BLOOD RELATIVES (1978, Canada/France, 100m, 18) ***
Crime, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
dist. Filmcorp Productions Inc.; pr co. Cinévidéo / Filmel / Classic Film Industries; d. Claude Chabrol; w. Sydney Banks, Claude Chabrol (based on the “87th Precinct” novel by Ed McBain); pr. Denis Héroux, Eugène Lépicier; ph. Jean Rabier (Eastmancolor | 1.85:1); m. Pierre Jansen, Howard Blake (uncredited); ed. Yves Langlois; pd. Anne Pritchard.
cast: Donald Sutherland (Steve Carella), Aude Landry (Patricia Lowery), Lisa Langlois (Muriel Stark), Laurent Malet (Andrew Lowery), Stéphane Audran (Mrs. Lowery), Walter Massey (Mr. Lowery), Micheline Lanctôt (Mrs. Carella), Donald Pleasence (James Doniac), David Hemmings (Armstrong), Kenny Ireland (Bert Klinger), Guy Hoffmann (Priest), Marguerite Lemir (Helene Beck), Gregory Giannis (Sully), Jan Chamberlain (Grandmother), Tim Henry (Captain Marriott), Victor Knight (Medical Examiner), Jérôme Tiberghien (Moran), Kevin Fenlon (Smoker), Nina Balogh (Carella’s Daughter (as Nini Balogh)), Terrence Labrosse (Attorney).
Sutherland plays Homicide detective Steve Carella who is trying to solve the brutal murder of a 17-year-old girl (Langlois) in this faithful adaptation of Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct novel. Her younger cousin (Landry), who saw the killer and barely escaped with her life, helps Sutherland. However, the case soon takes a bizarre turn. The script is strong, but the production is let down by some wooden performances from the junior cast – notably Langlois and Malet (who plays Landry’s brother). Seasoned pros Pleasence and Hemmings add some weight as suspects and Sutherland is convincing as the lead detective. There are some occasional directorial flourishes from Chabrol and a memorably chilling finale to the story. Original title: LES LIENS DE SANG.
