BLOOD FATHER (2016)

Directed By: Jean-Francois Richet 
Written By: Peter Craig & Andrea Berloff 
Based On The Novel By: Peter Craig 
Cinematography By: Robert Gantz 
Editor: Steven Rosenblum 


Cast: Mel Gibson, Erin Moriarty, Diego Luna, Michael Parks, William H. Macy, Dale Dickey, Miguel Sandoval, Richard Cabral, Raoul Trijillo, Thomas Mann 


An ex-con reunites with his estranged wayward 17-year old daughter to protect her from drug dealers who are trying to kill her.


This movie feels like basically a b-movie anchored by a famous movie star making a comeback. It's not bad In Fact it's a solid action thriller. Where it too much thought is need to follow along and enjoy.

An Interesting fact is that in 2008, Sylvester Stallone was supposed to write and direct a film adaptation of this film from the source material novel. Somehow that didn’t happen. Mel Gibson wasn’t attached to the film at that time

As Mel Gibson' character Must travel through the underground network of friends, Ex-cons current criminals and the Like to survive and protect his daughter while trying to stay clean.

Though the characters are constantly on the run and threatened the movie has time for. Ore comedic moments and situations. The film is merciless with it's violence and even though the film more feels like a holdover from the 90's it also shows the aesthetic of how much can be done with very little.

As the film is under 90 minutes but keeps you interested throughout. Not the comeback movie he might be looking for but still registers Mel Gibson as a good action film star.

Though his last starring role wasn't bad in GET THE GRINGO. This film is more entertaining and feels better made. As it is smoother, but also the character is rougher around the edges and seeking a kind of redemption he knows is rarely possible. At least for someone like him. This film seems to follow in Mel Gibson starring films as of recent the few he has been in. Where he seems to be seeking revenge like GET THE GRINGO or his starring in the remake of EDGE OF DARKNESS. He also produced the film revenge film PAPARAZZI. Which shows either a theme for the roles he chooses to take or enjoys them as it lets him let off steam or these are the films that he is sent to star in willing to take a chance with him.

It seems because one of his last theatrical successful starring films that seems to be well remembered over the years. Even if not a great hit when it was I totally released is PAYBACK. A Film so popular that they released a director's cut version. So that the director could show the film he initially filmed. Rather than the finished audience friendly cut supposedly supervised by Mel Gibson.

The film strangely has a bigoted character who is more played as a rogue man from the past. Which is strange given Mel Gibson's history you would think he would want to stay away from any types of characters at least In his films, but the character is needed for the story. It might also be showing Gibson's more rebellious spirit.

Don't know how old his daughter is supposed to be, played by Erin Moriarty, but if anywhere near adult she seems more like a teenager more than anything and worse for someone who supposedly is having such a rough upbringing too trusting and naive which seems more a story construct. Though does work in her favor as she gets what she wants from dangerous men who want to take advantage of her and it's hard to know if she really thinks they want to help her or if that is what she wants to give off to them to get what she wants.

This film ends up being a perfectly fine rental and a good time at the cinema. It doesn't pretend to be something it's not. Nor does it overshoot it's goal.

The film is pretty cut and dry except for some grit. Nothing edgy about the material it feels like a Mel Gibson action film if he was older in the 1980's. As that feels like where the script is from.


GRADE: C+