When I sat down to watch Alpha Dog, the odds were stacked against it. Not only did a lady at my video store accidentally spoil the ending for me, but I didn’t exactly see myself warming up to a bunch of spoiled rich kids who have nothing better to do than drink and consume copious amounts of drugs. I found it emotional; a poignant drama with sharp moments of tension.
Based on real-life events, 15-year-old Zack Mazursky (Anton Yelchin) who is kidnapped by a gang of drug dealers led by Johnny Truelove (Emile Hirsch). Taken while walking by himself, Zack is being held as collateral so his brother, Jake (Ben Foster), will repay his drug debt.
Director Nick Cassavetes manages to make you care for the characters in this film, which is no small feat. Everyone is a mess, or on their way to becoming a mess. They’re all living in this strange realm where everyone has so much money they don't know how to spend it and wind up getting involved in drugs. This is where the world of the rich and the poor collide. There shouldn't be a conflict but these people are barely adults and profoundly immature. They end up getting in way over their heads.
If circumstances had been different, these kids could've become perfectly upstanding citizens with a bright future. Instead, the worship of rap videos and search for the next thrill brings them down a dark path. I was able to see something of myself in these characters because I envied them in a way. They lived carefree lives, unaware of the future looming over the horizon. Consequences were a foreign concept. You keep thinking some authority or sudden realization will turn things around but it doesn't. You want everyone to get out alright, for this to be just a normal day in the end. You get to know the ins and outs of the characters, which makes it all feel real.
This movie sweeps you up in all kinds of emotions. You experience fear when Zack gets picked up off the street, sorrow when his parents realize he's missing, hope when the young adults caught in the mess realize what kind of mess they had gotten themselves in. There are moments of joy as well when you get to know the people involved and come to see them as more than just bad guys or broadly painted heroes.
Alpha Dog is greatly aided by great performances from everyone and the documentary-like approach to the filmmaking. It’s more than just the performances; it’s the casting too. Everyone looks the part, feels the part; as if they really were the people involved in the real-world case and the cameras had somehow snuck into their lives to give us a glimpse of what happened. Although I'd been told how it ended, I was still completely invested. It's an eye-opener.
Alpha Dog is terrific. It's is a great drama with some coming-of-age elements and a tiny bit of a thriller sprinkled on top that makes it shockingly and surprisingly entertaining.
