Blood Simple

WARNING: This review is hidden because it reveals the content of the film.
Click here to show this review. Wow. What a ride. I’d never even heard of “Blood Simple” I went to see it in the theater as part of a film festival. I have been blown away.
Julian Marty (Dan Hedaya) suspects that his wife Abby (Frances McDormand) is cheating on him with Ray (John Getz) When the private investigator he hired (M. Emmet Walsh) confirms his suspicions, Julian pays the man $10,000 to have them both killed. In doing so, he’s gotten himself in way over his head. Or is it the investigator that’s bitten off more than he can chew?
You can’t predict where this film is going to go. There are so many, too many twists and turns. I don't mean some soap opera "turns out the two of them were working together" or "what a twist those were actually blanked" kinda stuff. For the P. I., Julian, Abby, and Ray, the whole affair is a mess. There’s hardly anything that goes right and when an error is made, someone else will pick up on it, react to it and change the game completely. My palms were sweating from nervousness, but I also couldn’t help but lick my lips in anticipation of the next scene. Everyone is running around on their own and it’s a delight to see all of these mice scurrying around in this maze trying to one-up each other or simply doing their best to survive.
This picture is a tight, brilliantly written plot that’s frequently interrupted by moments of sheer brilliance. The dialogue is jarringly good. The characters and their actions keep you on your toes, helpless against the whims of Joel and Ethan Coen, who write/direct. I got a real kick out of the private investigator. It’s like he takes a sick glee out of showing his clients that their suspicions are true and feeds on the look that materializes when they realize they have to pay him for the bad news. It’s such a diabolically delicious idea I can’t believe I haven’t seen it before. Just that alone would've been enough for a movie. Here, it's just the first taste.
“Blood Simple” is composed of multiple little segments of genius editing, directing and writing. It’s also so much more than just the sum of its parts. I went in not knowing what I was about to embark on. Now I can’t wait to add this one to my collection. (Theatrical version on the big screen, February 6, 2017)