Jersey roots may run deep, but the state’s cinematic legacy remains shallow. Aside from a scattering of suburban stories (Garden State, Paterson, amongst others), the “armpit” of America has lacked a strong presence on the big screen. It’s no surprise then that one of the men behind Jersey’s biggest contribution to the small screen is here to help pick up the slack. Kevin Interdonato, best known as Dogsy on television’s favorite gangster drama The Sopranos, is here to remind everyone of the powerful stories still left to tell in the Garden State. His directorial debut, The Bastard Sons, is not only an impressively produced independent thriller, but a dark and compelling crime drama with Jersey roots that isn’t afraid to show them off. Not only does the film take place across a variety of Jersey locals, but a large majority of the film’s cast and crew are all Jersey-based.
Interdonato stars as Vincent Damiano, a small-town gangster whose father is mysteriously killed weeks before he is set to inherit half of the family’s underground crime network. Shocked, he disappears, leaving his father’s partner, Frank Rome (fellow Sopranos actor Al Sapienza), to lead the business himself. Weeks later, Vincent returns unannounced, ready to take back what is rightfully his. Suspecting Rome to be behind the murder, Vincent reunites his old crew to take their revenge: childhood friends-turned-family Donny, (UFC fighter Frankie Edgar), Darius (Chicago Med’s Charles Malik Whitfield), Dobson (Joseph Sernio), and Marco (Kirk Ponton). As the team lays down the groundwork, Vincent does his best to keep his partner, Olivia (Anastasia Ganias), safe from the reckoning.
From the gravel of its highways to the shores of its beach towns, The Bastard Sons is shot thoroughly on-location throughout New Jersey. It even features iconic Jersey landmarks, such as Lance and Debbie’s Wonder Bar located in Asbury Park. However, being a Jersey film goes far beyond the locations – it’s a sensibility of grit and tenacity. Vincent, performed with incredible control by Interdonato, has tall ambitions but exacting preparation. Though he does his best to play the game, he will do whatever it takes to do the job, even if it means getting his hands dirty. His character, along with Interdonato and co-writer Glenn Rodriguez’s entire script, instill a familiar crime story with an unpolished realism that most filmmakers would be too daunted by to execute.
In addition, Interdonato’s rough and tumble action sequences and intense gore effects also set the film apart. Though the film’s drama has all the makings of a movie for the Scorsese generation, Rey Llewellyn’s prosthetics feel closer to Cronenberg. The commitment to body contortion and blood spilling makes The Bastard Sons a messy act of violence rarely seen in the genre; in combination with the rousing fight choreography and more than one shocking shootout, the entire creative team work together to craft a pulse-pounding, unpredictable final act that leaves no prisoners, at times to tragic effect.
However, it isn’t simply about bodies going cold. Interdonato’s story is also one infused with blood family and found family loyalty that similarly embodies Jersey. Vincent and his gang all have a brotherly chemistry that both color the film’s high-stakes action setpieces and help to sell the characters’ off-screen history. In addition, Interdonato and Ganias provide a unique, partially troubled relationship at the heart of the movie that, though deserving of more screentime, adds chinks in the armor of a traditionally suave, bulletproof genre. Finally, one would be foolish to not mention Sapienza’s turn as Rome; the man is an incredible talent who continues to do more with just a few minutes on camera than most actors do in their lifetimes.
For an indie feature of this scale, Interdonato has captained an impressive production. With genuine Jersey films few and far between, it’s comforting to know that the so-called “armpit” of America can still produce powerful stories in its own tradition. Look out NJ audiences – The Bastard Sons the gruesome gangster drama our community has been waiting for.
The Bastard Sons will be available to rent or buy on Prime Video beginning July 28, 2023 courtesy of Cranked Up Films.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcJuQBvx7iY]
With grizzly action sequences and a strong found family story, 'The Bastard Sons' makes for another darkly compelling story with strong Jersey roots.
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Larry Fried is a filmmaker, writer, and podcaster based in New Jersey. He is the host and creator of the podcast “My Favorite Movie is…,” a podcast dedicated to helping filmmakers make somebody’s next favorite movie. He is also the Visual Content Manager for Special Olympics New Jersey, an organization dedicated to competition and training opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities across the Garden State.
