Talk about a superhero film that flies under the radar! 'Cross,' released in 2012, is a blast of action and fantasy that'll have you questioning why you haven’t heard more about it. Directed by Patrick Durham, this film takes place in the grittier side of Los Angeles—a city that never fails to inspire both triumph and chaos. The central character, Callan, played by Brian Austin Green, forms a vigilante group to wage war against crime; yet, it quickly morphs into something a bit more special.
Callan is not your ordinary vigilante. Enveloped in mystery and wearing an ancient Celtic cross that gives him unimaginable powers, Callan is the kind of uncompromising hero we need. The film's plot revolves around what you’d expect—good guys versus bad guys, ancient relics with overwhelming supernatural powers, and the typical Los Angeles underbelly setting. The conservative takeaway is not just in the sword-fighting action sequences or the hero-vs-villain ethos; it lies in the film’s underlying message of taking personal responsibility. How refreshing in today’s climate! Acting out justice on your own terms is a narrative that has its roots in our history and folklore. Callan and his team of misfit warriors embody the American spirit of rugged individualism.
This film doesn’t pop up on the radar like your standard Marvel or DC movie, but therein lies a hidden gem. Even more, it resists being sanitized by constant moralizing—a welcome change from today’s pop culture landscape that seems cluttered with heavy-handed social commentary. 'Cross' takes you straight to the world of heroes who are less concerned with public polls and more about doing what's right. You can almost hear the liberals clutching their pearls at some of the film's gritty, no-nonsense attitudes.
But let’s not pretend that 'Cross' doesn’t have its cheesier elements. The special effects hang somewhere between endearing and earnest, but that only adds character, not that we need perfect CGI to tell a good story. The ensemble cast, including talents like Jake Busey, Lori Heuring, and Tom Sizemore, brings the world an array of characters that resonate in their simplicity. In a culture saturated with complexity, there's something riveting about archetypes that entertain and engage without needing to validate anything other than their own courage and drive.
And for those who’d love seeing personalities on-screen that’d make any antagonist shiver—from creepy villains to honorable heroes—it’s a film that pays homage to a timeless narrative structure. Beneath the surface—all visual and special effects aside—the film echoes the stark confrontation between heroism and malice, a tale as old as time itself. It’s not trying to send any grandiose messages about societal change or environmental justice, but rather it’s an exploration of how people in extreme circumstances confront moral choices that resonate with the regular person's issues of right and wrong.
Oh, did I mention the vintage endorphin rush? The soulful nostalgia that serves as an ode to maybe what action movies once knew how to master. An irrevocable sense of justice courses through 'Cross.' You can attribute it to a bracing return to form that reminds you why you fell in love with vigilante justice stories in the first place. No convoluted plotlines that can’t tell the difference between reality or fiction—just pure, unfiltered storytelling. Don't we all love that?
On a technical level, the grittiness of the cinematography and pounding musical score work remarkably well to animate Los Angeles like a character in itself—a city that offers as much heartache as it does hope. 'Cross' paints its gritty narrative using the sprawling urban hues of L.A. like an artist with a guerrilla style, graffitiing onto the glamorously cracked canvas of a city known for its sensational history.
The moments of humor and bravestone glory blend naturally within the film’s energetic pace. There’s sweat and grit in abundance, but it’s all methodically placed to feed the momentum, coaxed only by good timing and wit. By the time you see it, you've traveled full circle—from intrigue, to action, to moral resolution. 'Cross' is a breath of fresh, hard-hitting air that won't apologize for its candor or grit. And let's be honest, maybe that's exactly why it's so special.