Blood Father (2016) User Reviews

Qualities make up for the flaws – good, gritty entertainment

[plpregent · 7/10 · 2 June 2017]

Although Blood Father does not bring anything new to the table in terms of storytelling, it manages to provide decent entertainment by taking advantage of its filming locations, a good cast and somewhat interesting, although undeveloped, lead characters.

Link (Mel Gibson) is an ex-con turned tattoo artist and former alcoholic who lives a reasonably quiet life in a trailer park home. One day, he receives a phone call from his daughter, Lydia, who has gone missing for many years, and who's seeking help, as drug dealers and law enforcement are trying to track her down. Sounds familiar? It probably does. It's a very classic story, and make no mistake about it, this tale is quite typical of the genre. I would even go as far as to say that story-wise, this film is sub-par and plot development is almost nonexistent. Add an anticlimactic and abrupt ending, and an almost shameful use of pretty interesting supporting characters, one has to wonder what Blood Father really has to offer.

The answer is an overall pretty good time, despite its flaws, thanks to sympathetic characters, above-average dialogue for the genre, some gritty moments, very welcome touches of humor and great cinematography. Jean-François Richet, who directed the biographical films about Jacques Mesrine, does a pretty good job too.

Again, it's a shame to make such little use of Kirby (William H. Macy) and Preacher (Michael Parks), but their presence is appreciated while it lasts. The Sicario character's first appearance is blood chilling, but unfortunately, the character's mystique evaporates from lack of screen time and further significant appearances. Mel Gibson is perfect in his role and Erin Moriarty (Lydia) is pretty good as well. The chemistry between both characters is tangible, and the generational clash sub-theme is subtle, but interesting nonetheless. Moreover, there are a few sequences, such as the first scene at the store and the scene when Link and Lydia are in the back of a truck filled with illegal Mexican immigrants, where the film humorously takes aim at some absurdities, such as a minor buying boxes of ammo without being asked for her ID, but being denied a pack of cigarettes because she's underage, or Lydia countering her dad's argument that illegal Mexican immigrants are "stealing" fruit-picking jobs from white Americans.

While the film offers some nice set-pieces, as a sequence of events, Blood Father's script does not profit from the best possible dramatic continuity, and ultimately falls short on delivering any truly memorable moment whatsoever. In that regard, the writing feels very uneven, as it delivers in the dialogue department, but lacks truly interesting ideas or ingenuity story-wise.

That being said, its qualities are likely to draw you in for its hour and a half runtime, and should manage to entertain anyone who likes this type of flick.

Is this Mel's comeback?

[TruthTwentyFour · 7/10 · 11 October 2016]

Pretty fitting role for this man right? A recovering alcoholic... Pretty certain Mel was as drunk as a skunk when he committed career suicide lambasting Jewish people, and everything else under the sun. Fast forward a decade later, and I ask myself has he been humbled... Seen his evil ways and has now returned to us born again? In recovery? I don't know. What I do know is Mel Gibson has always owned anti-hero roles like this. He was good at them back then, and apparently a decade later he still is.

So... This film kicks ass. It has heart. It hits all of the right notes for a Father revenge flick, and his performance hits all of these notes way way better than a movie like Taken. This film is well worth a watch, and I can't decide whether I should feel guilty or happy about this.

I guess it all depends on whether this guy is still a jerk, or has woken the hell up. Ultimately though, what does it really matter? We have this thing in our society where celebrities have to be likable acceptable public figures, like politicians, or they're kicked to the curb. When really what does it matter? They're just actors doing a job. They could be a jerk and a great actor, or a saint and an awful actor. It really just relates to the caliber of their work, and I have to say, whether he is the former or the latter, he nailed this role like he did so often back in the day with other roles like this--back when everyone liked him.

Pretty good movie...

Gibson's best movie in years

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 9 July 2017]

BLOOD FATHER is an intense little action thriller that also happens to be Mel Gibson's best film as an actor since EDGE OF DARKNESS. The plot is nothing special and sees Gibson playing the usual eccentric hard-bitten type, living in a trailer and estranged from his family. His daughter's involvement with a gang of Mexican drug dealers sees her returning to him to ask from his help, and a chase scenario unfolds from there.

