Summaries

A pair of twin brothers from East L.A. choose to live their lives differently and end up on opposite sides of the law.

When L.A.P.D. Detective Diego Hernandez is assigned a career-making case investigating a vicious cartel, he uncovers links to his brother's supposed suicide and a turf battle that's about to swallow his neighborhood. Torn between playing by the book and seeking justice, he resurrects the masked street legend El Chicano. Now, out to take down his childhood buddy turned gang boss, he sets off a bloody war to defend his city and avenge his brother's murder.—Mary Kate Holmes

Details

Keywords
  • hood
  • superhero
  • latino
  • latino cop
  • superhero origin
Genres
  • Action
  • Thriller
  • Crime
  • Drama
Release date May 2, 2019
Motion Picture Rating (MPA) R
Countries of origin United States Canada
Language English
Filming locations JR Studio, 2607 10 Ave NE, Calgary, AB T2A 2M3, Canada
Production companies WarParty Films

Box office

Budget $8000000
Gross US & Canada $1400603
Opening weekend US & Canada $700261
Gross worldwide $1404646

Tech specs

Runtime 2h 24m
Color Color
Aspect ratio 2.35 : 1

Synopsis

Growing up in East Los Angeles, California twin brothers Diego and Pedro, along with their friend José, hear stories of a legend called El Chicano, a vigilante who defends the streets of LA by eliminating gangsters and other criminals. After dropping off José at his house, he receives a beating from his mother. El Chicano shows up later and kills José's father called "Shadow", a wheelchair-bound shot caller for his gang. Afterwards, he sees Diego and Pedro and then rides off in the night.

Years later Diego is now an LAPD detective, Pedro is dead presumably by suicide, and José is now a gang leader who goes by his street name Shotgun. Diego, alongside his partner David investigates a crime scene where Shotgun's gang has been murdered except for one member, Silent. Diego and David pick him up for questioning, but he is executed during the drive. Diego goes to Shotgun for answers, but he evades the questions and taunts Diego uses by bringing up the abuse from his mother. Diego looks for answers from Pedro's old belongings and realizes Pedro was changing, wanting revolution, and justice for Los Angeles.

Diego goes to his only trusted confidant, Father Jesus, who mentions Pedro changed after being released from prison and how he got involved with Shotgun and another member Diego has yet to identify. Diego is further surprised when he finds a hidden storage unit Pedro rented and that he had begun to resurrect the mantle of El Chicano before his death. Diego and David later stake out a party held by Shotgun but are ambushed, resulting in Diego being injured and David dying. Ordered to recover by Captain Gomez, Diego has his mom and girlfriend leave for a while till everything is settled.

Frustrated and angry about the deaths of David and Pedro, alongside Shotgun's involvement, he visits Father Jesus' church once again where he takes Jesus' prized Tecpatl knife and finishes the El Chicano costume, ready to take revenge.

Diego tracks down Shotgun at a club and fights his bodyguards. Shotgun escapes along with Jaws, who is revealed to be the other gang member who knew Pedro, while also being the son of an infamous cartel leader who is interested in taking over LA. Shotgun kills Jaws during the escape and pins the blame on El Chicano for his plans to move forward. El Gallo, Jaws' father, hears the news and swears vengeance on both El Chicano and the police.

A still injured Diego retreats home to tend to his wounds, but is suspected of involvement by Captain Gomez when Diego's wound on his leg begins to bleed. Diego learns later that Gomez and his officers have been kidnapped by El Gallo, who broadcasts his plans of execution on the internet, unless El Chicano comes to him. Diego goes after in saving the missing cops, kills the cartel members by working alongside the police officers he rescued, and finshes El Gallo as well. Finally having no more distractions, he now has the chance to go after Shotgun.

Diego chases him to a cemetery where the two fight with Shotgun wanting revenge for what happened to Shadow and Diego punishing Shotgun for everything he did to Diego's family for Pedro's death. After a brutal fight, Diego lands the killing blow to Shotgun through the knife, and then removes his mask in front of Shotgun reciting the words Pedro left behind, 'Know Thay Enemy'.

Diego having sustained multiple injures and blood loss, passes out. He awakes later recovering from his injures, while having learned Gomez found him first, before the police arrived at the scene and saved him from being arrested, wanting to keep his best cop investigator from being identified as the vigilante. Back in Mexico, El Gallo's wife, La Hembra has now become the new leader of his crew and swears revenge on El Chicano. Back in LA, Diego now has accepted the El Chicano mantle and made peace with Pedro, seeing his spirit before, wanting to do him and his home proud by keeping it safe from the cartel invaders and all who come.

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