Perfect cast and a good story

Lack of good storyline.

Excellent, a Must See

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

One hillbilly who is now a big city cop in Chicago, has his (least-loved) little brother hillbilly come to work in the city after the local mine closes. He gets killed by a goombah enforcer, who's teaching his cousin goombah (who is the son of the head goombah) the ropes.Back at the hillbilly homestead, (most-loved) elder brother hillbilly comes to town to exact hillbilly justice. He dies.Which sends hillbilly homestead into a hillbilly hornets nest, and every single male hillbilly that can wield a firearm (which is all of them) are given packed lunches by the womenfolk (yes, seriously), and set off for justice in the big city.Meanwhile, goombah enforcer isn't happy that son-of-goombah is slowly taking over, since he's the head goombah's son. So he kills cousin goombah and frames elder brother hillbilly before he dies.In the final standoff, head goombah shoots goombah enforcer for murdering head goombah's son.This somehow pays back the blood debt for 2 dead hillbillies and a bunch of dead goombah no-names.And by contract, Patrick Swayze reveals his most defining acting skill and takes off his shirt in at least 3 scenes.Starring:Robert Easton, dialect coach in over 50 movies, must've silently weeped during this oneTed Levine, 3 minute part of a crazy drunk with a shot gun, his career peaked as Captain Stottlemeyer in 'Monk'Ben Stiller, son-of-goombah-looking-to-take-over-the-family-business, pretty much still an unknown actor at this point. Plays a fairly convincing entitled assholeBill Paxton, little brother who gets killed as an example. His brother's wife in this movie, will be his wife in a later movie (Twister)Andreas Katsulas, head goombah, will be future G'Kar in Babylon 5Helen Hunt, apparently everybody's movie wife as some pointAdam Baldwin, Full Metal Jacket, The X-Files, Firefly/Serenity (including the fan-made Browncoats: Redemption), Chuck, the Captain of the ship in The Last Ship, 2 awesome guest appearances in Castle, and even voice acting in HL2:2. Here he plays the goombah enforcer who kills Paxton and StillerLiam Neeson, (Batman, the 1st good one, Star Wars, the 1st shitty one) most-loved elder hillbilly, he owns this movie. He is all about revenge/justice for murder in the most brutal of ways. He went on to play the same kickass character in many more movies, but with a slightly more Irish accent.Patrick Swayze, a man of highs and lows. From Dirty Dancing and Roadhouse to this dreck (he was nominated a Razzie for worst actor) then immediately back to Ghost and Point Break. He can't act, he can't pull off a constant accent, he looks like he never shot a bow before, he can't even pretend to play the violin very well. But he can dance! (But he doesn't dance in this movie, so there you go)

Next Of Kin is a terrific,underrated and entertaining Action-Thriller that is filled with fine direction,a great cast,wonderful Action,an impressive script and a good score and soundtrack. All of those elements make Next Of Kin a solid film worth your time.Set in Chicago,Illinois,Next Of Kin tells the story of Truman Gates(Patrick Swayze),a Chicago cop from the hills of Kentucky who is investigating the death of his little brother Gerald Gates(Bill Paxton)who was killed by gangsters. Meanwhile,Truman's older brother Briar Gates(Liam Neeson)has come to Chicago to do his own investigation and the gangsters find out you mess with their family you mess with them.Released in 1989,Next Of Kin is a wonderful and very underrated Action-Thriller that wasn't a hit at the Box Office and was panned by critics but in later years the film seems to have found an audience on cable and home video. And while the film doesn't reinvent the wheel and isn't very groundbreaking or revolutionary,Next Of Kin is a movie that gives viewers great entertainment for 108 minutes. From beginning to end Next Of Kin is a movie that gives viewers a good balance and mixture of Action,thrills and drama with grit and style that never changes throughout the movie and is happening on the mean streets of Chicago with intensity and violence all around. The tone and atmosphere of Next Of Kin can at times be bleak and downbeat but you are never depressed while watching the film because while the tone of the movie is serious the film at times has some humorous moments that are funny and give Next Of Kin a light tone. The storyline moves at a fast pace and keeps you glued to the screen and will keep you wondering what will happen next in most of the scenes. What separates Next Of Kin some of the Action movies of the late 1980s and early 90s is the the depth and themes discussed in the film. The main theme that is repeated throughout the film the theme of family and blood we see families from both sides whether it's with Truman and his relationships with his brothers and family or with Gangster John Isabella(Andreas Katsulas)and his family and no matter what conflicts or problems you still have blood,loyalty and family will always be with you. The characters Truman and Briar Gates we see that the two brothers are estranged because of Truman leaving for Chicago which Briar saw as betrayal but when their brother is killed we see Truman and Briar try to repair their relationship while trying to find out who killed their brother and it's pretty obvious that even though they don't say the two truly love each other and care for one another and the dialog between the two feels real and truly adds to the film. In NOK there is a contrast between the people in the big city in Chicago and the hills of Kentucky showing the Gates family living in houses in the woods and hills that are in the dirt which is opposite of the Isabella family who wear expensive suits and live large houses in the big city of Chicago. One of most interesting things about Next Of Kin is the cast in the film which includes actors who were either already famous or would become famous later on such as Patrick Swayze,Liam Neeson,Helen Hunt,Bill Paxton,Ben Stiller,Adam Baldwin and Ted Levine with all of them giving fine performances. The screenplay by Michael Jenning is impressive and well-written with Jenning's script giving most of the characters power,depth,emotion and Humor that makes the movie works so well. The Action scenes in Next Of Kin are wonderful as well as simple but effective and are in tune with the kind of Action scenes that were done in other Action flicks of the 1980s and early 90s. The ending of Next Of Kin is great because the ending has Action,excitement and once again deals with family and loyalty as well as gunfights and some hunting. A terrific conclusion.The cast is outstanding. Patrick Swayze is excellent and at his best as Truman Gates,a Chicago cop. Liam Nesson is brilliant and memorable as Briar Gates,Truman's older brother and has great scenes with Swayze. Adam Baldwin is terrific as Joey Rosselini,a hot headed Gangster. Helen Hunt does a fine job as Jesse Gates,Truman's wife. Andres Katsulas is outstanding as John Isabella,a Chicago Mob Boss. Bill Paxton is wonderful as Gerald Gates,Truman and Briar's younger brother. Ben Stiller is great as Lawrence Isabella,John's son. Michael J.Pollard is amusing and fun as Harold,a Motel owner. Ted Levine(Willy Simpson),Del Close(Frank),Valentino Gimo(Rhino),Paul Greco(Leo),Vincent Guastaferro(Paulie),Paul Herman(Detective Tony Antonelli)and Don James(David Jenkins)give good performances as well.The direction by John Irvin is great,with Irvin always moving the camera and giving the movie a wonderful visual style. Fine direction,Irvin.The score by Jack Nitzche is fantastic,intense and memorable and fits the tone of the movie. Terrific score,Nitzche. There is also a few cool songs on the soundtrack by Gregg Allman And Lorrie Gates(Brother To Brother),Larry Gatlin & Patrick Swayze(Brothers),Rodney Crowell(Hey Backwoods),B.B King(My Sweet Understanding Lady),The Charlie Daniels Band(My Sweet Babies Gone)and more. A memorable soundtrack.In final word,if you love Action-Thrillers,I highly suggest you see,Next Of Kin,a terrific,underrated and entertaining Action-Thriller that is worth your time. Highly Recommended. 9.5/10.

