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When Nick was small, his father told him about a Bird Of Prey, that lives in the belly of every little boy. If the bird was not fed, it would eat him from the inside. Nick was being eaten up with his intense hatred and desire for revenge. Knowing that Jonathan Griffith thought of his house, money, night club, and especially his women as trophies; Nick uses his relationship with Kily to get to the mobster, and eventually kills him. He also realizes he has fallen in love with Kily, but his desire for revenge is greater. In the end, Nick is captured and sent back to prison, this time, finding himself on Death Row. As he awaits execution, he finds an old piece of discarded wood, and day after day, carefully carves a beautiful Bird of Prey. When the prison chaplain arrives to administer the Rites of Absolution, a cynical Nikolai tells him, "death is merciful, because once you are dead, the pain is over." The priest tells him, "it is not over, as life on earth is not the end, and if he does not confess his sins, the pain will never end." Nikolai quietly confesses his sins, accepts absolution, and at last finds peace. He gives his beautiful little carved Bird of Prey to the priest, and together they walk arm in arm to the gallows. This was a powerful and moving story. The actors were superb. Richard Chamberlain gave an outstanding performance as mobster Jonathan Griffith, using his eyes very effectively, almost Stanwyckian style, to convey his sinister nature. I loved him in this wicked role. Lesley Ann Warren was a real treat as his bizarre, talented mistress, delivering some very seductive song and dance routines. All the actors gave powerful performances, in this high-tension, suspenseful thriller, where "Revenge" is the ultimate "Seduction." By Judy Crocker
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Bird Of Prey is based on a story by Boyan Milushev. It was filmed in Bulgaria, where a young Nikolai Milev (Boyan Milushev) witnessed mob leader, Jonathan Griffith (Richard Chamberlain) gun down a police officer, (his father) because he was closing in on his illegal drug and weapon trafficking. The boy was instantly filled with hatred and set his mind on revenge. Young Nick's first attempt to avenge his father's murder fails, and he ends up in prison, where he meets Johnny McKenna (Lenny von Dohlen). The two discover they have the same enemy, and join forces to destroy the mobster, devising an elaborate plan to put him out of business by blowing up his warehouses. Nicolai then sets out to win the affections of the mobster's beautiful daughter Kily (Jennifer Tilly), theorizing that romancing her will help him gain access to Griffith.