This film is well-shot throughout and efficiently low key. Instead of the fun but over the top mayhem of a JOHN WICK film, in which our protagonist bumps off hundreds of foes effortlessly, Gibson and co. just have five or six tough types ranged against them. The running time is short and the pace snappy, full of hard-bitten dialogue and decent performances from a supporting cast including Michael Parks, Diego Luna, William H. Macy, and Miguel Sandoval. Another treat is that Erin Moriarty isn't your stereotypical whining, bratty adolescent but instead an intelligent-thinking adult too. Gibson is on top form, as always, and the brief but violent bouts of action are expertly staged.

The good old Mel !

[timbercrew-223-320228 · 7/10 · 30 September 2016]

I expected it to be a Mel Gibson driven movie with a simple story.

I also knew the director Richet is known for the qualities of his Mesrine Biopic, but still didn't await the same genre.

Blood Father is not a very serious movie trying to reflect reality to the bone, but an old school action movie with a fresh tight rhythm. Funny dialogues/moments and good performances from quite every actor. No waste of time here (maybe a bit too fast, especially the ending)

I loved it because it was entertaining from start to finish. Some would say it's an overly simplistic rehash of a story we've seen a hundred times. They wouldn't be far from the truth, but the film still is engaging if you let go of your High Concept expectations.

It respects its viewer in a way that makes me feel bad for liking these soulless blockbusters we're being fed these days.

The funny thing is that the movie deliberately reflects Mel's filmography and personal story in different ways without pushing it too far.

I went to see Mel Gibson again, and boy I did!

I need more Mel, g*ddammit!

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

[A_Different_Drummer · 7/10 · 27 August 2016]

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.

I Miss Mel Gibson

[m1965 · 26 November 2016]

I'm old enough to have watched all the Lethal Weapon's at the theater. They were some of the best action/buddy movies I've ever seen. Mel Gibson is a great actor. He reinvented the tough guy. He's got a persona that few have on the big silver screen. The fact that Hollywood turned their back on him is nothing short of a crime. Well - he's back and he's doing what he does best - and I for one am thankful. I just recently saw another movie he's done called "Get the Gringo". Another amazing movie steeped in great dialog, action and classic Gibson lines and scenes.

This movie is every father's nightmare. A child or yours has gotten themselves intertwined with some pretty bad dudes and you're the only person that can fix it. Gibson delivers on all levels - providing a character that isn't completely foreign - but new enough to be interesting and engaging. William H. Macy as always delivers some great scenes - and the only disappointment was the lack of on-screen time devoted to Macy and Gibson's character development. Short - but effective. Erin Moriarty was a breath of fresh air - and her character and acting worked well with Gibson's.

This movie is classic Gibson. Great dialog, story and acting. 8 out of 10!

Blood Father

[tr91 · 6/10 · 10 October 2016]

Blood Father has received a lot of good reviews & it was good to see Mel Gibson back in action but overall the film was a bit of a let down.

First of all, the story is very basic, almost non existent. The chemistry between Link (Gibson) & his daughter was somewhat lacking considering he supposedly hasn't seen her for years. They acted like she had gone missing for a few hours and all the trouble with the drug dealers didn't seem to be taken too seriously.

My main problem with the film was the dialogue which had me cringing on quite a few occasions. It was like they was trying to add some comedy to the film and it was all a bit unnecessary. The action scenes were decent and the bit at the end with the explosion and car fight was pretty memorable. Some of the scenery shots were done extremely well also.

But overall the characters were just unbelievable and I didn't connect with either of them. Mel had a few scenes where he kicks ass but the film overall is just lacking in terms of story.

Despite it's flaws, at 85-90 minutes its worth a watch and I'm sure fans of Gibson and action films in general will enjoy it. 6/10.

