Next of Kin ** (1989, Patrick Swayze, Liam Neeson, Adam Baldwin) – Classic Movie Review 8165

Patrick Swayze stars in director John Irvin’s 1989 crime action thriller Next of Kin as a cop called Truman Gates, transplanted from the backwoods of the Appalachians to the mean streets of Chicago to catch a ruthless mobster, Joey Rossellini (Adam Baldwin). They are flip sides of the same coin, one good one evil, linked by their code of loyalty and revenge, one a clan leader of hillbillies and the other of gangsters.

From this fascinating idea, the writers Michael Jenning and Jeb Stuart have created a violent, fast-paced, basic formula thriller, directed with flashes of wit and style.

Swayze is much more convincing as a dirty dancer than a dirty fighter, and it is hard to believe in Liam Neeson as his hillbilly brother Briar Gates, but the rest of the murder and mayhem is repellently real.

Also in a remarkable star cast are Helen Hunt, Andreas Katsulas, Bill Paxton, Ben Stiller, Michael J Pollard and Ted Levine.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8165

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