Alena (2015) Full Movie Online?Tracking down authentic, unedited psychological independent queer cinema can be incredibly difficult, as mainstream algorithms often bury these raw masterpieces. If you are looking for Alena (2015) full movie online with English subtitles, QueerFilmHub has you covered.Stream with QueerFilmHub: Alena (2015) is fully featured on our digital hub. To receive the direct, high-quality streaming link straight to your inbox, simply leave a comment below right now! Don't forget to hit that subscribe button, turn on notifications, and join our independent film network to never miss an exclusive interview.What are your thoughts on Daniel Di Grado's vision and the shocking ending of Alena? Let us know in the comments below!
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"Hi guys, this is Daniel Di Grado, sending his love to the QueerFilmHub community. I feel very flattered and humbled that you guys are still appreciating my movie Alena, that was shot in the fall of 2014, released in 2015. It’s been almost, yeah, 11 years since it was first released. And I think it’s mind-blowing that a small movie that we did resonates with people still. And I’m super glad, and I’m, yeah, I don’t know what to say. It feels amazing to be included in a community and to have made something that still feels like it’s valid. And that’s what... that’s why we keep on making movies, and that’s why I keep on making movies, to reach out to people. And yeah, thank you so much, guys, and I really hope you enjoy Alena if you rewatch it, and if you watch it for the first time, yeah, thank you so much. Bye!"https://www.udrop.com/file/PUhN/audio_6a42b88907f3e8.50388494.mp3