Two Deaths of Henry Baker
Graphic violence, nudity, language in gritty drama-thriller.
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Two Deaths of Henry Baker
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Two Deaths of Henry Baker is a 2020 drama-thriller in which a man gets out of prison to face family, friends, and enemies who are eager to meet him. There's graphic violence throughout, including characters shot and killed or shot and injured at close range, followed by bloody injuries and blood splatters on the wall. Besides fighting with guns, characters are beaten to death or beaten until bloodied. Cops hit a man they've just arrested with billy clubs and kicks. Characters shown having sex with prostitutes -- female nudity. The mother of one of the lead characters is topless while shown as an alcoholic drunk and on the verge of passing out. Booze and beer drinking, including a scene in which a bar fight breaks out. Cigarette smoking. Marijuana smoking. Strong language throughout, including "f--k" often used.
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What's the Story?
In TWO DEATHS OF HENRY BAKER, it's the year 1988, and Henry Baker (Gil Bellows) needs to escape with his son Hank after a violent altercation. Corrupt police officers are presumed dead after the shootout, and after confronting his brother, Henry presumably shoots and kills him as well. Before his brother dies, he asks that he takes five valuable gold coins, an heirloom that their father buried 30 years prior, to his girlfriend. As Henry does this, the cops arrive and arrest him, as his young son watches. Twenty years later, Hank is trying to live a normal life with his wife Marienne and their young son. Meanwhile, the former girlfriend of his brother is now an alcoholic, and her son Sam is a street hustler and con artist scarred by his past, and desperate to reclaim the gold coins that his mother just pawned. Soon, a corrupt sheriff (Tony Curran) from the past enters their lives, and Henry has just been released from prison after serving 20 years of his sentence. After walking out of prison, Henry goes straight to a bar, and soon learns that the enemies of his past have not forgotten him, and a night of reckoning awaits those caught in Hank's orbit, directly or indirectly.
Is It Any Good?
This is a dark if imbalanced drama-thriller about fathers, sons, and the burdens of the past. Two Deaths of Henry Baker is an understated low-budget movie that's trying really hard to communicate these messages on fathers, sons, their relationships or lack thereof, but gets lost in the weeds of side stories and too many conflicts going on at once. The twists come across as clunky, and there are more than a few moments that feel unnecessary and distracting. There's an overreliance on understatement, violence, convenient coincidences, and mistaken identity. And yet, there's something there in spite of the movie's weaknesses, so the result is the feeling that the script is one or two drafts away from being finished.
It's a shame because the acting is, on the whole, very good. Acting is perhaps the most crucial aspect in a low-budget movie overcoming its cash shortages, and while not tremendous, the actors bring enough to keep the story interesting. It's an earnest movie, but it leaves more questions than answers. There's not quite enough character development to hang onto, and after a while, the violence feels gratuitous. It's a frustrating movie in that it's almost good, but it doesn't quite cut it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about dark drama-thrillers like Two Deaths of Henry Baker. How is this similar to and different from other "noir"-style movies in which characters speak plain and often resort to violence to solve their problems?
Did the violence seem necessary to the movie, or was it excessive? Why?
What message does the movie seem to be communicating about "the sins of fathers"? Does this message come through? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 22, 2020
- On DVD or streaming: January 25, 2022
- Cast: Gil Bellows, Tony Curran, Sebastian Pigott
- Director: Felipe Mucci
- Studio: Saban Films
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: Violence, language, sexual content, nudity and some drug use.
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
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