Do Films Reflect Pop Culture

Alpha Dog

Blame has always been assigned for everything that goes wrong with the world. As time progressed it did not change, but people often ignore happenings right in front of them that they possibly could have prevented from ending in tragedy. Whether they choose to ignore it or are unaware, the results of such can be tragic beyond comprehension. This fact-based film depicts a disturbing disregard by children, teenagers and adults of such a situation, horrific but not secret, unfolding before their eyes.

In 2006, the John Cassavettes’ film Alpha Dog was released based on a horrific crime in 2000. In the movie, in a middle class neighborhood in Southern California resides the son of a local gangster. His name is Johnny Truelove and he has quite a following of middle class delinquents and degenerates. Johnny a successful and violent drug dealer, put a large cash down payment on his home when he was 18, so all his sheep are in awe doing anything he asks. He is a cruel and deadly character who believes he has control over everything. During a party an uninvited guest arrives, one of his employee dealers, Jake Mazurskey, a hotheaded whacko who owes him $1,200.00 on a drug deal gone bad (or so he claims). All Truelove cares about is getting his money that night and is not interested in excuses, extensions, or promises. The pint size drug czar sneaks up behind Jake during the argument with weapon in hand and attacks. Big mistake, Jake is a martial arts expert. The fight is soon broken up, threats fly, and Jake leaves. After messing with each other a few days, Johnny and cohorts happen upon Jake’s step- brother, Zack, 15, and decide to kidnap and hold him until Jake pays. Zack has nothing to do with his brother’s business or associates, but is rather a well-adjusted normal teenager, with well to do parents, particularly an over-protective mother. No planning or forethought was put into his kidnapping; he was just in the wrong place...