Blood Simple
Composite Score: 82.23
Starring: John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya, M. Emmet Walsh, Samm-Art Williams, and Deborah Neumann
Directors: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Writers: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller
MPAA Rating: R
Box Office: $4.23 million worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
Blood Simple is the Coen Brothers’ first feature film, and it stars their consistent collaborator Frances McDormand, in her first credited role, alongside character actors John Getz, Dan Hedaya, and M. Emmet Walsh in an intimate drama/thriller about a bar owner who suspects his wife of infidelity and the aftermath of his investigation. The film has a lot of what makes the Coen Brothers’ films so highly-regarded – solid, off-beat dialogue, memorable characters, and Frances McDormand doing what she does best – but it’s also a rougher version of most of that, being a relatively small-budget film. On some levels, it even feels like a spiritual predecessor to what is arguably their most successful film, No Country for Old Men – it’s set in Texas, has a ruthless gun-for-hire coming after the not quite innocent protagonist, and kills off most of its main characters by the end. Their inaugural feature film has a lot for its audience to enjoy, even if it might not be quite as good as a lot of their later stuff.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
As I stated above, there is an aspect of Blood Simple that feels rougher than a lot of feature films. Certain shots go a bit more experimental, certain story lines don’t play out quite as predictably, and certain sound bites aren’t cut quite as well. Its imperfections are in some ways part of what makes the film so memorable because it stands out as the Coen Brothers’ first film. At the same time, a slightly higher budget and marginally more production oversight probably knock those rough edges out and produce a more universally acclaimed film, rather than a cult classic. But with only four real characters, it's hard to see how this film could be anything other than a cult classic. Overall, Blood Simple is a film that feels doomed to be not everyone’s cup of tea but still pretty darn good.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
Frances McDormand. That’s it. That’s the reason. In literally her first credit on IMDB, she comes out and outshines basically every character and never feels like a rookie in the film game. Her character is not necessarily the most dynamic, but she works the hybrid final-girl/femme-fatale role that she is given here to perfection. She manages to walk the tightrope between innocent victim and guilty perpetrator well, working the Coen Brothers’ script to her strengths as an actress. The more I watch of her, the more I become convinced that she is who people think Meryl Streep is because she has literally been doing it since the beginning.
The Coen Brothers’ first outing – Blood Simple – suffers at times from its small budget and limited scope but is bolstered by their familiar style, a proto-No Country story, and a stellar breakout performance by Frances McDormand as their leading lady. The cult classic is available to stream now on HBO Max if you want to check it out, and personally, I recommend that you do.
