At first, this seems like a perfect change of pace from high-minded awards-season fare — a mindless exploitation flick about a trio of homicidal Southern hillbilly brothers (Clayne Crawford, Travis Fimmel, Daniel Cudmore) hired by Eva Longoria (in daisy dukes) to wrest her godson from the clutches of her crime-lord ex-husband Carlos (Billy Bob Thornton).
To be fair, debuting writer-director Barry Battles has some fun throwing stereotypical squadrons of scantily clad hookers, African-American thugs and Native American assassins at the Oodie brothers. And the car chase comes close to Quentin Tarantino’s in “Grindhouse.’’
But the tin-earned dialogue and haphazard plotting are more reminiscent of Tarantino’s frequent collaborator Robert Rodriguez.
Oddly the abduction victim (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) turns out to be disabled while the Oodie brothers have a relationship with the sheriff (Andre Braugher) that positively reeks of social significance.
Worst of all (mild spoiler), the Oodies inexplicably never get around to confronting Carlos despite a running time that’s 15 minutes longer than really optimal for the likes of “The Baytown Outlaws.’’