Creepy Characters, Good Action Flic

[lavatch · 7/10 · 11 October 2016]

In the behind-the-scenes bonus segment to the DVD of "Blood Father," the director, screenwriter, and actors all agreed that this was a character-driven film. The focus is on the father-daughter bonding in a wild "road trip," as they seek to flee from some of the most unsavory characters of recent memory.

Mel Gibson is a standout as the recovering alcoholic and criminal with a heart. Devoted to his daughter, whom he neglected when she was a child, Gibson's character reunites with her now in her early twenties and deep in trouble. With some excellent scenic background in the American southwest, the film unfolds as the father and daughter renew their acquaintance in a series of action scenes. After auditioning 200 performers for the role of the daughter, the casting team selected Erin Moriarty, who was extremely effective in the role.

One of the strengths of the film is the dialogue with witty banter between Gibson and Moriarty. The excellent supporting cast rounds off an excellent acting ensemble.

Jean-François Richet was the director who, perhaps surprisingly, avoided a European, arty style to the film in favor of straightforward bright lighting and plenty of action. As apparent in the behind-the-scenes interviews, there was an intelligent and efficient approach to filming this above-average action film.

He's still got it.

[BA_Harrison · 8/10 · 28 August 2016]

When runaway teenager Lydia (Erin Moriarity) accidentally shoots her drugs cartel boyfriend, she makes a desperate run for it, asking for help from her estranged father Link (Mel Gibson), a tough ex-con still on parole. Together, father and daughter go into hiding, pursued by vicious killers.

I know that Mad Mel doesn't think very highly of the English (or anyone who is not an Australian/American Catholic, for that matter), but I'm still a fan, and Blood Father proves that he still has what it takes, the star putting in a moving performance as a caring father who will do anything to protect his daughter.

This isn't an all-out action-fest, which might disappoint some viewers (although there are some great action scenes to be had)—it's a tale of redemption, with a flawed character doing his best to make up for past mistakes, which seems very apt: perhaps Hollywood should learn something from this film and give its troubled star one more chance.

Best moments: the opening bit of satire—16 year-old Lydia buys countless packs of bullets at a store without a problem, but is carded when it comes to cigarettes; the motorbike chase scene (nice to see Mel toting a shotgun once again); and what's that? Mel making fun of himself in a scene in which he spews hatred of minorities? I had to laugh.

7.5 out of 10, rounded up to 8 for IMDb.

Pure B-movie exploitation

[tomgillespie2002 · 6/10 · 22 September 2016]

After years of hard-drinking and heavily publicised, hateful rants, Mel Gibson has seen his career plunge from the A-list to the, well, non-existent list. He was once one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, handsome enough to draw a female audience with lighthearted rom-coms, and suitably bad-ass enough to tackle the meatier action roles. He of course only has himself to blame, but Gibson has been slowly and quietly carving himself a niche with the few features he's done over past few the years - Edge of Darkness (2010), How I Spent My Summer Vacation (2012) - as a gruff enforcer not necessarily on the right side of the law.

With Jean-Francois Richet's Blood Father, the years of hard living etched on Gibson's face have never served him better. His character John Link, the recovering alcoholic ex-con getting by as a tattoo artist in a trailer park, acknowledges his past mistakes in the opening scene at an AA meeting, almost as if Gibson himself is pleading forgiveness for his behaviour. He is trying to live straight and keep his parole officer happy, but his peaceful existence is soon turned on its head when his daughter Lydia (Erin Moriarty), missing for years, turns up with the police and a Mexican cartel hunting her down. Fearing losing the daughter he failed when she was still a child, John takes her on the road and uses the skills he learned as a criminal to keep her out of harm's way.

