Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- tense
- macho
- melodramatic
- 1980s action marathon
- cult movie night
What critics said
Critics generally regarded the film as a conventional and often foolish revenge thriller whose energetic cast and personality only partly offset its weak writing and exaggerated action.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Truman Gates is an Appalachian-born Chicago cop whose family background shapes his response to the killing.
Truman pursues the murder through police procedure while Briar seeks direct familial vengeance.
The plot directly pits the Gates brothers' hill-country culture against Chicago mob interests.
The cast, revenge premise, combat climax, and stylized macho tone place the film firmly in late-1980s action cinema.
Films like Next of Kin, and why
Road House
shared action revenge thriller framework, criminal underworld conflict, and heightened 1980s machismo
Walking Tall
shared family vengeance, rural outsider identity, and confrontational crime action
Winter's Bone
shared Appalachian setting, violent family loyalty, and crime-driven retribution
Movie Details
- Director
- John Irvin
- Release Date
- 1989-10-20
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (260)
Cast
- Patrick Swayze
- Liam Neeson
- Adam Baldwin
- Helen Hunt
- Ted Levine
- Bill Paxton
- Michael J. Pollard
- Andreas Katsulas
- Del Close
- Valentino Cimo
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Next of Kin about?
- A Chicago police officer and his Appalachian brother pursue separate paths of vengeance after a family murder ignites a feud with the mob.
- What is Next of Kin like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Next of Kin as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Next of Kin violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Next of Kin as brutal.
- What did critics think of Next of Kin?
- Critics generally regarded the film as a conventional and often foolish revenge thriller whose energetic cast and personality only partly offset its weak writing and exaggerated action.
- Which films are like Next of Kin?
- Films with a similar feel include Road House, Walking Tall, and Winter's Bone.
- How long is Next of Kin?
- Next of Kin runs 108 minutes.
- Where can I watch Next of Kin?
- In United States, Next of Kin is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
