Movie Review - El Chicano

Ben Hernandez Bray is a stuntman-turned-director who has been working in Hollywood for over 25 years. This film is his feature debut, the first film he's directed to go into theaters nationwide. He got his official start in the director's chair a couple of years ago working on various TV series. A few of them have been the comic book series on the CW. It's not surprising that this film, which he not only directed but also co-wrote, has a couple of references to comic book characters. Bray's film has a nod to Batman and to Daredevil. If you know anything about the DC Comics or Marvel Comics' characters, then you know both Batman and Daredevil are masked vigilantes who operate in the night to take out criminals including mobsters and gangsters. Given Bray is very proud of his Latino heritage, this film features a predominantly Latino cast, it's not far afield to say that Bray is trying to create what's been lacking in the recent blockbuster super-hero films from both DC and Marvel, and that's a Latino superhero.

There's one lone exception. The TV series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is currently in its sixth season but two years ago for its fourth season, it introduced the character of Robbie Reyes aka Ghost Rider, played by Gabriel Luna. Robbie Reyes is a guy from East Los Angeles who is a leather-clad, avenging spirit who like other heroes is very durable and knows martial arts. Robbie drives a Dodge Charger but previous Ghost Rider characters rode a motorcycle. The ratings for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. have not been the greatest, so this Latino superhero probably went unnoticed by the masses at large, including most Latinos. It might have even gone unnoticed by Bray himself.

Not unlike Robbie Reyes, Bray's superhero is from East Los Angeles. He's also a leather-clad, avenging spirit who is very durable and knows martial arts. Unlike Robbie Reyes, he can't wield fire. He instead wields a huge, Aztec knife, which he uses for inflicting mortal wounds. His target seems mostly to be Mexican gangs in L.A. When he targets them, he targets them for death. It's not like Batman or Daredevil who simply deliver bad guys for cops and the criminal justice system. Bray's superhero straight up murders. This of course puts this superhero into murky waters.

Raúl Castillo (We the Animals and Looking) stars as Diego Hernandez, a detective in the LAPD. He's called to the scene of gang violence. He finds evidence that a Mexican cartel is waging war against the local Mexican gang. The cartel wants to reclaim California, which it feels belongs to Mexico. The details and logistics of this are a bit convoluted. At the same time, one of the local Mexican gangsters is discovered to have murdered Diego's twin brother, Pedro. When Diego starts investigating these criminals, he, his family and his friends at the LAPD are targeted. Diego has to protect them. His only way to do so is to discover the truth behind a vigilante known as El Chicano whom he witnessed as a child go after gangsters with a vengeance.

There are really only three action scenes. Given that Bray is an expert in the stunt coordination world, these action scenes are very well done. However, I don't think it's enough to satisfy those who are really thirsty for something like this. It works as perhaps an introductory chapter, but even still, it's an introduction that's lacking. There's supposed to be this dichotomy between Diego who became a cop and his twin brother who became a criminal. We never feel the dichotomy because the twin brother, Pedro is dead when we meet adult Diego. There isn't flashbacks that convey the dark path that Pedro took.

I suppose this film is meant to be more about the dark path that Diego is about to take. I suppose it's meant to show that there really isn't any difference between the two brothers. I also suppose that it's meant to argue that the vigilante road is ultimately the only solution. There's lip-service at the end that vigilantism and vengeance aren't the answer, except that's all it is. It's just lip-service. Clearly, we're meant to cheer El Chicano by the end here. The endings of Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008) aren't so celebratory or result in Batman losing something.

Joe Carnahan (The Grey and Smokin' Aces) is a co-writer and producer here. Carnahan has done several crime films, especially ones focused on cops in intense or impossible situations. This film could be lumped in that same category and we could look at Diego as a cop in an intense and impossible situation, doing what he has to do in order to ensure survival of himself and his loved ones. However, it gets into similar territory as vengeance films.

The best vengeance films reckon or address the cost or price that vengeance can bring, or the best vengeance films will really delve into the trauma that would push someone to this extreme. This film doesn't really do either. Bray shows why Diego would do what he ultimately does, as he becomes obsessed with vengeance, but I don't think the why is explored with sufficient depth. We're just supposed to accept as one scene suggests that Diego is simply filled with rage. Castillo's perfect performance sells that point and the actor has proven in previous projects like the amazing Seven Seconds (2018) on Netflix that he's more than capable of juggling both sides within himself. This movie simply doesn't provide enough space or opportunity for him to do so.

Rated R for strong violence and language throughout.
Running Time: 1 hr. and 47 mins.

In select cities, including Dover.