Wonderland
Short description
Set in Los Angeles during the summer of 1981, this crime drama centers on the brutal quadruple homicide discovered at a residence on Wonderland Avenue. The investigation into the killings reveals a connection to John Holmes, a famous adult film star whose life had spiraled due to drug addiction and financial ruin. As police piece together the events, they uncover conflicting accounts regarding a robbery of a local crime boss and the specific role Holmes played in the tragedy.
Directed by James Cox, this was the second feature in his career, following Highway and preceding Billionaire Boys Club. The film stars Val Kilmer in the role of John Holmes, alongside Kate Bosworth, Dylan McDermott, Lisa Kudrow, Carrie Fisher, and Josh Lucas. A total of 40 cast members and 44 crew members are credited.
Produced by Lions Gate Films with a budget of 5 million USD, the movie earned 2 million USD at the worldwide box office. Audience reception is moderately positive, with a 6.5/10 rating on IMDb based on 25,000 votes and a 6.1/10 rating on TMDB from 307 votes. These viewers rated the film more favorably than critics, who provided a lower rating of 5.4/10 across 99 reviews.
What's left behind the scenes
- On the anniversary of the Wonderland murders, Val Kilmer and Josh Lucas spent the night in the infamous house; Lucas played the homeowner, Ron Launius.
- Holmes, a legend in the adult film industry (he starred in over 2000 films), became the subject of a fictionalized film for the first time. However, as early as 1997, his persona inspired Paul Thomas Anderson to make "Boogie Nights"; Mark Wahlberg played a porn star in that film who occasionally resembled Holmes.
- At the same time as this film, Val Kilmer was filming Renny Harlin's thriller, "Mindhunters" (2004). He was allowed to wear long hair for that film, which was necessary for his role as Holmes.
- Filming period: November 4 – November 26, 2002.
- The film is based on real events from July 1981. The incident depicted in the film became known as the "Laurel Canyon Murders" and the "Wonderland Murders" case.
- John Holmes could have been played by Matt Dillon; he was the first choice for the lead role. The actor dropped out of the project to work on his own film, "Ghost World" (2002).
- Kristina Applegate, who played one of the victims on Wonderland Avenue, grew up near the location. She even remembers bloodstained mattresses near the house where the murders took place.
- The film was shot in just 18 days.
- In the film, John Colmes wears a chain with a ring. This is the actual ring Holmes gave to his fiancée Sharon Holmes in 1965. Before filming, Sharon gave the ring to Val Kilmer for good luck, and after filming, she gifted it to Dawn Schiller.
- Val Kilmer was so captivated by the project that he created a photo report about the filming, which was later published as a separate book.
- The shootout scene in Wonderland incorporates photographs actually taken at the crime scene.
- The film was released on DVD with an additional documentary about the real police investigation of the Wonderland case.
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