NEXT OF KIN (1989) Back in the 80's action movies where all the rage, remember when everybody was seeing/talking about Die Hard, Predator, Lethal Weapon or the latest Rambo entry. Reenter those wonderful unforgettable days of ole for this piece of underrated southern fried vengeance and mayhem action flick starring mullet hero Patrick Swayze and a then largely unknown Liam Neeson, who sets the groundwork for his future metamorphosis from Oscar nominated actor to 21st century Charles Bronson, here.Directed by John Irvin, a maverick of the underrated action movie with credits like the Dogs of War and the superior Schwarzenegger vehicle Raw Deal, Swayze stars as Truman Gates, a reformed hillbilly turned windy city cop. When mobsters kill his little brother (Bill Paxton), he finds himself torn between "what he should have done and what has to be done." So enter his estranged older brother, Briar (Neeson), the kind of Appalachian who keeps a severed deer's head in his fridge next to his beer. Briar comes to the big city looking for the men responsible and more than willing to stomp a few creeps to get some answers. Truman, unsuccessfully attempts to keep him on a leash, but soon finds himself drawn into the dark side of vengeance too.Not nearly as giddy silly as the much loved Swayze starrer cult classic Road House. Still, Next of Kin offers plenty to recommend like an awesome showdown in a cemetery, amiable characters, funny cheesy duologue, and a great role for cult character actor Michael J. Pollard as the proprietor of a flophouse who gets the film's single funniest line ("Hell, no. I'd shoot somebody").Having never looked better than on the new Blu-ray release with it's 1:85:1 high definition transfer, it easily replaces the poor quality budget pan & scan DVD from years ago. Featuring a stunning cast of actors who would continue to various levels of stardom, not just Neeson and Paxton, but also a never lovelier future Oscar Winner Helen Hunt, Adam Baldwin (Serenity) as the chief heavy, a young Ben Stiller as a mobster flunky and Ted Levine ("Monk") .Next of Kin is not as well known as many of the other actioners of it's day, but it is one of the best. As expected there are plot holes, inconsistencies and plenty of good old clichés, but it's also a lot of fun and an agreeable time waster. A perfect lazy Sunday afternoon movie.

Shot on location in Chicago, Next Of Kin is about a culture clash between two groups that are known for longstanding vendettas. They would be the Sicilian Mafia and the hillbillies of the Appalachians.Patrick Swayze is one of three brothers of whom the youngest, Bill Paxton, is killed after organized crime takes over a trucking firm he was a driver for. They killed the wrong guy because in addition to being Paxton's brother, Swayze is also a Chicago police detective. Of course Swayze has to operate within the parameters of the law. That's not the case for the oldest brother Lian Neeson. He comes to Chicago just looking for them that did the deed.Andreas Katsulas is the Mafia crime family head and he's got an idiot son played by Ben Stiller whom he turns over to enforcer Adam Baldwin to learn the business. Stiller goes right to the top of the criminal food chain with Baldwin when he and Baldwin kill Paxton. But Baldwin is a survivor and he'll do whatever it takes to survive.The showdown between hillbillies and Mafioso takes place with a cemetery at night serving as the OK Corral. It's quite a battle and justice is served if not the law.Next Of Kin is your routine action film, but it does have one thing going for it that I have to praise. The hillbillies are real people here, they're not the Clampetts of Beverly Hills nor the mouth breathers from Deliverance. I'm glad that the producers avoided stereotyping them which would have been easy. Swayze is a good action hero and his leading lady is Helen Hunt who as Mrs. Swayze in the film is not given all that much to do. Fans of the late Patrick Swayze will be very happy with Next Of Kin.