So, the Xing of the head of the bullets is supposed to... Make it break apart on impact? I've seen it done in vampire movies, but the X is intended to be a cross.

Is this safe/practical in real-world applications, out of curiousity?

I'm having trouble finding screenshots. Here's a link to the movie on YouTube in HD. The rest of the movie comes after it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onLvxe9jjUI

They expand and stay in the body, so all the kinetic energy favored for stopping power is maintained.

I wouldn't reccomend cutting Xs in your ammunition, as it could lodge in the barrel if you cut it too much, and never use them in anything other than a revolver. You'll just get lots of jams.

Here's a shot from youtube, it's low res though, because I wasn't going to fuck around with HD for an hour to grab one shot:

http://i29.tinypic.com/6jkbpk.jpg

I appreciate it.

That's an Italian Bodeo 1889. One of the non-standard models with the conventional trigger but full length octagonal barrels.