“Alpha Dog” (Universal Pictures)
A Fascinating Look At the Dark Side of Society
“Alpha Dog” is one of the most troubling movies Hollywood has produced in some time. It is not a horror film per se but it is horrific in its content and execution. A collection of some of Hollywood’s finest young male talent appears in this movie and makes it a movie to be remembered.
The movie is based on a true incident that occurred in California in 1999. A nineteen-year-old drug dealer named Johnny (Emile Hirsch) has a run in with another punk named Jake (Ben Foster). Jake owes Johnny money and when he doesn’t pay Johnny swears to make him miserable. This he does by kidnapping Jake’s younger half-brother Zach (Anton Yelchin).
Once Johnny and his bunch of cronies have kidnapped Zach they realize how much trouble this puts them in. Johnny’s buddy Frankie (Justin Timberlake) basically takes care of Zach while he is kidnapped and becomes close friends with him. But it is Elvis (Shawn Hatosy), a guy who wants to impress Johnny, who is the biggest threat to Zach’s safety.
The most troubling aspect of this film is that these are young men who are middle to upper class in upbringing. They can’t blame their greed and amorality on being deprived. They have parents, such as they are, and they have access to the good things in life. But they want more and they want it now.
From the start you know the movie is heading towards a tragedy of some sort. It has all the signs of being a story about lives that are headed downhill fast. You don’t know what the ultimate tragedy is going to be but you are aware something bad is going to happen. In this respect it is like driving by a car wreck. You don’t want to watch but you are unable to turn away. And when it has passed you are just glad it wasn’t you caught up in the turmoil of it all.
The best actor in the film is Yelchin. He brings Zach heartbreakingly to life. This actor can convey the innocence and the bravado so necessary for this character to possess. It is an award worthy performance and is a harbinger of even greater performances to come in the future.
Also outstanding is Ben Foster as Jake. Foster has several scenes of over the top moments of rage that he demonstrates in a totally believable fashion. He conveys such intensity that it is scary. It is hard to believe that his last role before this one was as the “angel-like mutant” in “X-Men 3.”
Hirsch has a quieter role than Foster but he makes his impression too. He is sneaky and sinister and totally in control as the mastermind behind the kidnapping and subsequent events. Hirsch demands your attention whenever he is on screen.
Then there is Hatosy as the puppy dog-like Elvis. He is the quietest person on view but his performance lingers with you long after the movie is over. Timberlake is annoying in the film but then he has always annoyed me in his videos. Maybe he is just staying true to his recording persona.
There are also some strong performances from Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone and Harry Dean Stanton. These are all basically cameos but they are surprisingly effective. Stone has a particularly impressive moment at the end of the film as Zach’s mother.
The film is rated R for violence, profanity and nudity.
“Alpha Dog” is a movie that is more to be appreciated than enjoyed. The storyline is dark and depressing but the execution is amazing. Hollywood’s young talent gets a chance to shine in a true story about the worst side of humanity.
I scored “Alpha Dog” a howling 7 out of 10.
