This was the same year that Patrick Swayze had made the cult-action joint "Road House", and the following action feature "Next of Kin" was a decent, if not particularly memorable outing by director John Irvin. Along for the ride was a familiar Hollywood cast (filled with character actors) and the material on show seemed to be presenting a theme of family values and blood is family --- linked together by the motivation for revenge. Two brothers from the south, Truman now a city cop who rarely sees his family and the other the older brother Briar a former coal miner worker share a shaky relationship when Truman left along with their younger brother Gerald for the city. However a tragedy occurs where Gerald is executed by gangsters. Truman hurting inside wants to catch the guys who did it by the law, but Briar turns up in Chicago to settle the score himself with or without Truman's help.
Not really inventive (City folks underestimate what they see as simple mountain folk); nonetheless the slow-boil action is tough and brutal, even if it doesn't really pack much of a sting despite its somewhat dreary urban atmosphere. Some odd comic elements feel a little misplaced. Still it's quite grounded, until it reaches an all-out assault between the two families one night in a graveyard and poetic justice is reached. The stunts are well delivered and Irvin's mechanical style is well crafted. Patrick Swayze is likable in the lead and Liam Neeson as the square-minded Briar adds the sparks. Adam Baldwin is perfect as the scummy mafia man who caused the mayhem. Also dependably showing up is Helen Hunt, Andreas Katsulas, Ben Stiller, Ted Levine, Michael J Pollard and Bill Paxton as Gerald.
Not really inventive (City folks underestimate what they see as simple mountain folk); nonetheless the slow-boil action is tough and brutal, even if it doesn't really pack much of a sting despite its somewhat dreary urban atmosphere. Some odd comic elements feel a little misplaced. Still it's quite grounded, until it reaches an all-out assault between the two families one night in a graveyard and poetic justice is reached. The stunts are well delivered and Irvin's mechanical style is well crafted. Patrick Swayze is likable in the lead and Liam Neeson as the square-minded Briar adds the sparks. Adam Baldwin is perfect as the scummy mafia man who caused the mayhem. Also dependably showing up is Helen Hunt, Andreas Katsulas, Ben Stiller, Ted Levine, Michael J Pollard and Bill Paxton as Gerald.