Alpha Dog

"Alpha Dog" is a 2006 American crime drama film written and directed by Nick Cassavetes. The film is based on the true story of the kidnapping and murder of Nicholas Markowitz in 2000. It centers on Johnny Truelove (Emile Hirsch), a young drug dealer in the San Gabriel Valley, and his gang, including Frankie Ballenbacher (Justin Timberlake) and Elvis Schmidt (Shawn Hatosy). When Jake Mazursky (Ben Foster) fails to repay a debt to Johnny, Truelove and his accomplices kidnap Jake's younger brother, 15-year-old Zack Mazursky (Anton Yelchin), intending to use him as leverage to recover the debt. Initially, Zack views the situation as an adventure, befriending Frankie and his friends, but the situation escalates when Johnny decides to eliminate Zack to avoid legal repercussions. The film explores themes of youth crime, the consequences of poor decisions, and the devastating impact of violence. The cast also includes Bruce Willis as Sonny Truelove, Johnny's father, and Sharon Stone as Olivia Mazursky, Zack's mother. "Alpha Dog" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2006, and was released in the United States on January 12, 2007. The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed approximately $32 million worldwide against a budget of $9.5 million.