Blu-Ray Review: ‘Blood Simple’ [Criterion Collection]: The Coen Brothers début film still packs a cold-hearted punch in this excellent Blu-ray edition.
Before the Coen Brothers became a cottage industry of cult classic cinema of the quirky, neo-noir and black comedy variety, they made a small film called Blood Simple. Shot on a shoestring budget in and around Austin, TX, it proved a powerful introduction to their distinctive brand of filmmaking. And it’s getting a deluxe re-introduction thanks to its new Criterion Blu-ray release.
The Plot:
Francis McDormand plays Abby, the wife of grizzled bar owner Julian (Dan Hedaya). She’s been having an affair with Ray (John Getz), desperate to escape a troubled marriage. Julian receives proof of his wife’s secret from sleazy, private investigator Loren Visser (M. Emmett Walsh). His next request to Visser? Kill off Abby and Ray.
Visser is happy to make more money, and his own foibles and amorality dwarf Julian’s angry retribution, which makes him the real villain of the piece, harboring grave danger to members of all parties. He’s in it for himself, and will tie up all loose ends, no matter who has to die.
Blood Simple is a lean, mean thriller, punctuated with moments of patented Coen-humor, present even in their first production. Walsh is the true-scene stealer, a man who makes money off other’s misery, and who has a murderous appetite deflected by his aw-shucks chuckle. It’s intriguing that the Coen’s chose to work with him only once, given his odd, maniacal performance is note-perfect for their unique brand of storytelling.
Blood Simple // Trailer from San Francisco Film Society on Vimeo.
The Picture:
Criterion’s Blu-ray release is the best Blood Simple has ever-looked: the 1080p transfer (created in 4K 16-bit from the 35mm negative) is crisp and detailed showing off cinematographer’s Barry Sonnenfield’s noir’ish compositions with painterly detail. It helps illustrate how he was able to make a low budget production look like it cost millions more to make.
Sound:
The audio (English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1) is also ringing with clarity: composer Carter Burwell’s sizzling piano-laden score helps keep the dark mood at a fever-pitch, while the film’s sound design amplifies the tension while never interfering with dialogue.
The Extras:
Normally home video releases of first-efforts from filmmakers are rather lean in the special feature department, but the extras on Blood Simple are substantial and immersive: the film’s distinctive look is discussed in a roundtable featuring Sonnenfeld and the Coen’s, where they look back fondly on what made Blood Simple so special, while also chuckling over the mistakes and trial and error from their maiden voyage production.
The brothers also have an engaging and witty chat with author Dave Eggars, where they discuss the origins and inspiration of the project (which involves both Alfred Hitchcock and Evil Dead) what influenced their casting, and how they winged their approach to gain financing and distribution,
Other featurettes of note include an interview with Burwell and sound mixer Skip Lievsay, and in-depth conversations with McDormand and Walsh. Walsh is an especially engaging presence, full of witty recollections, including requesting to be paid in cash given the relative inexperience of the filmmakers.
Criterion have knocked another one out of the park: Blood Simple is a most own for lovers of indie cinema and Coen Brother obsessives. It’s bloody good fun.