Review of Blood Simple (1985) by Shane M — 15 Feb 2014

The directorial debut of Joel and Ethan Coen (the Coen brothers). Blood Simple follows a corrupt bar owner in Houston suspecting that his wife is cheating in him, and hires a hitman to kill her and her new boyfriend.

This film introduces audiences to the brothers style of filmmaking, which includes thoughtful eccentricity, arch irony, dark humor, and brutal violence (at times). Blood Simple differs from other traditional crime films due to its smart narrative that includes a brief plot twist that leaves with stomachs in knots and body's shaking, all thanks to the stellar writing from the brothers.

Joel and Ethan also do an amazing job directing, using the right setting at the right time, and cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld who had a long-time collaboration with the brothers, late becoming the director for Get Shorty, Men in Black, and The Addams Family franchises does an amazing job by shooting each scene with expertise, and he even uses moving shots like in horror and slasher flicks (still works here though), which aids the mood of scenes, and overall tone of Blood Simple.

Another great contribution to this masterpiece is the acting, and main stars John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya, and M. Emmet Walsh nail their roles, and Getz and McDormand have great chemistry in the shared screen time, as well as Getz and Hedaya.

There's also great characterization, and incredible detail when diving into the background of its characters. Another reason this film is truly believable is the graphic detail, which includes the language, and mostly, the violence, which captures the dark and gritty look of other crime films, along with the dark humor that the Coens have been associated with.

The film is bitingly funny at times, tense, full of suspense, and a must-see for genre fans and fans of the Coens.