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*Just fair warning for those who have not seen this film yet - this review does contain spoilers.

Contrary to discussion of movies glamorizing violence and crime, Alpha Dog brings a type of rawness and reality that's a refreshing, yet disturbing, change.

Released in 2006, Alpha Dog stars Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, and Justin Timberlake. The movie is based on the events surrounding Jesse James Hollywood, played by Hirsch, whom became the youngest person to be on the FBI's Most Wanted list. Although names were changed for the film, a majority of the events and statements made in the film were factual thanks to the consultation of Santa Barbara County Deputy District Attorney, Ronald J. Zonen, whom provided files to director Nick Cassavetes on the actual case.

After Hollywood's childhood friend racks up a debt with him over drugs, a feud begins between the two. Ben Markowitz, played by Foster, trashes the home of Hollywood in which he then goes searching for him the next day. By chance on the way to look for Markowitz, Hollywood and his buddies, Jesse Rugge played by Timberlake, come upon Markowitz's younger half-brother, Nick Markowitz, walking by himself after having run away from home after an argument with his parents. Without prior planning, Hollywood and his friends jumped out of their van, attacked the young Markowitz and take him in their van.

The film continues showing Hollywood's crew as though they were not taking the kidnapping seriously. The film shows them playing video games with the kid, offering him weed and alcohol, and almost accepting him as one of their own. What was a fantasy life that Nick was suddenly thrust into, full of house parties, girls, getting high and drinking, suddenly takes a very sharp turn back to reality.

After calling his attorney and finding out the consequences of kidnapping, Hollywood supposedly got spooked and figures he has to do something about Nick. Meanwhile during this whole time, Rugge has been promising Nick that everything would be over soon and that he would be on his way home.

Hollywood had made a call to another acquaintance that owed him money, Ryan Hoyt played by Shawn Hatosy, and offered to settle the debt if he killed Nick. Following a hotel party, Hoyt picked up Nick and two others of Hollywood's crew.

Knowing the film was based on true events, an indescribable sort of silence came over me as the film showed the young "stolen boy" (as he was being called by some of the party-goers)

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