Review of Blue Ruin (2014) by Jesse O — 25 Aug 2014

This film was achieved through crowdfunding website Kickstarter. That's incredibly impressive to me, maybe not even the fact that a movie was successfully made through the funding from the website, just the fact that the movie turned out this good.

It's obvious that not every movie that chooses to go the crowdfunding route will be this good, but it's an example of what can be achieved through these websites. This might actually be one of the best American revenge movies in years.

Maybe I'm missing out on a film, but this film is really quite great. It's got a surprising amount of depth as well, particularly for a film about revenge. But, in spite of that depth, the film is still a very simple story about the unbreakable chain of events that is set off when Dwight's parents are killed.

Of course the consequences of the murders play out 20 years after they happen, with the release of the person that is believed to have murdered them after he reached a plea deal. Let's get one thing straight, this is not a positive film.

This isn't a film that you should expect to leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. It's dirty, it's raw, and it's bloody. It's also pretty tragic all things considered, how one act of lust can, eventually, end up destroying two families.

And I certainly don't mean emotionally destroyed, take that for what you will. The acting is exceptionally strong, Macon Blair steals the show. He'd almost have to since the film is completely centered around him.

It's clear that he is a man who didn't put any real thought, or planning, into his revenge...he just went out and did it. You can tell in how sloppy everything was really executed. It's clear Dwight wasn't concerned about being caught, he was just concerned on his quest for vengeance.

There's also a certain hesitation about Dwight, in that he knows he shouldn't be going after the Cleland family, but something, not even a sense of right and wrong, since he'd clearly be in the wrong if you think about it, is compelling him to do these terrible things.

The movie, much like it should've been done, is a slow-builder. It certainly has you on the edge of your seat and it knows how to properly build the suspense. Building the anticipation until violence is inevitable, as a review pointed out here.

With that said, I was a huge fan of this film. I really, really loved it. It's gonna require some patience for some people, but I think this film ultimately offers a very rewarding experience. Great stuff here, trust me, and I highly recommend this film.