Review of Blue Ruin (2014) by John D — 21 Dec 2014

A haunting thriller that exists primarily as a rumination on vengeance and its effects, BLUE RUIN is an incendiary and contemplative piece of work. There's almost an otherworldly quality to the film, a quality which leaves you feeling constantly uneasy, but in a way that is compelling and which draws you into the story being told.

Said story (from writer/director Jeremy Saulnier) continuously takes the least-obvious turns, and the progression of the narrative is constantly surprising and effective. The movie is also evocatively photographed and scored, both elements which support both the thematic concerns and the tension; indeed, there are a couple of sequences that are enormously suspenseful pieces of filmmaking.

At the center of the movie is a remarkably strong lead performance from Macon Blair, portraying an awkward, nuanced, melancholic, and calculating character who is one of the more unique creations to be found in cinema this year.

In fact, the whole movie itself has a one-of-a-kind feel, tackling well-tread subjects in a way that feels wholly fresh and vital, and it marks both Saulnier and Blair as major talents to follow as they move on to future projects.