Markos Papadatos
May 17, 2025
Kellan Lutz (“Twilight”) stars in the new action thriller “Desert Dawn,” which was released on Friday, May 16th via Saban Films. Lutz is reunited with fellow “Twilight” alum Cam Gigandet.
A newly appointed small-town sheriff Luke Easton (played by Kellan Lutz) and his reluctant deputy John Sites (Cam Gigandet) find themselves in a web of lies and corruption when the murder of a mysterious woman leads them to a dangerous conspiracy involving shady businessmen and the cartel.
Kellan Lutz commands each scene he is in as Luke, and he layers his emotions well. Not only does he excel in the action scene but in the moving, sentimental, and slmubtle scenes as well, which will certainly evoke a wide spectrum of raw feelings; moreover, Lutz is not afraid to be vulnerable.
Cam Gigandet is intense and badass as John in the movie, and he has great chemistry with Lutz, especially when they team up to solve crimes and unsolved mysteries.
Helena Haro is fabulous as Dr. Cheyenne Gomez, Luke’s love interest, while Niko Foster is a revelation as Jim Barnes (one scene in a particular will blow the audience away).
Veronica Montes is noteworthy as the waitress Honesty, who helps Luke early on in the story.
Chad Michael Collins is a force of nature as the main antagonist Jack Danes; fans will walk away remembering his bold phone call scene in the shower, which is pure evil at its finest.
Guillermo Ivan is remarkable as the nefarious cartel leader Fernando Carrillo in a true breakout performance (Ivan’s scenes opposite Lutz are pivotal turning points for the film).
Expertly shot by director Marty Murray (from a screenplay by Chad Law, Johnny Walters, and Art Camacho), “Desert Dawn” is filled with multiple twists and turns that will keep the audience at the edge of their seats.
The Verdict
Overall, “Desert Dawn” is a gripping, engaging, and fun new action film. The writing is realistic and relatable, and each actor is given his or her own characterization, and they all bring something different and special to the story.
Kellan Lutz has proven time and time again that he is one of the most underrated actors of our generation, and the same holds true for the equally gifted Cam Gigandet.
“Desert Dawn” deserves more than just a passing glance, and it garners four out of five stars. Bravo.