Cinema would not be the same without the occasional cult classic. Most of these flicks take a few years to gain traction. The Boondock Saints certainly qualifies, as its box office showing was nothing short of a commercial bomb. As the years have gone by though, people have finally started to appreciate it for what it is. Initially, this one was hard to pin down by both critics and movie goers. There were bits and pieces of different dramas, comedies, and nuanced directing styles that made it difficult for viewers to quantify it. After more than twenty years, that’s changed.
In The Boondock Saints the irish Catholic brothers Connor and Murphy are two simple working class blokes. When they survive a near death encounter with a pair of Russian gangsters, they suddenly have an epiphany.
Irish Catholic brothers Connor and Murphy are two simple working class blokes. When they survive a near death encounter with a pair of Russian gangsters, they suddenly have an epiphany. Their awakening, which they feel is religiously implicated, leads them to believe that they are now a mission from God to dispatch all of those they deem to be evil. With the help of their close friend Rocco, their holy war leads them deep into the criminal underworld where they begin to carve a bloody path through the mean streets of Boston. Troy Duffy writes and directs this action/thriller that has managed to sustain itself years after it was released to the public despite critics, financial failure, and the public’s overall lack of understanding of what this film was trying to be.
Perhaps what was most confusing at the time was the use of comedy despite the subject matter of the film. It almost has elements of black comedy mixed in with the more serious undertones of the story. Duffy made many unique choices in addition to this. His decision to chop up the scenes to show the aftermath of the assassinations before then breaking them down in the crime scenes was not as commonly seen in movies prior. The actors acclimate to Duffy’s storytelling sufficiently. Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus are both likeable as the Irish siblings in spite of what it is they’ve set out to do. David Delia plays Rocco and his use as a comedic device fits well into Duffy’s world. Fans will also see esteemed actor Willem Dafoe do as always does when given a chance in front of the camera. Playing Paul Smecker, Dafoe shines as a tough yet flamboyantly gay FBI special agent who is tracking the Saints one bloody crime scene at a time.
It may have been different in its day but those that get it, get it. The Boondock Saints could’ve been a huge financial success, but at the time it just wasn’t meant to be. Those that still wish this to come to fruition can still help by buying the film. Otherwise, it can be found on Amazon Prime Video in select areas with a subscription. If nothing else, it’s a chance to see what all the fuss and confusion is about. So keep the cult growing and keep the film alive, because at this point, why not?