With Mad Max (1979) clearly serving as an inspiration, Blood Father is pure B-movie exploitation. It's the kind of film you could imagine being made in the 70's with Peter Fonda in the lead role and Roger Corman producing. That said, and despite the odd explosion of action and violence, the focus is mainly on character. While this would normally be a good thing, it does so via every cliché imaginable. There's the wanted posters, news reports in dingy hotel rooms, changing of hair colour, and a climactic shoot-out, and it frequently felt like I had seen the film before. It's best when at its most furious, racking up the tension as Link faces a neo-Nazi biker gang and Lydia's drug-lord ex-boyfriend Jonah (Diego Luna). It might just be enough for Hollywood to embrace Gibson again, and from his performance here, I realised just how much I miss him.

Subpar script meets casual acting

[lokilfa · 5/10 · 29 August 2016]

There should be a sort of action-type story and father-daughter thing... well I dare anyone to spoil the plot of Blood Father in a review. There is nothing to spoil. Characters are put together nearly randomly from tired stereotypes bunched together in non- development story that flows almost irrationally with no consequence worth screen time.

Gibson does what he can but he's tired and clueless as you will be by watching his lead role going nowhere. He is supposed to have a back story but there's really not much there or in front of him. They even paid William H. Macy to help him with a support role only to waste that too.

Eryn Moriarty has an annoyingly useless character and maybe that is the last nail in the coffin for this product. She over acts in the hope of meaning something but the result is dust in the wind and possibly in the eyes of the viewers. Again there is no personal development and the sheer dumbness of her lines and actions is embarrassing.

Direction is mediocre and by the book, below average on actors and tone. Photography is decent, editing unimpressive.

This movie is not evil, it's just tired and grumpy. So yeah... pick it up when it's in that large bin at *,99 at your local superstore, you know there is far worse in there.

Mad Mel's back to settle the score.

[Ser_Stephen_Seaworth · 8/10 · 26 August 2016]

When we first meet John Link, Mel Gibson's grizzled ex-con anti-hero in his latest thriller Blood Father, he's in the midst of an impassioned soliloquy at an AA meeting. A self-proclaimed "real success story," Link is a recovering alky two years out of the slammer, whose wife left him and whose daughter is in the wind, leaving him with no one in his corner and with no one to blame but himself. It's a fitting noir-esque introduction to Link, but also—perhaps more appropriately, especially as he's talking straight at the camera when he says it—it seems to be coming from Gibson himself.

Directed by Jean-François Richet, who helmed 2008's gripping gangster diptych Mesrine, Blood Father seems at first glance to be another addition to the tried-and-true Gibson formula: a brutal guy on the wrong side of the tracks takes on those who wronged him, often in typically gruesome fashion. Certainly, John Link could be blood brothers with Porter and Driver, Gibson's violent protagonists from Payback and Get the Gringo. Living on the fringe of society while scratching out a living as a tattoo artist from his grungy desert trailer, Link is as blunt and terse as his monosyllabic name would suggest. The difference is that Blood Father feels like Gibson confronting the demons that put him and his career on the skids over the last decade. His performance feels like penance, and not in a negative way. Gibson's mainstay has always been passion—in both definitions of the word—and here he bares himself to the bone.

Link's efforts to stay on the straight and narrow are complicated by the cataclysmic arrival of his wayward daughter Lydia (Erin Moriarty). Strung-out and on the run from a bunch of bad customers, Lydia's presence puts her father on an inexorable course towards violence—which, of course, he excels at dishing out. And true to form for a Mel Gibson joint, there is no shortage of it: once the blood starts flowing and the bullets start flying, it's hard to stop.

Gibson's trademark wild-man intensity is in full froth here, and it's always a welcome sight to behold, even if it's been in otherwise subpar productions or against lesser actors. For the most part, fortunately, Blood Father isn't pigeonholed in either category. While some of the dialogue sounds more than a little ponderous (Lydia spends much of the film spitting out sheaves of insight with such precision that you'd think she were a Sorkinian heroine instead of, well, someone who snorts heroin), the rest of it is balanced in taut, punchy lines that would make Hemingway proud. And unlike Get the Gringo, which featured Gibson at the top of his game making his co-stars look downright amateurish, he's bolstered by some reliable names this go-around: among them, William H. Macy as Link's good-natured AA sponsor and Michael Parks as a seedy old contact from his past. In fact, the only real weak link of the cast is Moriarty, whose erratic performance is far too self-conscious and unconvincing for us to really care about her plight. It's only through Gibson that we care (and to his credit, he does and we do).

