Alpha Dog
Directed by Nick Cassavetes
- crime
- drama
- thriller
The story
Johnny Truelove likes to see himself as tough. He's the son of an underworld figure and a drug dealer. Johnny also likes to get tough when things don't go his way. When Jake Mazursky fails to pay up for Johnny, things get worse for the Mazursky family, as Johnny and his 'gang' kidnap Jake's 15 year old brother and hold him hostage.
What it’s like
Sun-bleached Southern California in saturated daylight: sprawling suburban cul-de-sacs, poolside afternoons, bright backyard barbecues and cramped, dim bedrooms lit by the glow of television sets and cheap parties. Nick Cassavetes shoots with restless handheld energy, close and jittery, with quick cuts, grainy digital texture and a slick, urgent sheen that makes the sunshine feel faintly sinister. The soundtrack is loud and rhythmic hip-hop and pop, often swelling over tense silences. The vibe is sun-drenched unease, a mix of boredom, bravado and creeping dread. It moves fast and then stalls into long, uncomfortable waiting stretches. The emotional register is cynical and bitter, with a deep current of regret about how bad decisions snowball among young men who believe they are untouchable. Violence is present and real, including a kidnapping and hostage storyline with threats, shoving, and a harrowing final act; drug and marijuana use is constant, and the language is profane throughout. Sexual content is frank but not explicit. Not gentle. For people who want a crime drama with a raw, anxious edge and a bleak, character-driven look at reckless youth.
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