Kin Review

PG-13: Gun violence and intense action, suggestive material, language, thematic elements and drinkingLionsgate, Summit Entertainment, No Trace Camping, 21 Laps Entertainment1 Hr and 42 MinutesDirectors: Jonathan Baker, Josh Baker | Writer: Daniel CaseyCast: Myles Truitt, Jack Reynor, Zoë Kravitz, Carrie Coon, Dennis Quaid, James FrancoI love it when short films end up being adapted into feature length films. It thoroughly shows that Hollywood does like to take the chance on small-time filmmakers and allow them to expand on their five to fifteen minute concept. But, what makes it better is when that film is adapted by the original filmmakers attached. I mean, as long as you don’t end up like a certain movie that had no involvement of the short’s creator and the studio themselves making a copyright claim on the short that they adapted into feature length, then you’re good. Oh, and if you don’t know what movie I’m referring to, it’s this:
As far as filmmakers who retained their rights to their films go, you have Shane Acker’s “9”, David F. Sandberg’s “Lights Out”, and now we have the Baker brothers’ “Kin” based off their short “Bag Man”.
Chased by a vengeful criminal and a gang of otherworldly soldiers, a recently released ex-con and his adopted teenage brother are forced to go on the run with a weapon of mysterious origin, which belongs to the strange soldiers, as their only protection.THE GOODFor this being his first movie, Myles Truitt delivers a decent performance. His performance is the core of the movie. He has a level of innocence that when you see him emotionally break on screen, you feel for him. He is young but has a mature demeanor to him that you feel for. I hope to see him in the future because he has good skills and his screen presence is great, so it hurts to see that this is his introduction to film.Originally, I assumed that James Franco was a lesser character in this film but, as a matter of fact, he is the primary antagonist. What can I say, James Franco is a great actor and he gives a decent performance. Granted, James Franco is doing his best John Leguizamo impersonation because he’s talking with a lisp in the beginning, but he does remain as a threat the entire time. He plays a gangster and everyone knows the scariest type of James Franco is the gangsta James Franco.
THE BADShawn Levy has been responsible for some of the best films and television shows in recent years, the most popular being “Stranger Things” on Netflix. He has some projects from his production company, 21 Laps Entertainment, on Netflix such as “Kodachrome”. So why isn’t this Netflix? The only reason I can come up with is its star-studded cast. But, in terms of production and plotline, this is something that would’ve been much more beneficial on Netflix. I give it this: out of both 21 Laps Entertainment productions that were released this month (“Kin” and “The Darkest Minds”) this is a better movie, but that’s not saying much at all.
I love Jack Reynor as an actor and he has been my favorite part in several movies such as “Sing Street” and “Free Fire”. So, believe me when I tell you, I completely despise this character of Jimmy, for he is the worst protagonist with no redeeming qualities we’re forced to follow. I don’t want to exaggerate or anything, but Jimmy has to be one of the worst protagonists I’ve seen on film this year so far.In order to express my disdain of Jimmy, I didn’t just list some of the vile actions he does, but I  have to spoil a bit of an early story element to do so.THINGS THAT JIMMY DOES:Steals money from his dad’s job when he is deliberately told not toGets his own father killed in his own jobFeels no guilt for his father’s deathLies to his 14-year-old brother about itTakes him on a road trip across the country as both an outlaw and a fugitive from both gangsters and the lawTakes his brother to a strip club and says, “this is how you become a man” (LET ME REMIND YOU THAT HE’S 14)Teaches his brother how to driveUses his brother’s newfound weapon for criminal activityAt first you think Jimmy is a fuck up with a heart of gold, but as the film progresses you realize he’s a piece of garbage person that leaves nothing but destruction in his path. When people start kicking his ass, you kind of feel a bit of glee from it.Not gonna lie, when gangsters start beating him up, I was that guy who went:
At the center you’re supposed to have this story about two brothers bonding with each other, but you despise the older one wholeheartedly. He’s not even phased by his own actions. A huge consequence occurs because of his actions and he only makes up lies around it. Never for a moment do you resonate with this character, but you feel for his little brother Elijah because he’s unaware of his dad’s death.
