"Blood Father" Review

Title: Blood Father

Directed by: Jean Francois-Richet

Written by: Peter Craig and Andrea Berloff

Year: 2016


Mel Gibson has been under the radar for quite a while now. He has not had a starring role in a few years nor has he directed anything recently. With Blood Father, Gibson has emerged from semi-obscurity to lead an action-thriller, a genre with which he is well acquainted. Is this a bloody good time, or a complete misfire?

John Link is leading a clean life while on parole, being an ex-con. However, a single phone call from his missing daughter will turn his life upside down. She is being hunted down by a drug cartel, and John must fight to protect his daughter.

Gibson is a powerhouse actor, and he demonstrates that clearly in Blood Father. He is perfectly cast as John Link. His gruff voice and grizzled demeanor definitely hints at the dangerous nature of the character, and Gibson evokes such raw intensity with a simple look. John Link is a very interesting character, but he becomes even more appealing when his whirlwind of a daughter shows up, played by Erin Moriarty. Link's daughter, Lydia, has gotten herself into deep trouble with the drug cartel, but that is not what makes the character so intriguing. Rather, it is her relationship with her father. Gibson and Lydia have remarkable chemistry and the father-daughter relationship is quite unorthodox and new.

William H. Macy has a smaller role in the picture as Link's sponsor. He manages to make a likable impression despite his limited screen time and his interactions with Link are wonderfully organic. Diego Luna could be viewed as the main villain of the piece, and he does a fine job. He functions well as the villain, but Gibson completely overshadows him as the protagonist.

The plot is very simple, as is to be expected from a disposable action-thriller. Link and Lydia are on the run from the cartel because of something Lydia did to them. That is the extent of the plot. It is very basic but it works well. This allows for more character interactions lacking exposition. There are stories within the plot that flesh out the characters; and by characters, I mean Link. He gets in contact with people from his past that hint at things he might have done. We meet an old buddy of his that has Link's motorcycle. Why does he have it? We are only given clues, never the full story, which enhances Link's effectiveness as a character.

As an action picture, Blood Father certainly delivers. In fact, it actually works better as a thriller. Link and Lydia are living in constant fear and anxiety, never knowing whom they can trust or what will happen. This is best exemplified with the wildcard that is the sicario, or mercenary. You never know when he is going to show up, but when he does, the stakes max-out immediately. The action scenes are well shot and there is plenty of suspense throughout the piece.

Blood Father is extremely enjoyable while watching it, however, it loses potency once finished. The film is not very memorable, aside from Gibson's magnificent performance. Though the plot is more original than most, the film does not leave much of a lasting impression. It is not poignant or profound, but it never aims to be. It strives to be an entertaining action flick that can hold your interest for an hour and a half, and in that regard it succeeds.

Another issue I had with the movie is its pacing. The first act is spectacular. You will find yourself gripping your armrest tightly for the entire first portion of this film. The second and third acts, on the other hand, are bogged down by sporadic lulls in the story. There are a number of moments where there seems to be little progression. The latter two acts certainly serve up their fair share of thrills, but there are quite a few slower moments that affect the pacing of the picture as a whole.

Blood Father is a quaint little entry for the year, but one worth watching. As far as action-thrillers go, it is no classic, but it gives you just what you want. Gibson is on top-form; I would not say he carries the film, but he manages to outshine every other aspect of it, rather. The story is intriguing, with a slight twist on character roles and there is suspense at almost every turn. The film will not leave a lasting impact on you, but it should more than satisfy your quench for a solid thriller.

Grade: B+