Much of Blood Father is a foregone conclusion, all the way up to its bullet-riddled finale. And while the film rarely evinces an inspired note, it's still a good potboiler, and there's nothing wrong with a well-worn story if it's well-told. But with an actor like Gibson at the fore, it becomes something more personal. Blood Father's about a man facing old sins and the grim reckoning that comes with them. And every single one of Mad Mel's is on full display here.

So many fake 10 star ratings!

[LOL101LOL · 6/10 · 26 August 2016]

Now don't get me wrong some of the best films I have ever seen are with Mel in it or behind the camera, and this is not one of them. Sure it's OK, but take the draw card Mel Gibson out of this film and you are left with a middle of the road nothing special seen it all before film.

Some of the reviews on here must have not seen many films as their over the top score of 9 and higher is a joke! And the 666 times votes that voted 10 are even a bigger joke!

Mel must have friends in high places when I saw those 666 10 votes!

Back to the film, like I said it's OK, nothing special, easy enough to see where this very thin story line goes to, but no way are the amount of 10 scores/ratings true to this film, just check who has a review on here and check how long the have been a member, or if they are prolific reviewers on here or not.

I gave it a very generous 6 out of 10, for old time sake, as I am still a fan of Mel.

Bad, bad, bad!

[gard_86 · 3/10 · 29 August 2016]

I don't often write reviews, but I am gonna make an exception for "Blood Father":

Wow, this movie was AWFUL! Terrible acting, mediocre directing and an unrealistic plot. I really enjoyed the Mesrine movies, but this flick is just not up to the standard you would expect.

I don't know what the worst part is, the total lack of realism, the shallow and dumb dialogue, the clichés and predictability, or the feeling that the director is rushing through the movie, as if he wants to rip off a band aid. Actually the best part about this movie is its short run-time of 1.28h.

I feel insulted as a viewer, that they feed me this crap and waste 1,5 hours of my life.

Do yourself a favour and don't watch this movie. You will regret it.

3/10

Mel Gibson Mixes Mad Max With Taken To Great Success!

[KristianZacc · 7/10 · 31 August 2016]

Minor/Vague Spoilers

Mel Gibson's return to charismatic form in Blood Father is nothing short of a great success. His character is a recovering alcoholic which is interesting to watch considering how it parallels his current state in life. Although he has done some terrible things in the past I can look past it and when it comes to anyone in Hollywood I can separate their real life from the character they're portraying in the film. It has never been a factor and most likely never will so if this is something that gives you pause I would still recommend everyone see this film and judge Gibson based on the character he plays in the film and not the craziness that is Mel Gibson in real life.

The film reminded me of Taken just when it comes down to the basic plot of main character's daughter needs protecting and he will stop at nothing to do so. Lydia Link, portrayed by Erin Moriarty, is estranged from her father and finds herself in trouble with a gang of drug dealers so she goes to her father, Gibson, for help. The relationship between these two is nothing short of amazing. The film really captures how Gibson wants to be a better father and the journey that this 90 minute film takes them on; just from a character development standpoint is very impressive.

Gibson's character has great interactions with his neighbour/sponsor, played by William H. Macy, who isn't in the movie a lot but when he is he brings the comic relief for the other characters to play off.

Most people would call this an action movie and while I would kind of agree I would also say that it comes across as more of a drama with action elements throughout, to propel the characters and the plot forward.

Going into the third act Mel Gibson really digs his teeth into this role where he taps into his Mad Max past and shows that he still has it when it comes to an action based film. This is where the film picks up entirely from a little lull in the middle and makes this film even more fun. Which is a word I don't really like using because it makes it seem like it is a bit mediocre but that is not the case at all.

