‘Kill or be killed’

Directed by:
Anthony Caldarella

Written by:
Sal Mazzotta
Leo Rossi
Tony DiGerolamo

Cast:
Sal Mazzotta (Frank Paradiso), Leo Rossi (Vito Lupo), Freddie Ganno (Vince Lupo), Robert Costanzo (Antonio Paradiso), Johnny Williams (Danny Defino), Tamela D’Amico (Gina Paradiso), Susan Priver (Lisa Paradiso), Ken Lerner (Sid Freeman), Tony Devon (Louie Eggs), Frank Adonis (Luca Veneri)

This low budget Mafia film revolves around an Italian crime family in Philadelphia. The leader, Antonio Paradiso is a man of old tradition. Antonio’s son Frank is like his father in many ways. He is ready to succeed his father as the new leader of the family. The times are changing however, and other gangs are waiting to move in on the family business. When members of the Paradiso family are being hit, Frank has to fight to survive, protect his family and find the ones responsible.

Standard and cliché modern day mob movie. It deals with some of the same themes as HBO Series The Sopranos, but doesn’t even come remotely close to touching that level. It does contain a fair amount of mob violence and action but most of it comes across as cheap exploitation.

The screenplay is of an acceptable quality, but offers nothing new or surprising. Most of the actors do reasonable, only leading man Sal Mazzotta doesn’t convince as the boring, monotone Frank.

The art-direction of this film should have definitely been better. Some of the murders just don’t look good at all. There are some familiar faces from mob films, Leo Rossi from Analyze This, Johnny Williams (Johnny Roastbeaf) from GoodFellas, and Frank Adonis (Anthony Stabile), also from GoodFellas.

This film is what it is, a direct to DVD mob flick. Not recommended for those that want thrills other than a man having his nuts roasted.

Rating:

Quote:
FRANK PARADISO: “You want the hitter? Fine. But I want the heart of the one that paid him.”

Trivia:
Screenplay writers Sal Mazzotta and Leo Rossi collaborated again for the short sci-fi thriller Frankie the Squirrel in 2007.