The Butcher (2009): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2009, The Butcher is an action and thriller film directed by Jesse V. Johnson, running about 95 minutes. “Never gamble when you are desperate...” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. A mob enforcer is set up to take the fall for a multi-million dollar heist involving a rival gang boss. Merle (Eric Roberts) is a gambler stuck on a twenty-year losing streak, but his luck is about to change. Surviving a trap that was intended to kill him, Merle makes away with a beautiful woman and a piece of the take. Most men in that position would have been content to simply walk away with their lives, but Merle has been loyal for twenty years. Realizing he's been betrayed, something inside snaps. They used to call him "The Butcher" as a joke, but the laughter turns to screams when Merle returns to deliver the ultimate punchline.

Who’s in it. The Butcher stars Eric Roberts as Merle Hench, Robert Davi as Murdoch, Irina Björklund as Jackie and Keith David as Larry Cobb, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.9/10, The Butcher has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Butcher page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Butcher tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.