Shit, the movie has you feeling more for the antagonist than the protagonist and you’re confused as to why.When Taylor’s (Franco) goon gets shot and killed, he mourns. They feature a dramatic shot of Taylor grieving as he’s crying, holding his man while daddy Quaid is in the foreground, body on the floor in his own office. Shit, there’s even a scene of Taylor giving a eulogy at his wake. What does the dad get? Nothing. And Jimmy doesn’t care one bit. “Oh shit, let me get out of here.” You see no expression or guilt or grief on his face until it’s relevant in the script.As a matter of fact, all of these characters are detestable with the exception of Elijah and Milly (a stripper with a heart of gold played by Zoë Kravitz that befriends Jimmy and Elijah). Milly is one of the few characters who is well-written and has charm.
Now see here, sometimes when a short film is adapted into a feature length production, the results can be amazing as long as the directors are working well with their screenwriter, or the screenwriter knows what he’s doing, or the direction of the filmmaker is so strong it compensates for the screenplay. The Baker brothers do a good job with their direction, for their cast gives solid performances, but the script by Daniel Casey ruins the entire potential the film had. The short “Bag Man” was directed and WRITTEN by the Bakers, but this is only directed by them. I wonder if it would’ve been a better film had it been written by the two. I think so.Damn, this movie had so much (well... moderate potential) to be good, but remember it is only August which means all you get is movies that make you go:
And “Kin” is definitely one of those “blah” movies. Because of this having so many poorly-written and unlikable characters that cramp the screen, the story and the emotions get muddled and leave you feeling empty. It doesn’t help that this story is convoluted and has no idea what it wants to be. Does this want to be a sci-fi family drama? Does it want to be a violent caper with a PG-13 rating attached? It’s way too inappropriate for families, but is way too tame for any older demographic. Who was this made for?!Who are we supposed to fear in this movie? The aliens looking for Elijah and his gun? The cowboys that own the strip club Milly works at? James Franco and his gangsters looking for Jimmy? Who’s the imminent threat? Franco poses a threat, but that’s diminished due to a scene where he pisses on the floor in a gas shop as to show “Oooh, he’s crazy and evil.”THE RENDYWhen it gets to the climax, “Kin” finally becomes fun and briefly cool while being insanely stupid considering it involving the dumbest and worst police officers ever.  But I got something that needs to be addressed because I am now exhausted by this.NOW! I was initially going to give this a 2/5 star rating but that had to go down because this had the gall, THE AUDACITY to plant a sequel for itself when that should’ve been the movie we were watching in the first place. I’m not going to spoil the ending for this movie but a certain particular actor pops up and pretty much says, “We’ll see you for ‘Kin 2’”.
AS OF TODAY 8/31/2018 I am making a new rule regarding movies.If you are a movie that has nothing to offer as a standalone but has the nerve to plant a seed for a sequel, you’re getting a full star taken away from you. Three movies has criminally done this in this month alone and it leaves me seething by the time I leave the theater. A sequel is a means to be followup to the story you told in the predecessor. Because you barely told a story in this movie, nobody will be at the theater for your sequel. Stop this Hollywood!STOPFRANCHISINGEVERYTHINGYOURELEASE!Tell your story, get in, get out, job done, the end. Don’t have something that we know is disposable be followed by a potential sequel that will also be disposable.LAST STATEMENTBeing confused as to what genre it wants to commit with its narrative while being derailed by a an unlikable central character played by Jack Raynor, “Kin” is a sci-fi drama that shoots itself in its own foot and only offers a decent welcome to actor Myles Truitt.Rating: 1/5 | 29%Super Scene: Elijah incinerates some mugs.