Trespass (released in theaters on Dec. 25, 1992) is an incredibly tense action thriller that serves as a modern-day Western set within the decaying ruins of East St. Louis. Directed by the legendary Walter Hill and co-written by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the film strips away the excess of 90s blockbusters to deliver a claustrophobic survival story.
The story follows two Arkansas firefighters, Don Luckez (Bill Paxton) and Vince Miller (William Sadler), who obtain a map to a fortune in stolen gold hidden inside a derelict factory. Hoping to escape their mundane lives, they travel to the city to claim the treasure.
However, their timing is catastrophic.
While searching the abandoned building, they witness an execution carried out by a powerful local gang led by the cold-blooded King James (Ice T) and his hot-headed second-in-command, Savon (Ice Cube).
Don and Vince are spotted and forced to retreat to a fortified room within the factory, taking one of the gang members, Lucky (De’voreaux White), hostage.
The film quickly turns into a deadly standoff.
King James and Savon surround the building with their crew, which includes members played by Stoney Jackson and Glenn Plummer.
As the gang attempts to breach the room, an elderly squatter named Bradlee (Art Evans) is caught in the crossfire, adding a moral complexity to the chaos.
The tension escalates as the two firemen realize that their obsession with the hidden gold might be their death warrant.
As the sun sets and the factory becomes a dark, labyrinthine trap, the lines between the “law-abiding” treasure hunters and the criminals begin to blur, culminating in a violent, explosive finale where only those willing to abandon their greed have any hope of making it out alive.
It is a film defined by its relentless pacing and its exploration of greed, fueled by a high-energy collision between blue-collar desperation and gangland ruthlessness.
Bruce A. Young, Tom ‘Tiny’ Lister and James Pickens Jr. round out the cast.
Trespass (Photo/Universal Pictures)
Reception for Trespass
Trespass grossed $5 million on its opening weekend, finishing 7th at the box office. The top film for the week was A Few Good Men, which earned $13.6 million on its third weekend.
The film would gross $13.2 million in its theatrical run.
Roger Ebert gave Trepass two and a half out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
The legacy of Trespass is its reputation as one of the most effective and underrated “siege” movies of the 1990s.
It is most famously remembered for its groundbreaking casting, pairing established character actors like Paxton and Sadler against the emerging icons Ice T and Ice Cube.
This crossover gave the film a raw, contemporary edge that resonated with the burgeoning hip-hop culture of the era.
The movie is also celebrated for Hill’s signature directorial style—minimalist dialogue, kinetic action, and a brooding, industrial atmosphere.
The Ry Cooder score, which blends bluesy slide guitar with harsh urban textures, remains a standout element that heightens the film’s sense of dread.
