Next of Kin is a 1989 American action film directed by John Irvin and starring Patrick Swayze and Liam Neeson. The screenplay was based on a story of the same title, both written by Michael Jenning. Truman Gates , a Kentucky native raised in Appalachia, has migrated to Chicago to become a police officer. After his younger brother Gerald becomes unemployed when the local coal mine closes, Truman persuades his brother to look for work in Chicago. Soon after landing a job as a truck driver, Gerald's vehicle is hijacked by mobsters from the Chicago Outfit. When Gerald pulls a knife, he is... immediately killed by Joey Rosellini , the sadistic nephew of Outfit boss John Isabella . When the Don later confronts his nephew about this needless killing, Joey lies and says that it was in defense of his cousin's life. When Gerald's body is discovered, Truman returns to Kentucky for the funeral. When his surviving brother, Briar Gates , insists on a traditional mountain blood feud, Truman urges his family to let the police deal with Gerald's murder. Briar is disgusted, as he considers Truman's reluctance to be disgraceful.
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| Release date: | October 20, 1989 |
| Directed by: | John Irvin |
| Rated: |  |
| Runtime: | 111 Minutes |
| Producer: | Richard D. Zanuck, Jeb Stuart |
| Editor: | Peter Honess |
| Music by: | Larry Gatlin, Jack Nitzsche |
| Estimated budget: | $12,000,000 |
| Genre: | Action, Thriller |