The way the film is shot and edited makes it seem like it is low budget but that doesn't take anything away from the film. Instead it feels much more isolated and gritty which also makes the intensity and tension of the film much higher. Sometimes I need more so it isn't just a simple paint-by-numbers big blockbuster summer action movie e.g. The Avengers or Batman V Superman. It is much more realistic which makes it even better that most superhero movies I have seen. Sure, it can be said that it has a pretty predictable plot but it is the characters takes this film above the other action movies.

All in all the film is extremely enjoyable and a surprise that sneaked up on me this year and I do hope this leads to more great movies from Mel Gibson.

The resurrection of Mel Gibson

[searchanddestroy-1 · 17 September 2016]

It was so refreshing for me, and I am sure for many other people, to see in this film the re birth of this such great actor and director Mel Gibson. His performance in this film reminds me the one he had six years ago in EDGE OF DARKNESS. Nearly the same topic with a lost father in search of his daughter, or in avenging her death. In both features, Mel Gibson is at his top. And I am also pleased that this latest film was made by a French director, already guilty of ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13, back ten years ago. I won't mention the MESRINE films. Not for foreseeable plot and also a bit depressing, although not totally clichés ridden. But it remains an excellent crime flick. I really hope that Mel Gibson will rapidly be back to the top.

Typical revenge and 'save your loved ones' thriller

[bellino-angelo2014 · 7/10 · 26 March 2023]

I sometimes enjoy a good action or thriller movie but I also noticed that from time to time they always use the same plots, and BLOOD FATHER has one of those. Wanna know which? Read the following text.

John Link (Mel Gibson) is a former biker that spent nine years behind bars but today lives a straight life: he is in a group of Alcoholists Anonymous, always attends their meetings and lives in a trailer in the Arizona desert near some persons like him. In particular Link spends days working as a tattoo artist and having long discussions with his best friend Kirby Curtis (William Macy), and Link is also sad that hasn't seen his young daughter since he left his wife. Surprisingly the next day John is called by his daughter Lydia (Erin Moriarty) that is in trouble and after escaping some drug dealers led by Jonah she flees to his father's trailer. What follows is John doing everything he can to protect Lydia (including going to a preacher that stole his motorcycle after he ended in jail and re-having it), killing Jonah and all his henchmen and dying after having saved her to the extreme.

The plot is not exactly original I admit it but at least the performances were good and the action moments nice. My other complaint is that at times there were some stale moments that could have been trimmed in the post production. As it is, an entertaining action vehicle but nothing more.

Mel is back

[PetarNeo · 7/10 · 3 November 2016]

After daughter that has been missing for years calls him back and asks for help to get her out of troubles that she caused John decides to help her. Movie focuses on Lydia and John and their runaway from the man that are coming for Lydia. Plot is is very nicely told as a whole with some of the characters undeveloped and their intentions are not well known to us but they get revealed in the course. There is an extreme violence and movie shows you that in the very beginning with some of very disturbing scenes and it withstands it throughout movie with a plenty of action. Dynamics of the movie is great with constant action and it just pushes everything around with great pace. Mel as John is absolutely great and proves us he is magnificent actor with some bad personal decisions but in acting world he provides a believable, very emotional performance and it clearly shows his love towards his daughter as much as hatred towards people that are chasing them. Script is very nicely written with great scenery creations and dialogues that are serious but funny at the same time. 2.5/4

Above-Average Road Thriller with Gibson

[zardoz-13 · 7/10 · 13 October 2016]

