True Blood

Predictably, the good guys are spunky and the bad guys are ugly. Ray looks tasty in tight denim, but is so one-dimensionally good that you lose interest. Donny is rougher and therefore more exciting. Guess what happens in the end.

It's hard not to like Billy Drago if you like the psycho types. He's at the top of his form in this one, complete with a scar.

Check out Billy Drago's filmography if you want a list of R-rated fare: Hunter's Blood is a good example, and you will also enjoy Guncrazy, Vamp and Death Game.

True Blood has a lot of ups and downs, and it's probably not one you'll watch more than once or twice, but once or twice is enough to enjoy it completely.

Sherilyn Fenn is beautiful.

A young Jeff Fahey is interesting to watch, even if he doesn't really come off as the leader of an urban gang. The interaction between him and is brother (Chad Lowe) has some serious pathos.

Ray Trueblood is wrongfully accused of killing a cop, after getting in a gangland brawl with his rivals that are led by the crazy Spider Masters. So he flees town leaving his younger brother Donnie behind. Ten years later Ray returns to find his brother Donnie is now apart of Spider's gang. Who was the one that actually killed the cop. Not only does Ray have to worry about Spider and that of his hurt brother, but the cops still want his blood.

I can call it predictable, overwrought and flaccid, but there's something well-measured and entertaining about this by-the-numbers premise. A top line cast featuring Jeff Fahey, Sherilyn Fenn, Billy Drago, James Tolken, Chad Lowe and Ken Foree goes a long way too. Director / writer Frank Kerr stages the action rather soundly, without much in the way of surprises (anything resembling suspense doesn't show up until the dying stages), but he creates an effectively atmospheric urban setting and keeps it moving fast. Due to that, the material can feel a little on the shallow side with the inclusion of some secondary characters. Fenn's confidently uptight performance is better than what the material asks for and Foree is always a delight whenever on screen. Fahey is solid and Lowe surprisingly captures the angst. Tolken is amusing as the gum-chewing, hard-nose cop. As for Drago… well what can one say? He doesn't have a lot of screen time, but his juicy reptilian presence strikes up that villainous role with such ease. It's just expected. Loved the scar too. Kerr seems to want to tell a story more, and build upon the character's relationships. But this brothers/wrong side of the tracks story might compel, it doesn't particularly hold up and feels a little mushy and down-trodden. No biggie, but it evoked some moody passages. Scott Roewe's heavy, oozing music score was a mixed bag. Under-seen, but passable.

This movie is actually enjoyable! I enjoyed watching the fight scenes in the movie between the two rival gangs. The Trueblood brothers have great parts and little Chad Lowe makes a great first impression on you. He's the toughest of the two brothers, but holds a special place in your heart. The special effects weren't great compared to newer action films. The characters reminded me David Lynch's characters, especially the evil Billy "Spider" Masters. He had a very creepy part and watching it alone can be quite scary. Ok, so the real reason to see this film, is for Sherilyn Fenn. Her part is acted very well and the bathroom scene is very sexy! Get the DVD version, so you can pause and slow mo during this part because it flew by very fast.

Fahey is good. The story moves along all right. I wasn't crazy about Chad Lowe as Fahey's younger brother or Billy Draggo who goes reeeaaallly over the top as the bad guy here. Its the kind of performance that's very love it or hate it, and i didn't love it to be sure. I did like James Tolkan as the perennially grudge holding cop tho. The story is that Fahey as a young guy is in a gang, he ends up killing a cop (accidently) Tolkan as that cop's partner carries a grudge that lasts ten whole years as Fahey runs away, joins the army leaving his younger brother behind to grow up in the company of the gang bangers he ran away from....Fahey comes back to town basically to try and reclaim his brother whom he deserted, and well understandably his brother isn't full of warm and fuzzy feelings at seeing his big brother again. Can Fahey convince him to quit gang life and come with him away from the city? Does it really matter? Also Billy Draggo is the gang leader whom supposedly raised younger brother Chad Lowe while Fahey was away, but you know Draggo is crazy so that probably wasn't the best idea there Fahey. Anyways, its watchable enough as you see Fahey try to reconnect with his brother, and try to atone to James Tolkan for causing the death of his long ago partner (which Tolkan is not having!) but its not a good movie....its all mawkish, except for the scenes where Draggo is chewing scenery and venting his rage at Fahey for daring to step back into the town that he now owns! Again i didn't really care for Draggo's over the top performance here but whatever your mileage may vary.