Film Review - Blue Ruin (2014)

Available now on DVD and Blu Ray - "Blue Ruin"  (2014) - After being notified by authorities that the killer of his parents will soon be released from prison, a tattered vagrant living out of a rusty, bullet-riddled Pontiac Bonneville (hence the title) sets out on a course of revenge that subsequently places his estranged family in peril.  Lean yet textured, shot and edited with extreme precision and an uncanny attention to detail, Blue Ruin is a visceral, haunting, slow-burn thriller of the highest order.

Macon Blair's subtle yet layered performance as the film's central protagonist, "Dwight", drives the narrative at every turn, providing a fascinating, intimate portrayal of a man consumed with grief, hatred and obsession.  Dwight is a vulnerable everyman, a shell of a human being dwelling on the fringes of society who proves painfully amateurish in his quest for vengeance- it's a refreshing contrast to the towering, muscle-bound sorts (who effortlessly weed through countless bad guys) that usually frequent these types of roles.

Embarking on a path from which there is seemingly no recourse, Dwight's impulsive actions (and mistakes) ignite a vicious cycle of violence that leaves the lingering ramifications of revenge in his wake.

Though uncommonly anchored in realism, the film is also artistically relevant- strangely enough, the experience should please indie/art-house film fans as well as those seeking the base obligations of the Revenge/Thriller genre.  Director Jeremy Saulnier, also acting as the film's screenwriter and cinematographer, provides a sure-handed, atmospheric, Hitchcockian experience that is perfectly blended with the tone of the Coen Brothers more serious releases- I found the film most reminiscent of 1984's Crime/Thriller "Blood Simple". 

The cinematography here is a stellar highlight, with a wealth of darkly beautiful, lingering shots that will stick with me for quite some time. There are a handful of jarring scenes of bloody violence mixed with just enough humor, albeit of the pitch-black, gallows variety, to provide adequate levity.

The performances from a relatively small supporting cast are pitch-perfect across the board, though most will remember Devin Ratray (Nebraska) as the heavy-set, former high school friend and firearms enthusiast who aides our protagonist on his journey.

Those with attention span issues will more than likely find themselves out of their comfort zone- the film is unmistakably adult in nature, featuring grim, serious-minded material that was sadly unmarketable as a theatrical release given current audience sensibilities.  This is a decidedly unpredictable, yet well-crafted character study that is wrought with palpable tension and laced with a sense of impending doom. Potential viewers should expect a lower-budgeted affair with zero big name stars- it's damned near the polar opposite of the mega-budgeted, Superhero/Comic Book, Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy tent-pole releases crowding today's multiplexes.

Highly Recommended, Blue Ruin is a distinctly American gem and one of the very best revenge thrillers ever made.  It's my current pick for best film of 2014 and, needless to say, a Midnight Max Essential.

"The keys are in the car...the keys are in the car...the keys are in the car..."

Blue Ruin = 9.5 out of 10

Director: Jeremy Saulnier
Cast: Macon Blair, Devin Ratray, Amy Hargreaves, Kevin Kolak, David W. Thompson and Eve Plumb
Run-Time: 90 minutes
MPAA: Rated R for strong bloody violence, and language