Jean-François Richet's "Blood Father" with Mel Gibson is an unrelenting, razor-edged road thriller about an aging ex-con on parole and his doomed, 17-year old daughter. Peter Craig adapted his own novel with "Straight Out of Compton" scenarist Andrea Berloff. Richet has wrought a grim, fast-paced, 88-minute lost and found melodrama about redemption under the worst circumstances. Nobody has a good day in this tragic actioneer with thoroughly reprehensible adversaries. Richet delivers a movie with lots of gusto and Mel Gibson in full-blown mode. John Link (Mel Gibson of "Mad Max") has served a seven year stretch in prison for not informing on his former accomplice, Preacher (Michael Parks of "Tusk"), and Link is now out of stir, living in a battered, ramshackle trailer on the fringe of the desert inking tattoos on low-lifers and spending time with his durable sponsor, Kirby (William H. Macey), who lives not far from him in a nearby trailer. John has posters tacked up on his trailer walls about his missing daughter, Lydia (Erin Moriarty of "Captain Fantastic"), who has fled from her mother. Lydia has gotten herself mixed up with the relative of a ruthless Cartel king, Jonah (Diego Luna of "Elysium"), who allows nice looking people to live in the homes where he has stashed money in the walls. As the film unfolds, Jonah wants to test Lydia's devotion to him when they venture out to one such stash house to terminate a thief living it in with her family. Jonah insists that Lydia shoot the wife, but she cannot bring herself to murder a defenseless woman in cold blood. The next worst thing happens for our heroine. She plugs her boyfriend Jonah in the neck and takes it on the lam. Imagine Link's surprise when he picks up the phone and listens to Lydia on the other end of the line. She begs for $200 so she can hide from Jonah's trigger-happy goons. John jumps in his cranky old Nova and goes to get her. He brings her back to his trailer and tries to straighten her out, but Lydia is reluctant to tell him about her predicament. Lots of cool violence ensues as Mel goes into gunfighter mode to protect his daughter while members of the Cartel pursue them with a vengeance. Like most cartel gunmen, they have no qualms about killing cops when they get in their way. Mind you, "Blood Father" is as tough and rugged as Mel Gibson's craggy face can make it, and Richet stages some interesting shoot-outs. Don't go looking for a happy ending to this epic. The concluding gunfight is pretty gritty and the explosion looks definitely cool when Link booby-traps his motorcycle. The cast looks just right for the material. Although it isn't as good as "Get the Gringo," "Blood Father" breaks new ground for Gibson and reminds us that despite his public transgressions that he is still a gifted actor.

Mel Gibson unleashes hell

[Ramascreen · 9/10 · 8 August 2016]

I love it when Mel Gibson is in his Mad Max Lethal Weapon Braveheart Patriot mode. The character and the performance you see in BLOOD FATHER is something that Gibson often returns to from time to time. The tortured soul, protective of his loved one, willing to unleash hell when necessary. BLOOD FATHER is hardcore. A merciless story of retribution.

Directed by Peter Craig, Mel Gibson plays an ex-convict and former alcoholic named John Link who's trying his best to keep it together . Until one day when his estranged daughter comes back into his life but with a big secret, turns out, the drug cartel is hunting her down, a situation that forces Link to use his past connections and his skills to keep his daughter alive.

Much of the film is set in the desert, so one can't help but make a stretched comparison to Mel Gibson's old days as Mad Max. The best way to describe BLOOD FATHER in a way that today's audiences would understand is that Gibson's character, John Link, is more or less kinda like Liam Neeson's character in "Taken" franchise, but with less resources and Link is more rough around the edges. But both characters would go above and beyond for their respective daughters.

BLOOD FATHER is a very straightforward film, it has that father-daughter drama, though not as strong or as powerful as such films as "The Wrestler," for example, but some of the lines do hit home, and the action is more about firepower and gunfights, very brute, very basic, but it gets the job done. Some might say BLOOD FATHER is predictable and I don't blame them, it is after all just one of those movies for us Charles Bronson fans who just want to see the bad guys ultimately get what they deserve, a satisfying punishment.

-- Rama's Screen --

Best served with beer and pizza.

