“1992” is a gripping film set against the backdrop of the 1992 Los Angeles riots. The film unfolds in the difficult days following the Rodney King verdict. At its heart is Mercer, a recently released convict who strives to reconnect with his estranged son, Antoine. Having spent years behind bars, Mercer is now determined to turn his life around and ensure his son avoids the same mistakes that led him into a life of crime. The film delves into Mercer’s struggle to shield Antoine from taking the wrong path. The narrative also intersects with a heist plot involving a group of thieves targeting Pluton metal, adding a layer of tension and danger to the already unsettling environment.
This article contains spoilers.
1992 (2024) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
1992″ opens in the Hood in 1992. The situation is tense as it is close to Rodney King’s verdict. In this situation, Mercer has just gotten out of prison and is trying to get close to his son Antoine. When Antoine was growing up, he lived with his mother and grandmother. Antoine holds this against Mercer for not being there for him as a father. Now that Antoine’s mother is dead, Antoine lives with Mercer.
Mercer has been in prison and has a reputation. Therefore, he is doing everything he can to ensure Antoine does not make the same life choices as Mercer. That day, Mercer asks Antoine to get back home after school as the situation can worsen on the streets depending on Rodney King’s verdict. In a store nearby, Mercer runs into his boys, who were with him back in his violent days. It is clear Mercer is trying to change and does not want to do anything to put him back in jail. Later, Mercer returns to work, where he gets a second chance at life thanks to his colleague and friend Joe.
Why is there a riot?
Simultaneously, a small-time thief, Lowell, and his sons Riggin and Dennis want to rob Pluton Metals, as platinum is much more expensive than gold. A brand-new vault has been installed to store the platinum bars. Both Lowell and Riggin discuss how to break the vault and steal the platinum bars. The first problem is that if anyone presses a panic button inside the security office, the vault gets covered with a steel cap.
Unless the LAPD arrives and unlocks it, the vault will be encased. Despite that, Riggin is confident that they can pull off the heist. However, Lowell has never done such a big job, so he fears security. Sadly, Riggin Lowell does not think it’s worth the risk. That day, Antoine gets home early and watches the news. During this time, Mercer is at Pluton Metals working when the news breaks out that the police officers in Rodney King’s case are found not guilty.
The employees of Pluton Metals are asked to get home safely as riots have begun on the streets. At home, Antoine is infuriated listening to the verdict and goes out on the streets. This is the perfect opportunity for Lowell and the gang to pull off the heist, so they prepare the tools to get to Pluton Metal. Since Mercer lives in the hood, he asks Joe if Mercer can bring Antoine to Pluton Metals, as it is safer for him.
Joe agrees to give security clearance when Mercer arrives. When Mercer gets home, the riots are aggressive, and Antoine is not home. Worried about Antoine, Mercer searches for Antione on the streets. Mercer runs into his old buddy D-Ville, who gives Mercer a gun for his safety. However, Mercer refuses as he wants nothing to do with his old life. Meanwhile, Lowell and the group have reached the gates of Pluton Metal.
Can Lowell and the team break into Pluton Metal?
The security guard asks Riggin the purpose of the visit. Riggin gets out and uses a Taser on the security guard. The group ties the man to a pole nearby and enters Pluton Metal. What they don’t expect is to find someone inside the building. Unfortunately, Joe is in the wrong place at the wrong time as he faces the robbers.
When Joe reaches for his gun, one of the thieves fires at Joe. Meanwhile, Mercer finds Antoine and drives him to Pluton Metal. In the car, Mercer tells Antoine that he is scared Antoine will turn into a mini Mercer, especially because Antoine feels deeply about the injustice and racism that is taking place around him.
The robbers have begun their plan as they get to the vault. These guys don’t know that Joe is still alive. He has activated the panic button. In a hurry, Riggin drives the forklift to stop the steel cap. By then, the cops are alerted. The cops fly through Pluton Metals and don’t see any movement, so they head back. Immediately, Joe is found and killed by the robbers. When Riggin drives the forklift, he accidentally runs over Copen’s leg.
