Samaritan 2022

In the gritty metropolis of Granite City, two formidable forces, Samaritan (Sylvester Stallone) and Nemesis (Sylvester Stallone), once clashed as opposing twin brothers. Their tumultuous history began when their family home was torched by an outraged mob seeking to eliminate them, only for the siblings to miraculously escape while their parents perished in the inferno. This cataclysmic event forged a path of redemption for Samaritan, who grew into a superhero driven to prove his benevolent nature, whereas Nemesis, consumed by malevolent fury, became a ruthless supervillain hell-bent on wreaking havoc upon the world that had wronged their family.

As Nemesis crafted a mystifying sledgehammer imbued with dark magic, he gained an upper hand against his heroic counterpart. However, this potent artifact came with a terrible price: it could harm both brothers. The stage was set for a cataclysmic showdown between the two super-powered siblings at Granite City’s power plant, where Nemesis lured Samaritan into a trap. In the end, both appeared to meet their demise as the facility erupted in flames, plunging the city into darkness.

Twenty-five years have passed since that fateful day, and the legend of Samaritan has endured, with rumors persisting about his possible resurrection. Meanwhile, 13-year-old Sam Cleary (Javon ‘Wanna’ Walton) struggles to support his mother Tiffany (Dascha Polanco) amidst their financial woes. As eviction looms, Sam accepts a job offer from Reza (Moisés Arias), the leader of a gang notorious for their nefarious activities. Their plan, however, goes awry when they steal boxes containing packets of chips instead of lottery tickets.

As tensions escalate, Cyrus (Pilou Asbaek), the true mastermind behind the operation, takes notice of Sam’s fascination with Samaritan and reveals that the superhero only protected the wealthy, whereas Nemesis, in his twisted way, fought for the defenseless. This dichotomy sparks a fire within Cyrus, who is secretly stockpiling heavy artillery alongside colleagues Sil (Sophia Tatum), Farshad (Jared Odrick), and Tuna (Michael Aaron Milligan).

When Reza and his cohorts launch a brutal attack on Sam as revenge, they are swiftly repelled by Joe Smith (Sylvester Stallone), a seemingly ordinary garbage collector who lives across the street from Sam. As Joe displays superhuman strength in fending off the gang members, Sam begins to suspect that this enigmatic figure might be none other than the legendary Samaritan himself.

As journalist Albert Casler (Martin Starr) delves deeper into the enigmatic Samaritan, he reveals to Sam that Nemesis had a visceral hatred for the hero, seeking to unleash chaos and anarchy upon the city by setting fire to the power station. According to Albert’s 20-year research, Nemesis’ own animosity was his downfall. Despite this revelation, Albert is unwilling to believe Sam’s suspicions that Joe could be the Samaritan, citing his physical strength and the scars on his back that eerily match those inflicted by Nemesis’ hammer.

Meanwhile, Cyrus’s discovery of Nemesis’ hammer at a police station sets off a chain reaction of chaos throughout the city. With EMP grenades in hand, he orchestrates widespread blackouts and disruptions to the city’s infrastructure, donning the mantle of the new Nemesis. Sam confronts Joe about his role as Samaritan, only for Joe to vehemently deny the accusation.

As Sam struggles to come to terms with the truth, Reza seeks revenge by intentionally running over Joe, leaving him severely injured. Miraculously, Joe’s body rapidly heals through a process of binary fission cellular thermodynamics, necessitating a cold shower and ice cream to cool down his overheated physiology. Should he fail to regulate his body temperature, his heart would be at risk of exploding.

As Sam becomes increasingly entangled in the web of deceit, Joe and Sam form an unlikely bond amidst the turmoil. Simultaneously, Cyrus extends an invitation for Sam to join his gang, but the journalist’s growing unease is palpable as he witnesses their violent escapades. The stakes escalate when Joe saves a young girl from an explosion orchestrated by Cyrus’ gang, prompting the media to proclaim Samaritan’s return and threatening Cyrus’ plans.

Reza’s subsequent recognition of Joe as the same individual he “killed” with his car serves as a catalyst for Farshad’s pursuit of Joe. In a display of exceptional prowess, Joe effortlessly defeats Farshad and his men, capturing their brutal confrontation on camera. The media frenzy surrounding this event prompts Joe to abandon the city.

As Sam implores Joe to intervene in Cyrus’ sinister plans to compromise the city’s power stations, Joe remains resolute in his decision to distance himself from the conflict. However, when Cyrus kidnaps Sam and his mother in an attempt to lure Joe into a trap, the hero returns to ensure their safety.

Joe infiltrates Cyrus’ headquarters, decimating the gang with ease before facing off against the cunning Cyrus, now masquerading as Nemesis and wielding the hammer.

As the dust settles from the brutal gang fight, Joe’s imposing physique is diminished by the toll it has taken on his body. The hammer-wielding Cyrus seizes the upper hand, exploiting Joe’s weakened state with a confident swagger, dubbing himself Nemesis and labeling Joe as “the good guy”. In a stunning revelation, Joe discloses that Samaritan met his demise during the catastrophic power plant fire, but not before he had made a heroic sacrifice to spare Joe. What’s more, Joe confesses that he is, in fact, Nemesis, the notorious villain who had miraculously survived and abandoned his life of vengeance.

A poignant flashback reveals the pivotal moments leading up to Samaritan’s downfall. Despite holding the upper hand, Samaritan refused to deliver a fatal blow, instead choosing to regard Nemesis as his brother. As the roof gave way beneath them, Samaritan’s selfless nature shone through as he struggled to save his sibling, ultimately succumbing to the inferno below. In a heart-wrenching display of remorse, Nemesis had been powerless to prevent his brother’s tragic demise, and in a symbolic gesture of defeat, he discarded both their masks into the very flames that consumed Samaritan.

In a thrilling turn of events, Joe dispatches Cyrus by sending him plummeting into a burning abyss, eerily mirroring Samaritan’s own fate. As the heat from the inferno and his accelerated healing abilities begin to overwhelm him, Sam springs into action, prudently shattering a nearby pipe to douse Joe in a refreshing deluge of water, allowing him to recover enough to escape with Sam through a daring leap out a window.

As the authorities close in on Reza and the remnants of Cyrus’ gang, Joe’s troubled past begins to unravel. When Sam confronts him about his dual identity as Nemesis, Joe confesses his guilt-ridden existence, haunted by the weight of his brother’s death, which he believes was ultimately his own fault. He implores Sam to recognize the duality of human nature and make choices that reflect the better angels of their collective humanity. As Joe departs, he is met with the news that Samaritan has been hailed as a hero, having miraculously survived the inferno to save Sam. The future hangs precariously in the balance, leaving Joe’s ultimate fate shrouded in uncertainty.