Watch El Chicano

El Chicano is a 2018 American action-drama film directed by Ben Hernandez Bray. The film revolves around twin brothers, Diego and Pedro Hernandez, who grew up in the crime-ridden streets of East Los Angeles. The Hernandez brothers follow separate paths in life with Diego joining the LAPD while Pedro turns to a life of gang violence.

The film opens with an intense scene that depicts the violence and crime that plagues the streets of East LA. A group of gang members are shown looting and assaulting a convenience store. It is at this point that the audience is introduced to Diego and Pedro. The contrast between their choices in life is clear from the start.

Diego, played by Raul Castillo, is a successful LAPD detective who has distanced himself from his Mexican roots. Pedro, played by Logan Arevalo, is the leader of the gang, El Chicano, which has been terrorizing the streets of East LA for years.

The film cuts back and forth between the present day and flashbacks to the brothers' childhood. These flashbacks add depth to the relationship between Diego and Pedro and help the audience understand the root of their differences.

As the film progresses, it becomes clear that Diego is haunted by the violent death of his mother when he was a child. This trauma has fueled his pursuit of justice on the streets of LA. When a series of brutal murders occurs in East LA, Diego becomes convinced that the El Chicano gang is responsible. However, the more he investigates, the more he realizes that the lines between good and evil are not as clear-cut as he once thought.

Throughout the film, Diego struggles to reconcile his identity as a cop with his Mexican heritage. He is torn between the world of law enforcement and the world of gang violence that his brother is involved in. The film explores themes of family loyalty, identity, and justice.

The acting in El Chicano is strong, particularly from the two leads, Raul Castillo and Logan Arevalo. Both actors bring intensity and depth to their respective roles. The supporting cast, including Julian Bray and Adolfo Alvarez, also deliver solid performances.

The film also features impressive cinematography that captures the gritty, urban landscape of East LA. The tense action scenes are well choreographed and keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

El Chicano is a film that doesn't shy away from the difficult realities of life in East LA. It portrays a world in which violence and crime are a daily occurrence, and where the line between good and evil is blurred. However, at its core, El Chicano is a film about the search for identity and the struggle to do what is right in the face of adversity.

Overall, El Chicano is an intense and thought-provoking film that explores complex themes and features strong performances. It is a must-see for fans of action-dramas and anyone interested in exploring the complexities of identity in a multicultural world.

El Chicano is a 2019 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.4 and a MetaScore of 46.