La fuerza de la sangre

I only watched this because I have my DVR set to record any Sherilyn Fenn movie (I met her at a TWIN PEAKS Comicon thing once), but it wasn't as bad of a movie as I was expecting. I remember this movie from my video store days, but I never bothered watching it. I've always had a soft spot for Jeff Fahey (BODY PARTS, SILVERADO), and here he plays a street gang member who's framed by rival gang leader Spider, Billy Drago (THE UNTOUCHABLES, THE HILLS HAVE EYES). Time jump many years later with Fahey released from prison and discovers his little brother, Chad Lowe, is now working for Spider! Some cops still remember Fahey from his gang days and have it out for him and he also befriends artist Fenn. It's a completely stupid melodrama, but the cast gives it their all, though I have to admit my favorite part was dirty cop James Tolkan (the bald-headed principal from the BACK TO THE FUTURE movies) wears a wig in the opening scenes before Fahey goes to jail, and that was just about the most hilarious thing I've seen in a long long time.

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 like the material S.E. Hinton was writing in the 1970s and Copola was adapting to the screen in the early 80s, and, had Trueblood actually been a product of either, the results might've been much better (especially in the acting department). Instead, we get a rather so-bad-its-funny piece of mediocrity.

Jeff Fahey plays Ray Trueblood, a former street rumbler, I suppose is the accurate description. This was in the days of action movies that used guys in their 40s and mid30s and dressed them up in greaser threads or some kind of more effeminate selection of gang garb and they fought to lousy 80s music. Nonetheless, Ray is the lone caretaker of his younger brother, Donny (Chad Lowe in a part where he screams a lot), who he is forced to leave behind inexplicably in a train station when, on the run from the cops, he is nabbed and forced to serve time in the Marines. Flash forward to present day and Ray is back in town and looking for his brother who has also become part of the street gangs, although in a gang that was Ray's adversary and now old scores must be violently settled (and again, cops must be dodged and this time, a lady's honor defended in the action film sense) before Ray can carry on life at normal pace with his brother, Donny.

For the most part, the film is quite ridiculous. For me, most of this has to do with far too much overacting, although not by Fahey or Sherlyn Fenn who plays the waitress he befriends. The guys in the gang and Lowe himself seem to do quite a bit of needless exaggerated as New York street toughs. Although, the bigger hang up is recycled plot lines and perhaps a kind of movie that was well past its prime as a product of 1989.

I can watch anything that features Billy Drago as an over the top psycho who barely lives in the real world. His performance and vocal delivery is truly creepy. I like Jeff Fahey and he did a creditable job in the lead roll. Chad Lowe was plain irritating as Ray Trueblood's younger brother. Sherilynn Fenn and James Tolkan's roles was ok but unrealistic. The supporting cast was acceptable for this type of low budget,gritty" action film. I was kind of put off when a boom mike showed up in one scene but that's part of what makes low budget film making so great! 5 stars because of Billy Drago's lunatic performance.

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.