At this time, Riggin is worried about Copen, but Lowell only wants money. So they cut Copen’s leg, and Dennis tends to Copen. As Mercer and Antoine drive by, the cops stop them. As they are black, they search them and the car thoroughly while letting white drivers go without asking anything.
Where does Dennis take Antoine?
It is also tough for Mercer to see his son struggling against the cops. Inside Pluton Metals, the robbers have successfully broken the vault and are happy to see the platinum bars. Without knowing what is going on inside, Mercer and Antoine enter the building. Here, the duo splits as Antoine needs to use the washroom. In the washroom, Antoine comes face-to-face with Dennis, who holds a gun. At the same time, Mercer finds Joe dead in the security office. So Mercer grabs a spare weapon and runs, looking for Antoine.
Mercer runs into Lowell’s men at this time, and they fire at each other. Since Mercer knows the building well, he shuts off the power in that area, forcing the robbers to chase after Mercer cautiously. Luckily, Mercer hurts one of those men and escapes from the other. Now Dennis brings Antoine to his father, Lowell. At this time, Copen is struggling to survive and moaning, which infuriates Lowell.
When questioned, Antoine lies to Lowell that he had come looking for his father. Antoine could not go home because the bus lines were cut off. On the same floor, Mercer listens to the conversation. When Copen gets loud, Lowell shoots him dead. Unfortunately, both Dennis and Antoine watch this act.
1992 (2024) Movie Ending Explained:
Who kills Riggin?
Later, Mercer captures Riggin, tying him up to a railing. The robbers load up the van with platinum but realize that the engine rotor from the van is missing. One of the thieves finds Mercer, and they fight. In the end, Mercer kills the man who falls from the roof right in front of Lowell. Angered by this, Lowell decides to use Antoine to get back at Mercer. After that, Mercer relays everything that has happened to Riggin, who cannot believe Copen is dead. Meanwhile, Lowell uses Antoine by making Antoine speak on the loudspeaker.
Now, Lowell asks Mercer to bring Riggin and the rotor to Lowell in exchange for Antoine’s life. However, Riggin knows Lowell and warns Mercer that once Lowell gets what he wants, he will kill Antoine and Mercer. Mercer uses Riggin to save Antoine. At the loading docks, Mercer shows up with Riggin. The thieves take the engine rotor. Mercer wants his son Antoine, but Lowell threatens to shoot Antoine.
So Mercer picks up the gun and shoots at Lowell first, but Lowell escapes. Mercer, Dennis, Antoine, and Riggin take the opportunity to get inside the van and drive away. Another car is in the building, so Lowell and the other thief chase after them. The annoying thing for Lowell is not that his sons are taken but that the platinum bars are in the van. In the shootout, Dennis is shot and loses a lot of blood. As Mercer is trying to drive to the hospital, Lowell and their partner start shooting at the van. Dennis is now dead. Fuming with anger, Riggin starts shooting at the car his father is in.
One of the thieves is dead; however, Lowell fires at Riggin. Unfortunately, Mercer loses balance, and the van topples. When Lowell gets out, he kills Riggin. Next, Lowell is ready to fire at an unharmed Mercer when Antoine shoots Lowell from the back, killing him. Soon after, Antoine is shaking in fear, so Mercer takes away the gun and hugs his son. The father-son duo takes the car and drives away.
Ultimately, Mercer’s fear becomes a reality as Antoine kills a man to save Mercer. The one thing Mercer didn’t want was for Antoine to become a criminal and go to jail, but the circumstances made Antoine pull the trigger. We don’t know what happens to Antoine, but considering the situation of riots and many black and white people dying, Antoine can be safe after all.
On the other hand, Lowell cares more about money than his sons, as seen in the last few scenes. Both Riggin and Antoine have had a difficult relationship with their fathers. However, Antoine and Mercer still share a bond. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Riggin and Lowell. Throughout the film, we see the tension between Riggin and Lowell, and Riggin wants to protect Dennis from Lowell. The intense racism of that time weighed heavily, and you can really feel the depth of Mercer and Antoine’s anger throughout the film.
