Imagine yourself as an American paramedic positioned on the U.S.-Mexico border and you get a code "5 Bravo," otherwise known as an emergency call, coming from the Mexican side of the border.

You see a man who has been shot and is dying right in front of your eyes, but he's out of your jurisdiction in a dangerous territory where you're not supposed to venture.

You are faced with a moral and ethical dilemma and it's eating away at you. Would you cross the border into Mexico to save the victim or would you stand by and watch him die?

This intense gut check is one of many experienced by a team of American paramedics in "Panic 5 Bravo," a suspenseful thriller written and directed by Mexican actor-turned-first-time director Kuno Becker.

The Pantelion film, which was shot in Mexico and will be released on Dec. 5, takes the audience on an intense rollercoaster of emotions as a team of American paramedics ultimately decides to save the dying victim, unaware that he is being hunted by a drug cartel. The team's rescue mission turns into their worst nightmare where their only chance of survival is to refuse to turn in the victim and negotiate with their captors.

"It's been amazing because never thought that we'd be going to so many festivals in Mexico (including the 29th Guadalajara Film Festival) and in the U.S., and the good thing about that is we were able to see the reactions of the audience," Becker explained in an exclusive interview with the Latin Post.

"You never know if the movie's going to work until you see people watching it without them seeing you. You see them reacting or not reacting," he said. "I am happy to say that they jumped when they were supposed to get scared and they laughed when they were supposed to laugh."

The most visually stunning scene in the film involves an intense collision between the ambulance and another vehicle. The blunt impact is filmed in slow-motion, which is somewhat reminiscent of "The Matrix."

"I wanted to do a crash that wasn't your typical crash that we're used to seeing in movies," he said. "I wanted to do something that was more original, so I built this eight- or nine-ton device that turns. I shot a lot of different angles. It was pretty dangerous ... thank God nothing happened. It was something that was hard to do technically, but it looks great. I am happy we achieved it. It was really cool and people really loved that scene."

"Panic 5 Bravo" was made on a "super small budget" with $500,000 reportedly fronted by Becker and backed by Videocine that took a miraculous two and a half weeks to make.

While the cast, which also includes Becker in the lead role of Alex, is made up of actors Raúl Mendez, John Henry Richardson, Aurora Papile, Dan Rovzar, Shalim Ortíz and Sofía Sisniega.

"They did an amazing job and I was incredibly lucky to have this passionate group of people," he said.

The film also highlights the longtime tension, corruption and moral dilemmas faced at the U.S.-Mexico border on a daily basis.

"We (the U.S) keep the problem growing, just so we can solve it," Bobby (played by Papile) said in the film.

"She (Bobby, a corrupt paramedic) represents this other side, what's going on in Mexico and in the U.S.," Becker pointed out. "It's both of our problems --  both countries, I don't think this is just going on in Mexico, that's why she represents this perspective. This is something that is eating us from inside and out -- in both countries and everybody is involved. To me, this was important to have this more realistic perspective."

"One of the things that I want the audience to take away from the movie is that violence in society is changing in Mexico and in the U.S.," he added. "[The characters] try to do the right thing, but at the end of the day, they are human beings so they have flaws. It's also the same with us, with our community -- there are the good guys and the bad guys within us, the drug dealer, my character, the guy who tried to do the right thing."

Reinforcing stereotypes is often a hot-button issue for Latinos in TV and film. However, in this case, the representation of a drug lord of a Mexican drug cartel is warranted for it's a reality for many.

"I didn't just want to tell one side of the story," Becker said. "I try to not contribute too much to the cliché..." yet, "at the end of the day, you fall into one or two (stereotypes) because it's impossible to break all of them."

Ultimately, Becker was driven by the storytelling that represents both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

"I wanted to be a part of this creative process making of this movie and that was the logical step to direct the movie," he said. "I never thought about being a director, but I did it because I wanted to tell a story." 

Becker is also inspired by celebrated filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese, Mexican-American Robert Rodriguez and Mexico's Alfonzo Cuaron and Guillermo del Toro.

According to Becker, he is also working on a bigger budget movie called "1985," about the 8.1 earthquake that rocked Mexico in 1985 and "how it changed people and became a turning point in our country," he said,

He adds that while "independent film-making is really hard," at the same time, it's a labor of love.

Born in Mexico City, Becker began acting at the young age of 16. Several years later, he joined the cast of the feature film "La Hija del Canibal" directed by Antonio Serrano. He later starred in several other international productions, including "Imagining Argentina" and the "GOAL" trilogy. He has also guest-starred in various American TV Series, including "CSI Miami," "House" and "Dallas."

"Panic 5 Bravo" is Becker's first feature as writer and director. The film will be distributed by Videocine in Mexico and by Pantelion in the United States.

Check out the official trailer for "Panic 5 Bravo," which will be released on Friday, Dec. 5