Gun Hill Road Review and Trailer

Frequently we see father-son relationships struggle on-screen due often in part by the father having an ideal lifestyle or plan for his son’s life — then never seeing it come to fruition. The result is a disappointed and bitter father figure. In cinema, these character dynamics are played out and familiar. Gun Hill Road is no exception, however, those proverbial scenes of father-son disputes are overshadowed by other, less emphasized aspects of the film. Like La Mission of 2009, Gun Hill Road is a compelling drama about a hardened Latino father’s struggle with his only son’s sexual orientation.

Set in modern-day Bronx, New York, Enrique (Esai Morales) returns home after a three-year stint in prison. Many things have changed for Enrique since his incarceration; he suspects his wife of adultery, and he is upset to see his son behave in a feminine manner.  As Enrique struggles to come to terms with his new life, his efforts to mend his distant relationships with his wife and son are often done with violence and intimidation.