5/5 How Was This Movie Missed In The Mainstream?
  by TheHighlander (Richfield, PA United States)
Quick - can you name a movie that has Ben Stiller, Patrick Swayze, Helen Hunt, Liam Neeson, Bill Paxton, and Adam Baldwin in it? Probably not, as most people can't, and what a shame. "Next Of Kin" is a fine portrayal of the "Eastern Mountain Way" as well as the love of family and the bond of brothers.

I enjoyed this movie greatly. Although the plot has been somewhat rehashed many times the performances here stir emotion. Especially Liam Neeson's. If not for his performance in this movie I probably would have given it 4 stars, but he shines brightly here. The loyalty and love of his character combined with the contempt and anger of his character, what a great performance.

When this movie first came out I didn't even know it. I don't know how it fell off the radar screen before ever being noticed but it is cerainly worth a look.

Buy it - enjoy it, over and over.

3/5 Underrated
  by Jeffrey Ellis (Richardson, Texas United States)
In terms of just pure plot, Next of Kin is -- in many ways -- a typical example of the unconventional cop vs. the mob film genre of the 1980s...However, if Next of Kin is ultimately a genre piece, its still a better-than-average example of the what the genre is capable of. Certainly, its probably the only film ever made by Patrick Swayze that can legitimately be called underrated.

Plotwise, the film sounds almost like a parody. Patrick Swayze is a former hillbilly from Appalacia Country who has left behind his rustic family to become a big city cop and to romance sophisticated music teacher Helen Hunt. (Is there a reason why big city cops with simple backgrounds always seem to end up romancing music teacers in these films?) Swayze's younger brother Bill Paxton also comes to the city, to pursue a life of petty crime that ends up getting him killed by mobster Adam Baldwin which leads to yet another Swayze brother coming down to the city, this one played by Liam Neeson. As Neeson seeks revenge, Swayze is forced to return to his roots in order to avenge both his brother and protect his girlfriend.

Yet somehow, all of this works rather effectively on screen. The film is directed by Englishman John Irvin who has made a rather unsung career out of bringing a stronger-than-usual sense of characterization to genre films (the best example being the war film Hamburger Hill). Although Irvin's filming of the action scenes are a little pedestrian, he still has a strong visual sense and manages to vividly contrast the conflicting worlds of the country and the city. The film's supporting cast is well chosen and both the heroes and the villians all come to life with a surprising amount of dignity. At no point do any of the actors demean their roles by playing ...typical hillybillys or, for that matter, ...typical mobsters and that shows an unusual and admirable amount of integrity for a film of this sort. Paxton isn't on screen long but remains, as always, a likeable presence and Adam Baldwin makes a compellingly understandable and hissable villian. Michael J. Pollard shows up as a hillbilly and brings his trademark quirkiness to the proceedings while the role of the nerdy mob scion is played by Ben Stiller, of all people. Its a little jarring to see Stiller show up on screen (especially playing an essentially villianous role) yet he gives a strong performance without resorting to do any standard Stiller bits. Helen Hunt's role is ...typical but she's probably far warmer in this role than she's been in any of her prestige pictures. Certainly, the best performance in the film is given by Liam Neeson who dominates the proceedings with the grim sincerity he brings to his quest for revenge. This Irish actor also manages to perfectly capture the unique accent of the Appalacian region. As an actor, Patrick Swayze has always been limited and he's always been better at projecting sincerity than complexity. Luckily, his role in Next of Kin has been designed to require little more of him than sincerity and, if Next of Kin doesn't represent his best performance, its certainly his most likeable.

Next of Kin isn't a great film. As stated before, the story is a tad bit too predictable and that's only made more obvious when the story is populated by a better-than-average cast and directed by a truly talented director. However, this is a rare genre piece in which it is obvious that everyone involved actually put in their best efforts to make a worthwhile film and the results are both admirable and entertaining.

5/5 Overlooked gem
  by R. Hunt (Poplarville, MS United States)
I loved this movie before I knew who Liam Neeson, Helen Hunt, Ben Stiller, Bill Paxton were! I still love it today. My younger brother knew that I had been wanting to see it again and he gave me my own copy for my birthday. I don't know why Adam Baldwin is listed here as the star, though. Patrick Swayze and Liam Neeson are clearly the stars of this movie. If you live in the South, then you realize the closeness of these people and their desire to avenge their family is not too far fetched. There are so many interesting characters in this movie. I have always felt that one day someone would be digging around and unearth this old gem.

3/5 Will satisfy fans of the leading actors
  by (( SamMitch@welly17.freeserve.co.uk ) from Scotland)
Patrick Swaze is the big city cop from the backwoods whose younger brother is shot dead by the mob and he vows to track down those responsible.

However,when he takes his brothers body home to be buried,his elder brother,loose cannon Liam Neeson,is disappointed with the lack of direct action;and threatens to become involved.

Neeson does become involved with tragic results which brings a variety of strange hillbilly types into the big smoke to extract retribution.

Reasonable action thriller,but could have done with more of"the kin"and Michael J Pollard;now approaching the veteran stage;steals every scene he appears in.

4/5 Next of Kin
  by James T. Gootee, Jr. (Paducah, KY)
Damn good movie and entertaining, too. Being a Kentuckian, I liked how it showed the differences of the eastern Kentucky mountain people's environment, lifestyles, and their beliefs, which is still carried on to this very day, in contrast to the big city's(Chicago)smug, fast-paced attitude. The guy traveling in a converted school bus full of snakes was a bit hard to swallow, and how Liam Neeson's character could find his way around Chicago, and never having been there, is a mystery to me. Yes, there are many bow hunters in Kentucky!! They have a special time during deer hunting strictly for bow. And, yes, they are good with them! But, the movie as a whole is fun to watch with a big bowl of popcorn. Might not be suitable for small children due to language and violence.