True Blood

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.