Zoë Kravitz and Jack Reynor in Kin (2018)

Dennis Quaid and Myles Truitt in Kin (2018)

Dennis Quaid, James Franco, Michael B. Jordan, Zoë Kravitz, Jack Reynor, and Lily Gao in Kin (2018)

James Franco, Michael B. Jordan, Zoë Kravitz, Jack Reynor, Lily Gao, and Myles Truitt in Kin (2018)

Dennis Quaid, Michael B. Jordan, Zoë Kravitz, Jack Reynor, Lily Gao, and Myles Truitt in Kin (2018)

Taylor is that one guy who feels totally at ease in a terrifying situation. When everybody else is sweating, Taylor has his loafers up. Out of pure desperation, Jimmy gets caught up in a heist to cover the protection money he owes to Taylor and his crew, and things evidently don’t go as planned.

These are two characters we call The Cleaners. Formidable, well trained, and rocking some cool ass motorcycle helmets.  While their origins and identities are unknown, it’s obvious from the first time we see them that they really want their giant raygun back.  

Myles Truitt plays Elijah, our young hero. As an adopted child with few friends, Eli is a bit of an outsider, and street smart enough to venture off into some pretty shady parts of Detroit by himself.  At the beginning of the film we learn that Eli’s been suspended from school, but instead of waiting at home to get an earful from his father, he ventures out on his BMX to scour abandoned factories for scrap metal to sell.  As Jimmy later describes it, Eli’s 'lemonade stand’ on the side. 

James Franco plays Taylor, the charismatic, mullet-sporting, vibrant sweater wearing, Detroit gunrunner Jimmy owes money to. He’s equally charismatic as he is a cold-blooded killer.  It’s obvious even the men surrounding Taylor are nervous of what Taylor could do at any moment.  Jimmy has found himself in an extremely dangerous position, presented with very few options but to flee.

Unfortunately this isn’t a very pleasant family dinner.  It’s here where we learn the personal dynamics of Hal, Eli and Jimmy, and how they all interact with each other.  For the first time as a teenager, Eli notices just how turbulent the relationship is between his father and brother.  This scene is all about family history, and not being able to let go of past hurt.

We meet Jimmy Solinski, played by Jack Reynor, the day he’s released from prison. We discover he owes protection money to some shady characters while inside, and is struggling to find a way to pay it back. Jimmy often has good intentions, but can’t seem to get out of his own way, and ends up putting everybody around him at risk in the process.

Zoe Kravitz plays Milly, someone who brings a very different dynamic to the brothers, easily stepping into a big sister or mother role for Eli. She has a cool fearless exterior, but hides a lifetime of secrets under the surface.  This is someone who’s constantly in flux, not afraid to drop everything and reinvent herself if she has to. She sees something in the two brothers, Eli reminding her of a life she left behind long ago, and the bond she builds with him on the road is a special one.

Zoë Kravitz, Jack Reynor, and Myles Truitt in Kin (2018)

Jack Reynor and Myles Truitt in Kin (2018)

Dennis Quaid, James Franco, Michael B. Jordan, Zoë Kravitz, Jack Reynor, Lily Gao, and Myles Truitt in Kin (2018)

Michael B. Jordan and Myles Truitt in Kin (2018)