The Gatekeeper (2001)

TOMATOMETER

52%
55%

Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

14%

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Movie Info

Adam Fields (John Carlos Frey, who also wrote, directed, and produced the film) is a law enforcement agent patrolling the Mexican border outside San Diego. He's harboring two dangerous secrets. His bosses don't know that he belongs to a racist, right wing vigilante group called National Patrol, that harasses and assaults illegals as they try to cross the border. His confederates in the National Patrol don't know that his own mother is Mexican. Adam, who easily passes for Caucasian, doesn't tell anyone about his mother, a former prostitute. Frustrated with the border patrol's efforts to curtail border crossings, Adam and the shock jock leader of National Patrol, Jack Green (J. Patrick McCormack), come up with a scheme to embarrass the border patrol into taking their concerns more seriously. Adam will go undercover as a Mexican and cross the border into the states to show how easy it is, while capturing everything on a hidden video camera. Adam pays to be brought over, but once in the U.S., the scheme goes horribly awry, and Adam winds up stuck with a hapless group of illegals, forced to work for ruthless criminals at a crystal meth lab. Unable to escape, he gets a firsthand look at the hardships the illegal immigrants endure. Frey tried to sell his script for The Gatekeeper to a Hollywood studio, but, unwilling to compromise his vision, eventually decided to finance the film himself. The Gatekeeper was shown at the 2002 Urbanworld Film Festival and at the 2002 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where it won the Phoenix Award.

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Cast

John Carlos Frey
as Adam Fields
Michelle Agnew
as Eva Ramirez
Anne Betancourt
as Lenora
Joel Brooks
as Vance Johnson
Kai Lennox
as Peter Randolph
Joe Pascual
as Jose
Juan Gonzalez Jr.
J. Patrick McCormack
as Jack Green
Tricia O'Kelley
as Jennifer McGregor
Carlos Ramirez
as Juan Gonzalez Jr.
Alda Yabut
as Carmen
Anthony Castiglione
as Dale
David Carrera
as Coyote
Robert Couvarrubles
as Lt. Colchado
Cristine Rose
as Judy McGregor
Allen Williams
as Hank McGregor
Linda Castro
as Magdelena
Rudy Quintanilla
as Jorge
Joe Hogan
as FBI Agent No. 1
Robert Roy
as FBI Agent No. 2
Armando Hernandez
as Guitar Player
Frankie Martinez Jr.
as Latin Guard No. 1
Chris Martinez
as Latin Guard No. 2
Del Toro
as Coyote No. 2
Caleb James McKinley
as Brad
Robert Brous
as Charlie
Dan Lorenz
as Rancher No. 1
Greg Shilts
as Rancher No. 2
Dale Reese
as Rancher No. 3
Bob Barnard
as Rancher No. 4
Daren Janes
as Rancher No. 5
Eva Frey
as Rosealba
David LIttleton
as FBI Agent No. 3
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Critic Reviews for The Gatekeeper

All Critics (21) | Top Critics (11)

Despite its flaws, The Gatekeeper will keep you engaged.

Apr 30, 2004 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
Miami Herald
Top Critic

The movie never rises above mediocrity and at times, devolves into amateurish histrionics.

Apr 8, 2004
Newark Star-Ledger
Top Critic

A heavy-handed immigration melodrama.

Apr 8, 2004 | Rating: 2/4
New York Post
Top Critic

Though the film is far from polished, the force of its significance to Mr. Frey, as well as the urgency of its political message, give it some genuine impact.

Apr 1, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
New York Times
Top Critic

The truly hellish portrayal of the workers' post-crossing indentured servitude in a meth lab makes up for a sluggish opening act.

Mar 30, 2004 | Full Review…
Village Voice
Top Critic

This deeply personal work steadily grows more powerful and eloquent, creating a tragic vision of the plight of illegal aliens that transcends its melodramatic elements.

Mar 18, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (21)

Audience Reviews for The Gatekeeper

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