Next of Kin (1989)

43% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
53% of users liked it
(9,152 ratings)

When his brother is murdered, a policeman is caught between his devotion to the law and his family's desire for revenge in this action drama. Patrick Swayze plays Truman Gates, who left his backwoods Appalachian home for life as a Chicago police officer. When his brother is killed by a gangster,… More When his brother is murdered, a policeman is caught between his devotion to the law and his family's desire for revenge in this action drama. Patrick Swayze plays Truman Gates, who left his backwoods Appalachian home for life as a Chicago police officer. When his brother is killed by a gangster, Truman is determined to seek legal retribution. His older brother Briar (Liam Neeson) has different ideas, however, and travels to the city to seek old-fashioned vigilante justice. Truman must now choose between his family's belief in mountain justice and the duties of his job. Though the film is not particularly action-packed, director John Irvin does provide the expected gunplay and macho confrontations. However, despite a surprisingly distinguished cast (also including Helen Hunt and Michael J. Pollard), little distinguishes the film from numerous other revenge stories with a similar outline. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: John Irvin
Written By: Michael Jenning
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Oct 20, 1989 Wide
On DVD: Oct 20, 1998
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
A bunch of rednecks get mad and seek revenge. If that sounds good to you, have at it.

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tim S

Swayze returns along with the likes of Liam Neeson to kick ass Southern-style in the big city in this revenge tail.
Chris W

This is a vey predictable yet moderately entertaining story of a hillbilly family in a feud against a mob family. It really is as silly and ridiculous as it sounds, but the 80's camp and cheesiness factors and the fact that Liam Neeson is at his scenery chewing best as one of the… More
This is a vey predictable yet moderately entertaining story of a hillbilly family in a feud against a mob family. It really is as silly and ridiculous as it sounds, but the 80's camp and cheesiness factors and the fact that Liam Neeson is at his scenery chewing best as one of the hillbillies make this an ok movie to watch when nothing else is on.
Dean M

This action movie isn't too bad, but it is not particularly action-packed, director John Irvin does provide the expected gunplay and macho confrontations. However, despite a surprisingly distinguished cast (also including Helen Hunt and Michael J. Pollard), little distinguishes… More
This action movie isn't too bad, but it is not particularly action-packed, director John Irvin does provide the expected gunplay and macho confrontations. However, despite a surprisingly distinguished cast (also including Helen Hunt and Michael J. Pollard), little distinguishes the film from numerous other revenge stories with a similar outline. This action film is full of action and has some great fight scenes. Daniel Baldwin is great as the villian and look for a young Ben Stiller before he hit his prime.
David L

Director John Irvin must have a real passion for mob movies. He tries his best in both Schwarzenegger's Raw Deal and a few years later with Patrick Swayze's Next of Kin to create a violent, good action film but make it passionate and dramatic and all about crime family vs… More
Director John Irvin must have a real passion for mob movies. He tries his best in both Schwarzenegger's Raw Deal and a few years later with Patrick Swayze's Next of Kin to create a violent, good action film but make it passionate and dramatic and all about crime family vs crime family. However with Next of Kin he must have fine tuned some of the mistakes from the rather slow moving Raw Deal. Next of Kin is a much better film and perhaps a big part of that is the strong cast of future stars Next of Kin carries. Liam Neeson, Helen Hunt, Ben Stiller, Bill Paxton, and even Patrick Swayze who was really at the height of his career in this film...between Dirty Dancing and Ghost. Next of Kin takes a rather liberal view at a group of people not normally dealt with in films...mountain people...or hillbillies if you will. Swayze plays a former country boy who moved to the big city, became a cop, married his love, and is now urbanized himself. His little brother who aims to follow up in his footsteps ends up getting himself murdered by the crime family, Isabella. The rest of his "kin" want Swayze to avenge the death but Swayze is determined to let justice take it's course. Again, much like Raw Deal, Next of Kin is about vengeance and anger and it all bottles up until one big explosion of revenge in the end. The big difference is that Next of Kin stays interesting through the whole movie right up to and including the end and still has some really great action scenes to boot. The cast as previously mentioned is very well done fortunately for Mr. Irvin. Swayze plays a convincing cop and mountain boy and him and Helen Hunt have decent chemistry for their brief on screen moments. Adam Baldwin as the blood thirsty villain does a good job (not as good his later performance in Joss Whedon's Serenity (aka Firefly) as Jayne but he is convincing as the bad guy. Ben Stiller's brief role is also quite good as the smarter villain but he doesn't last long. Overall Next of Kin is a decent entry in the eighties action genre. It has it's moments and is worth checking out for those full of nostalgia.

Cast

            Patrick Swayze as Truman Gates

            Liam Neeson as Briar Gates

            Adam Baldwin as Joey Rosselini

            Helen Hunt as Jessie Gates

            Andreas Katsulas as John Isabella

            Michael J. Pollard as Harold

            Bill Paxton as Gerald Gates

            Ben Stiller as Lawrence Isabella

            Ted Levine as Willy

            Del Close as Frank

            Valentino Cimo as Rhino

            Paul Greco as Leo

            Vincent Guastaferro as Paulie

            Paul Herman as Antonelli

            Jane Alderman
            
            Tina Engel as Rosalie

            Anouk Ferjac as Patricia Guerin

            Neil Giuntoli as Shorty

            Brett Hadley as De Witt

            Rodney Hatfield as Hollis

            Don Herion as Zimmer

            Don James as David

            Jean Marais as Victor Blaise

            Charles Millot
            
            Sally Murphy as Hooker

            Lisa Niemi as Violinist (uncredited)

            Tim Quill as TV Reporter

            Joseph R. Ryan as Grandpa

            Richard Wharton as Selkirk

            Michael Wise as Snakeman

            Michel Amphoux
            
            Patrick Balch as Young Boy Kentucky

            Andrena Belcher as Patsy-Ruth

            Mary Ann Berkhart as De Witt's Wife

            Kelly Blair as Tolbert

            Billy Branch as Preacher

            Kim Cole as Hollis' Wife

            Fred Crowther as Old Hillbilly

            Michael di Zonno as Vinny

            Roland Dubillard as Phillippe Guerin

            Celene Evans as Lady Bartender

            Bernard Farcy
            
            Mia Ferro as Daughter

            Starla Fugate as Gerald's Girl Friend

            Keela Gootee as Daughter

            Nancy Jeffrey as Aunt Peg

            Jack Kandel as Hillbilly Bartender

            Arlene Lencioni as Mrs. Isabella

            Lew Way Chin as Violin Student

            Morgan Biscomb Melto as Violin Student

            Al Neal as Man in Bar

            Diane Niederman as Cecile

            Marie Palmieri
            
            Joelle Pasquale as Daughter

            Pamela Prater as Selkirk's Wife

            Jean Ritchie as Charlene

            Ivan Romeuf
            
            Elizabeth Ruf as Woman in Bar

            Michael Sassone as Melvin

            Serge Ubrette as Clem

            Jane Watts
            
            Relioues Webb as Young Boy Chicago

            Charlie Williams as Pierce

            Shelley Andreas
            
            Mindy Marin
            
            Mark Roberts as Furniture Mover
See full cast