KIN is an interesting sci-fi thriller hybrid, but it suffers because the filmmakers try to set this movie as the first of a possible franchise without trying to make it a movie to stand on its own. They wrap the sci-fi elements in too much mystery with not enough answers or action to follow the intriguing sci-fi elements when they do show up. KIN is loosely based on a short film called BAG MAN which was directed by Jonathan and Josh Baker who also directed KIN. This is their theatrical film debut when they have been directors for commercials for years.

KIN follows the story of 14 year old Eli-who was adopted by Hal (Dennis Quaid) and his (now deceased) wife- and he finds a high tech weapon in a building he scrapes in. Hal is a widower who raises Eli hard because life is hard and his biological son Jimmy (Jack Reynor) went to prison for stealing. Jimmy is paroled and comes to stay with Hal and Eli. Jimmy's stay is short lived because Hal doesn't want to hire Jimmy on for the construction company that Hal owns. Problems escalate because Jimmy owes local crime lord Taylor (James Franco) $60,000 for his gang protecting Jimmy in prison. Jimmy and Taylor are caught breaking into Hal's office safe which leads to a tragic turn of events which has Jimmy taking Eli on the run with him as Taylor seeks revenge for the death of his brother. Along the way on this road trip to Nevada, Jimmy and Eli meet a stripper named Milly (Zoe Kravitz). Meanwhile, a mysterious group of cleaners who are either from the future or another world are tracking the high tech gun.

KIN is worth a rental and it will probably get a cult following around it. Part of me hopes the movie does well on blu-ray, DVD, and digital that it warrants a sequel since KIN bombed at the box office. That brings me back to why Kin bombed. I think KIN bombed basically because they were using it to start a franchise instead of focusing on telling a complete movie within itself without worrying a possible sequel might be in the cards.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
Audio commentary with co-directors Jonathan and Josh Baker and scriptwriter Daniel Casey

THICKER THAN WATER: THE MAKING OF KIN (1 hour and 52 minutes) is a feature length 8 part making-of documentary which goes in detail of the origins and making of the movie with behind-the-scenes footage, cast and crew interviews, and clips from the movie:
BRAND NEW BAG: INSPIRATION & EXECUTION- a look at how the BAG MAN short film became the inspiration for KIN
FAMILY DYNAMIC: CASTING
ON THE RUN: LOCATIONS- a look at the locations in the movie and how the directors use them to help ground Kin in reality
TONE COPS: ESTHECTIC & VISUAL FX a look at the production design, costume design, and visual effects of KIN
WEAPONZIED: FINDING THE GUN
SONIC FOUNDATION: MUSIC & SOUND- a behind-the-scenes look at the music score by Mogwai and the sound design of KIN
HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT: MAINTAINING MYSTERY- Jonathan and Josh Baker, producer Shawn Levy, and the cast talk about maintaining the mystery of the sci-fi elements of the movie and keep secret who Michael B Jordan was playing in the movie
FAMILY IS EVERYTHING: REFLECTIONS- cast and crew reflect on making the movie

EHANCED VFX BREAKDOWNS- the VFX supervisor shows what goes into various VFX shots (practical and digital elements)

BAG MAN original short is a 14 minute short which inspired the story for KIN with an optional audio commentary by co-directors Jonathan and josh Baker
10 deleted scenes with introduction by the film's editor. Most of the scenes are best left cut, but a couple of scenes including one more with he FBI agent should have been left in the movie
Theatrical trailer

LEARNED BEHAVIOR: SPECIAL FEATURES AT WORK- Jonathan and Josh Baker host a 57 minute discussion and history of disc special features with Kevin Smith, Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kim, and prolific special features producer Laurent Bouzereau

The movie in standard definition on DVD and a code to download/ stream a digital copy of KIN

FINAL ANALYSIS: KIN has a few things going for it, but the uneven tone between drama and action and sci-fi in addition to leaving the sci-fi elements with too much mystery make the movie a misfire. They should have had this as the start of a TV series or made KIN stand more on its own instead of trying to launch a franchise. The blu-ray has a good assortment of extras. I hope to see another film from this brothers directing duo soon, but I hope they have a more solid script behind their excellent direction and visual sense.

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