If revenge is a dish best served cold, then it’s never tasted so deliciously chilly than this stripped-back modern classic.
Saulnier staked his career on the promise that he’d do good by those willing to put their faith in his film. After watching Blue Ruin, it’s safe to say that faith has been hugely rewarded
Looking for funding to help complete his sophomore feature through Kickstarter, writer-director Jeremy Saulnier pitched Blue Ruin as “not your standard revenge film. It does not glorify violence; it does not justify violence. It does the opposite”.
Thank goodness the public stepped in to hand over their hard-earned cash to help Saulnier deliver on that promise and turn in a truly subversive take on the traditional revenge picture.
Dwight (Macon Blair) prepares for a grisly deed in Blue Ruin
Beach bum Dwight’s (Macon Blair) sheltered and reclusive life takes a hellish turn when he receives sickening news from an unlikely source. The revelation sets Dwight on a self-destructive path of revenge that leads to a bloody and unremitting aftermath he is ill-prepared for.
Blue Ruin has invited comparisons to the Coens, specifically their noirish debut Blood Simple, although the sombre and haunted No Country For Old Men feels like a more suitable reference point, right down to the similarity of the two films’ posters.
Dwight’s (Macon Blair) descent begins in Blue Ruin
The comparison to Joel and Ethan’s work is understandable, but somewhat depressing as it underlines just how rare films of this ilk are in American cinema.
Revenge movies invariably fall into the tried and tested constraints described by Saulnier in his Kickstarter pitch and adopt an ends-justify-the-means approach. Those films tend to conclude with the ‘happy ending’ of the revenge having been successfully realised, but Blue Ruin takes the entirely darker approach of showing what happens next.
Sam (Amy Hargreaves) takes her brother Dwight (Macon Blair) to task in Blue Ruin
If history has taught us anything, it’s that violence begets violence and Saulnier’s picture isn’t afraid to have Dwight traverse an increasingly bleak and bloody road to hell.
The violence, when it does come, is startling and visceral. There are no winks at the audience or satisfied one-liners; merely chaos, confusion and terror.
Ben (Devin Ratray) shows Dwight (Macon Blair) the ropes of how to use a gun in Blue Ruin
Clocking in at exactly 90 minutes, the film doesn’t waste a single shot. Dwight is shown in the near-wordless opening reel as a pretty methodical guy, all be it someone living out of a rusted old car. Upon receiving his news, he quickly turns his attention to the mission at hand, but it’s when the act of revenge is complete that Dwight discovers any semblance of control he had no longer exists and all bets are off.
Dwight (Macon Blair) puts those gun skills to test in Blue Ruin
As much as this is Saulnier’s film, so too is it Blair’s. It’s a refreshing performance, one that has a through-line of everyman authenticity to it. Dwight’s no macho action hero; he’s a broken shell with nothing to live for except to save his sister Sam (Amy Hargreaves) and her kids from harm. Blair’s saucer-like eyes are deeply expressive and sell the fear and bewilderment his character endures throughout.
Concluding his Kickstarter pitch, Saulnier staked his career on the promise that he’d do good by those willing to put their faith in his film. After watching Blue Ruin, it’s safe to say that faith has been hugely rewarded.
three rows back 
Nice one, Mark. Just caught this myself the other night and I absolutely love it. It did remind me of Blood Simple but this is still a great film in it’s own right. I’m currently doing a review myself but suffering from writers block at the moment.
Nice info on the Kickstarter deal. I didn’t know that.
Steal the info buddy! Happy to share. It’s awesome isn’t it? Looking forward to your review when you’re ready!
I’ve got the majority of it done but feel that I’ve not quite done it justice yet. You can be my judge on that when the time comes. 😉
At the moment, I’m jut happy to watch films without the pressure of dissecting an writing about them, if you know what I mean?
I do mate. My output has been more sporadic of late for various reasons. Sometimes it’s nice to just watch a film without thinking of what to say about it.
Wow,I’ve heard great things about this. Great review!
Thanks! You need to watch it buddy; it’s great.
A very real, down-to-Earth, gritty kind of revenge thriller that we don’t see too much of. Shame, too, because these kinds of movies can be awesome, when done right. This was one of those instances. Good review.
Absolutely Dan. Couldn’t agree more.
Sounds great! I am really looking forward to seeing this. Hoping to catch it at some point this week.
I’m confident you’ll love it. Look forward to reading your thoughts 🙂
Thought I’d come back and re-read now I’ve seen it. Great film and you definitely do it justice here.
Aaaaah, much appreciated friend.
Excellent review mate, I’m in complete agreement. This is blunt, uncompromising and sombre. I think it’s tremendous!
Adam.
Thanks Adam. Loved your review too. We are in lock step!
Great review. I really liked this film as well. Wouldn’t consider it quite modern classic level myself, but can definitely see how you could come to that conclusion. Kickstarter info was really great as well.
Thanks buddy. I may have got carried away with the modern classic tag but I genuinely loved it.
Reviews of this film are popping up everywhere! I guess I have to dodge spoilers and watch it soon 😉
I made a point of trying not to spoil anything. I hate it when people do that. Check it out soon my friend.
Very nice!! I have something coming out for this tomorrow!!
Good man!
Whilst I trust you that this is a worthwhile film, I’m generally not into revenge movies. Not really my cup of tea Mark, hope you understand 🙂
Ruuuuthhh! You’re denying yourself a quality viewing experience. Still, I understand what you’re saying.
Okay the excitement for this is really starting to build for me. This is a great review and makes this sound like a pretty vicious sitting! I like the sounds of it. And the comparisons to No Country are uncanny! Those posters, wow. They are almost identical! And that bit of info about this film’s funding is really cool. Great to hear it literally pays off!!!
Nice review, looks like a movie that I’d like.