[Troy_Campbell · 7/10 · 2 September 2016]

The vast majority of action flicks that secure a cinema release are big budget affairs with runtimes at least edging two hours, if not blowing way over. So this downmarket, sub-90 minute genre pic comes as a shot in the arm; blink and you'll miss all the grimy fun. The barebones plot – daughter seeks estranged father's help to run away from drug cartel – relies on clichés, stereotypes and contrivances, but it doesn't really matter, as this whirlwind ride punches out set piece after set piece at a gloriously entertaining rate. Swapping shiny and highly choreographed for gritty and messy, the action sequences are short, propulsive and intense; the practical effects and stunts a welcome treat in the modern CGI landscape dominating the blockbuster season. There's a wonderful streak of black humour coursing through its veins too, often skirting that morally uncomfortable line between funny and plain wrong that is a hallmark of exploitation cinema. Mad Mel can take a lot of the credit for that. Playing ex-con John Link, Mel Gibson is a craggy delight as he amps up the sarcasm and bad-temperedness to Tommy Lee Jones levels of crank, whilst Erin Moriarty's flighty and whimsical Lydia is the perfect Yin to Gibbo's Yang. It's a real shame filmmaker Jean-Francois Richet couldn't find more for the talented William H. Macy to do though, who is criminally wasted as Link's sobriety partner and best mate. Blood Father certainly doesn't aspire to be a groundbreaking film, but it relishes the chance to dish out violent B-grade thrills reminiscent of those straight-to-VHS efforts of the 80s and 90s that frequently starred Charles Bronson. Best served with beer and pizza.

Drek and Tedious Danger

[kylere · 1/10 · 30 September 2016]

This movie was so trite and full of clichés that even the incredible William H. Macy bored me to tears. It is almost as if they merged 50 movies involving White Guys with Guns and did not bother with adding anything to make it unique or worth watching.

I am trying to think of a positive... Well, the sound seemed well done, I could hear all the awful lines clearly!

So bad, I feel as if someone should start a class action suit to get all our money back. You know, in the end it reminds me of those movies made overseas as cheap knockoffs with similar names, perhaps this should have been called, "Taken by the box office."

Mel Gibson Is Back And Better Than Ever!

[wileycmm3 · 10/10 · 16 August 2016]

I went into this movie completely blind. I did not see a single advertisement for the film, in fact I didn't even know of its existence up until the day before seeing it. I haven't seen Mel Gibson do anything for awhile so the movie definitely caught my interest. I expected it to be a fun B- movie turn your brain off type of thing.

But actually I think that this is one of the better films of the year. It was fast paced, fun, and brutal. The acting was well done all the way around. It was emotional, dramatic, and thrilling. Mel Gibson put on one of his greatest performances, and caught me completely off guard. His character was very fun to watch, reminiscent of Joel from "The Last Of Us". William H. Macy was fantastic as well. I would recommend this movie to anybody who loves any genre. It has a little something for everybody. Really great film and I hope it ends up receiving a lot more recognition than its getting right now. I highly recommend you go see this film, you won't regret it! 10/10

a good movie thriller

[miguelneto-74936 · 7/10 · 8 September 2016]

I this with expectations and down with Blood Father, even though one of my favorite actors as protagonists, I expected to see a movie like the Taken, starring Liam Neeson, the more this film is very different, but have similarities, such as has father's relationship with his daughter, most in the end are very different films, the cast is good, since the acting is only reasonable, making clear the performance of Mel Gibson, who carries the film alone, he's great, he helps a lot the movie is not boring, perhaps without Mel Gibson, the film would not be the same, Erin Moriarty leaves a little to be desired, I found it kind expressionless, more chemistry Gibson with Moriarty works, the cast has yet, Diego Luna, Michael Parks, William H. Macy, Dale Dickley and etc, the action scenes are good, the script is problematic, some dialogues without needs, and the film is a little short, I believe this damaged the script and development of some characters, only with Mel Gibson, which you create a little affection in the film, the film's enemies, not you even there, they are not threatening pro viewer, this was a problem of the script, I was missing more scenes like that, the soundtrack is good, and the action scenes are good too, Blood Father is a good movie, surprises me a lot, and Mel Gibson is the best of the film. Note 7.6

The daughter did not deserve saving

[rickstockton-05055 · 3/10 · 28 March 2020]

What a waste of a decent premise. Hint to Hollywood. If you are going to make a film about a parent trying to save a daughter, at least make her a decent human being. I spent the whole movie wishing that she would be killed.