Watch Wonderland

Wonderland is a 2003 crime drama film directed by James Cox and starring Val Kilmer, Kate Bosworth, Dylan McDermott, and Josh Lucas. The movie is based on a true story and follows the life of former porn actor John Holmes and his involvement in the infamous Wonderland murders that occurred in Los Angeles in 1981. The movie begins with an introduction to the life of John Holmes (Val Kilmer) who is now a drug addict living in a dingy motel room with his teenage girlfriend Dawn (Kate Bosworth). Despite his addiction, Holmes maintains a friendly relationship with his drug dealer Eddie Nash (Eric Bogosian) and his associates; David Lind (Dylan McDermott), Ron Launius (Josh Lucas), and Billy DeVerell (Tim Blake Nelson).

Holmes, in debt to drug dealer Nash, accepts a deal to rob the pawnshop of one of Nash's rivals. Together with Nash's associates, the group raids the pawnshop but comes back with less than they had anticipated. In retaliation, Nash sends his men to raid the home of Ron Launius, one of the accomplices in the pawnshop robbery.

Things spiral out of control when the Launius gang, fueled with drugs and alcohol, tracks down and beats up Eddie Nash and his associates, leaving them severely injured. In a revenge attack, Nash orders the murders of the Launius gang at their home on Wonderland Avenue.

The police investigate the murders, led by detective Sam Nico (Ted Levine) who meets with John Holmes, who is now the prime suspect in the case. Holmes, who is reluctant to cooperate, is eventually convinced by the detective to come forward with what he knows.

The movie's plot is nonlinear, with the various events leading up to the murders shown through different perspectives of all the characters involved. As the investigation unfolds, the final events leading up to the gruesome murders are revealed.

Wonderland is a very graphic and disturbing movie. It is full of violence, drug use, and sexual content, and portrays the dark underbelly of the Los Angeles porn industry in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The movie has an intense and suspenseful storyline that makes it a gripping watch but may not be suitable for everyone due to its graphic content.

Wonderland is a well-acted and well-directed movie that showcases the brutal reality of the notorious Wonderland murders. The movie accurately captures the 1980s LA scene with its seedy nightclubs, drug addicts, and violence. The real-life characters of John Holmes, Eddie Nash, and the Launius gang are portrayed brilliantly by the cast, with Val Kilmer delivering a standout performance as John Holmes.

Overall, Wonderland is a must-see for true-crime fans and those interested in the darker side of Hollywood. It is a cautionary tale about the dangers of drugs and the consequences of getting involved in the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles.