User reviews

This movie is actually enjoyable! I enjoyed watching the fight scenes in the movie between the two rival gangs. The Trueblood brothers have great parts and little Chad Lowe makes a great first impression on you. He's the toughest of the two brothers, but holds a special place in your heart. The special effects weren't great compared to newer action films. The characters reminded me David Lynch's characters, especially the evil Billy "Spider" Masters. He had a very creepy part and watching it alone can be quite scary. Ok, so the real reason to see this film, is for Sherilyn Fenn. Her part is acted very well and the bathroom scene is very sexy! Get the DVD version, so you can pause and slow mo during this part because it flew by very fast.

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.

Sure you get the required car chases and explosions, but you also get a fine cast, interesting characters, and above average acting for this type of movie. There is also some sharp dialog and humor. Chad Lowe and Jeff Fahey play brothers who have issues, after being separated for ten years. Sherilyn Fenn is a waitress who helps them avoid the law, and an old enemy, Billy Drago. Everything moves along at a fast enough pace, and the characters are well developed. The New York locations work, and there are even some genuinely tense moments. If you go into this low budget action film with realistic expectations, it will not disappoint. - MERK

Fahey is good. The story moves along all right. I wasn't crazy about Chad Lowe as Fahey's younger brother or Billy Draggo who goes reeeaaallly over the top as the bad guy here. Its the kind of performance that's very love it or hate it, and i didn't love it to be sure. I did like James Tolkan as the perennially grudge holding cop tho. The story is that Fahey as a young guy is in a gang, he ends up killing a cop (accidently) Tolkan as that cop's partner carries a grudge that lasts ten whole years as Fahey runs away, joins the army leaving his younger brother behind to grow up in the company of the gang bangers he ran away from....Fahey comes back to town basically to try and reclaim his brother whom he deserted, and well understandably his brother isn't full of warm and fuzzy feelings at seeing his big brother again. Can Fahey convince him to quit gang life and come with him away from the city? Does it really matter? Also Billy Draggo is the gang leader whom supposedly raised younger brother Chad Lowe while Fahey was away, but you know Draggo is crazy so that probably wasn't the best idea there Fahey. Anyways, its watchable enough as you see Fahey try to reconnect with his brother, and try to atone to James Tolkan for causing the death of his long ago partner (which Tolkan is not having!) but its not a good movie....its all mawkish, except for the scenes where Draggo is chewing scenery and venting his rage at Fahey for daring to step back into the town that he now owns! Again i didn't really care for Draggo's over the top performance here but whatever your mileage may vary.

This movie is like the material S.E. Hinton was writing in the 1970s and Copola was adapting to the screen in the early 80s, and, had Trueblood actually been a product of either, the results might've been much better (especially in the acting department). Instead, we get a rather so-bad-its-funny piece of mediocrity.

Jeff Fahey plays Ray Trueblood, a former street rumbler, I suppose is the accurate description. This was in the days of action movies that used guys in their 40s and mid30s and dressed them up in greaser threads or some kind of more effeminate selection of gang garb and they fought to lousy 80s music. Nonetheless, Ray is the lone caretaker of his younger brother, Donny (Chad Lowe in a part where he screams a lot), who he is forced to leave behind inexplicably in a train station when, on the run from the cops, he is nabbed and forced to serve time in the Marines. Flash forward to present day and Ray is back in town and looking for his brother who has also become part of the street gangs, although in a gang that was Ray's adversary and now old scores must be violently settled (and again, cops must be dodged and this time, a lady's honor defended in the action film sense) before Ray can carry on life at normal pace with his brother, Donny.

For the most part, the film is quite ridiculous. For me, most of this has to do with far too much overacting, although not by Fahey or Sherlyn Fenn who plays the waitress he befriends. The guys in the gang and Lowe himself seem to do quite a bit of needless exaggerated as New York street toughs. Although, the bigger hang up is recycled plot lines and perhaps a kind of movie that was well past its prime as a product of 1989.

I only watched this because I have my DVR set to record any Sherilyn Fenn movie (I met her at a TWIN PEAKS Comicon thing once), but it wasn't as bad of a movie as I was expecting. I remember this movie from my video store days, but I never bothered watching it. I've always had a soft spot for Jeff Fahey (BODY PARTS, SILVERADO), and here he plays a street gang member who's framed by rival gang leader Spider, Billy Drago (THE UNTOUCHABLES, THE HILLS HAVE EYES). Time jump many years later with Fahey released from prison and discovers his little brother, Chad Lowe, is now working for Spider! Some cops still remember Fahey from his gang days and have it out for him and he also befriends artist Fenn. It's a completely stupid melodrama, but the cast gives it their all, though I have to admit my favorite part was dirty cop James Tolkan (the bald-headed principal from the BACK TO THE FUTURE movies) wears a wig in the opening scenes before Fahey goes to jail, and that was just about the most hilarious thing I've seen in a long long time.

It's hard not to like Billy Drago if you like the psycho types. He's at the top of his form in this one, complete with a scar.

Check out Billy Drago's filmography if you want a list of R-rated fare: Hunter's Blood is a good example, and you will also enjoy Guncrazy, Vamp and Death Game.

True Blood has a lot of ups and downs, and it's probably not one you'll watch more than once or twice, but once or twice is enough to enjoy it completely.

Sherilyn Fenn is beautiful.

A young Jeff Fahey is interesting to watch, even if he doesn't really come off as the leader of an urban gang. The interaction between him and is brother (Chad Lowe) has some serious pathos.

I can watch anything that features Billy Drago as an over the top psycho who barely lives in the real world. His performance and vocal delivery is truly creepy. I like Jeff Fahey and he did a creditable job in the lead roll. Chad Lowe was plain irritating as Ray Trueblood's younger brother. Sherilynn Fenn and James Tolkan's roles was ok but unrealistic. The supporting cast was acceptable for this type of low budget,gritty" action film. I was kind of put off when a boom mike showed up in one scene but that's part of what makes low budget film making so great! 5 stars because of Billy Drago's lunatic performance.

This is an amazing movie. Albeit a little "warriors" for a random made for TV movie it is worth checking out! A hidden gem, and an accurate portrayal of gang life in NYC at the time.

Predictably, the good guys are spunky and the bad guys are ugly. Ray looks tasty in tight denim, but is so one-dimensionally good that you lose interest. Donny is rougher and therefore more exciting. Guess what happens in the end.