The four-part series “Red Alert” offers a dramatic retelling of the October 7, 2023, terror attacks in southern Israel, deriving its intensity from a lack of context. Writer, director, and co-creator Lior Chefetz (“The Stronghold”) has crafted a narrative that avoids delving into the broader implications, such as the history of the ongoing conflict, the actions of Hamas militants from Gaza, or the Israeli Defense Forces’ response. Notably, key figures such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar are absent from discussions, with the term “Palestinian” notably missing from the scripts. Instead, “Red Alert” focuses on the experiences of everyday people—kibbutz residents, police officers, and kindergarten teachers caught off guard by significant violence, presenting the day’s events as they unfold in real time.
However, the specifics of “Red Alert” render it particularly relevant for viewers in the United States, especially those who can watch it on Paramount+. The series’ acquisition was announced by parent company Paramount Skydance in a statement from newly appointed CEO David Ellison, who referred to it as “critical” and praised its “harrowing precision.” It is atypical for a high-profile executive like Ellison to promote a show that his company didn’t create, akin to Ted Sarandos endorsing a competing show on another platform. This follows the surprising move by Ellison’s Paramount to condemn a boycott pledge targeting specific Israeli film organizations, showing a clear investment in the themes and context of “Red Alert.”
As “Red Alert” aligns its release with the two-year anniversary of these traumatic events, viewers may carry their perspectives shaped by the ongoing violence throughout the region. The series hints at current suffering in its postscript, referencing the continued holding of Israeli hostages in Gaza, while omitting discussions on alleged war crimes and starvation in the Strip. The death toll for Palestinians is now reportedly above 60,000. One could envision creating a similarly impactful narrative about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but given the devastation there, such a project would likely evade production under Ellison’s leadership.
Despite “Red Alert” focusing tightly on subjective experiences, it inevitably echoes other works like the traveling Nova Exhibition and the IDF documentary “Bearing Witness”, each telling their own contested narratives about the complexities of war. By selecting to distribute “Red Alert” and not something like “No Other Land,” which documents settler violence in the West Bank and struggled to find U.S. backing, Ellison reveals a clear bias toward specific stories. Recently, some employees at Paramount lodged an anonymous petition, accusing the company of prioritizing Israeli narratives while sidelining Palestinian perspectives.
The very qualities that make “Red Alert” emotionally impactful simultaneously make it a challenging endeavor. Chefetz, alongside co-creator Ruth Efroni and their team, immerses us in the chaos of that fateful day, where routine holiday preparations for Simchat Torah are eclipsed by immediate survival instincts. Yet, the series is set against the complicated backdrop following October 7, a reality that viewers will inevitably confront, regardless of how vividly it depicts the past.
The characters in “Red Alert” are based on actual survivors, some using their real names while others preferred anonymity. Batsheva Yahalomi (Rotem Sela) and her husband Ohad (Miki Leon) are among those portrayed authentically. With their three children, they first seek shelter in their home, typically equipped with bomb shelters for families in rocket range. Here, they listen to the dreadful sound of explosions combined with gunfire, indicating an immediate threat. The series gets its title from the automated warning that plays repeatedly throughout the chaos.
Another couple, law enforcement officers Kobi (Israel Atias) and Nofar (Chen Amsalem), are separated during their shifts at the Nova Music Festival, which became a site of horrific casualties. Tali (Sara Vino), a teacher, leaves her safe space to search for her son Itamar (Nevo Katan), while Ayoub (Hisham Sulliman), a Palestinian-Israeli, is ambushed alongside his family in their vehicle, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of violence. By emphasizing these individual stories, “Red Alert” conveys the enormity of the day’s events without delving too deeply into graphic violence, choosing instead to highlight the acts of heroism displayed by those trying to safeguard their loved ones in a tragic moment.
Ayoub’s presence in the series signifies its underlying political perspective, leaning towards a more liberal viewpoint within Israeli society while remaining anchored in personal stories. He is introduced as the first character on screen, holding his infant son, who has just lost his mother, as the attack reaches his makeshift shelter. The narrative takes care to portray the challenges Ayoub faces in obtaining an Israeli ID despite his long-standing residency, which amplifies the tension when IDF soldiers arrive and demand proof of his loyalty. In a twist, the soldiers accept Ayoub’s crumpled receipts and children’s school reports, but this moment subtly nods toward the complexities that exist beyond the horror unfolding, reflecting the many situations that do not conclude favorably. The dialogue underlines the army’s troublingly slow response, subtly criticizing a government led by Netanyahu, who has yet to take accountability for the security lapses.
“Red Alert” excels in portraying the disorientation and sometimes surreal nature of the chaos that victims must navigate. In a notably bizarre moment, a group of Israelis distinguish themselves to soldiers via a selfie taken in group chat, stating, “Smile so we don’t look like Hamas!” Additionally, Batsheva and her daughters encounter two non-threatening, English-speaking men who suggest she follow them for safety, but she refuses. The mystery surrounding their identities and intentions adds a layer of unease that contrasts with the stark violence depicted in the series.
Each episode begins with a disclaimer stating that certain scenes were fictionalized. Like many dramatizations based on true events, the series leverages its connection to reality to heighten its emotional resonance. The finale features closing credits that juxtapose the actors with the real individuals they depict, some with pixelated faces to protect their identities. Additionally, there are unsettling actual clips from October 7 that Chefetz has faithfully recreated, blurring the line between reality and representation. While this overlap carries intrinsic tension, it illustrates how tightly “Red Alert” adheres to its source material, leaving minimal room for other interpretations, regardless of whether or not the broader context is intentionally alluded to.
All four episodes of “Red Alert” will be available for streaming on Paramount+ starting October 7.
