Blood Father (2016)

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

Director:

Jean-François Richet

Writers:

Peter Craig (screenplay by), Andrea Berloff (screenplay by)

Stars:

Mel Gibson, Erin Moriarty, Diego Luna

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mel Gibson	...	Link
Erin Moriarty	...	Lydia
Diego Luna	...	Jonah
Michael Parks	...	Tom 'Preacher' Harris
William H. Macy	...	Kirby
Miguel Sandoval	...	Arturo Rios
Dale Dickey	...	Cherise
Richard Cabral	...	Joker
Daniel Moncada	...	Choop
Ryan Dorsey	...	Shamrock
Raoul Max Trujillo	...	The Cleaner (as Raoul Trujillo)
Brandi Cochran	...	Lydia's Mother
Katalina Parrish	...	Link's Client
Cameron Cipta	...	Freckles
Lucien Dale	...	Blonde Boy

Storyline

Self-exiled somewhere in the dusty landscapes on the outskirts of Los Angeles, John Link--a rugged former convict, and now, a tattoo artist struggling to stay sober--sees his quasi-orderly life turn upside down, when he receives a desperate phone call from his estranged daughter, Lydia. On the run from a ruthless Mexican drug cartel, John and Lydia must navigate through a dangerous world of frail allegiances and merciless cut-throats, as they seek shelter in an inhospitable city. Can the grizzled father save his teenage daughter from this nightmare?

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Plot Keywords:

ex convict | father daughter relationship | on the run | ex con | religious faith | 

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Taglines:

A Father Makes His Own Justice

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, language throughout and brief drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

France

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

26 August 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sangre de mi sangre

Filming Locations:

New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,903,033

Company Credits

Production Co:

Why Not Productions, Wild Bunch

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The bar in this film, is the same bar as in The Guest (2014).

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Goofs

When the father (Mel) is working on the tattoo while his daughter is there (when she points out the guy's melanoma), he's wearing glasses, then he isn't, then he is again.

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Quotes

Lydia: I don't wanna say too much because you see my boyfriend wanted us to get married so I wouldn't be able to testify against him in court.
Link: Pretty romantic.

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Connections

References The Godfather (1972)

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Soundtracks

Turn Tha Amp Up
Performed By AD
Written By Ali Dee,Joey Katsaros (as Joseph Katsaros) , Alex Rubin And Zach Danziger
Courtesy of Dee Town Entertainment
Under License by Format Entertainment

User Reviews

"You Think That the Garden of Eden was in Norway?" (dialog, daughter to dad)

Two things to know going in.

The is a Hollywood "resurrection" role -- when an A-list big-name star disappears for a while and then comes back in a role you might not expect.

(They can be fun. Costner did a few and they were all interesting. In Fargo Season 2 Jean Smart came back playing a grandmother in a crime family -- and aced it. Gibson, formerly the "sexiest man on the planet" according to polls, nails his cranky, old, character is this one.)

Second it is not a A-film. The running time (about 90 mins) is the tip-off. So going into it, you expect something different.

Which is what you get.

It is not really an actioner, even though it stars one of the biggest action stars in the biz. And does have a lot of action in it. It is more of a road movie. And it is just quirky enough to keep interest.

If Gibson is good, Erin Moriarty is a revelation. This is her breakout role. You will be seeing her again soon. The script, which is razor sharp, requires her to have play both young/stupid and smart/strong at the same time. A contradictory role that would be be a challenge for an A-list pro. She takes command of the role and becomes unforgettable by her third scene.

Great fun.