Blood Simple

Independent filmmakers Ethan and Joel Coen's 1983 debut, recently re-edited and re-released theatrically, is a tongue-in-cheek thriller set in rural Texas that begins with what looks like a simple lover's triangle. But when the wife (Frances McDormand) and her boyfriend (John Getz) decide to bump off the husband (Dan Hedaya), things start to get very complicated. Double crosses and triples crosses abound in a plot that has more bends than Cecil the Seasick Serpent. Clever scripting, good acting (especially by the late character actor M. Emmett Walsh), almost unbearable tension, and a superior sense of humor make Blood Simple--like quality Hitchcock--evergreen, especially with this pristine quality DVD transfer. Be sure to check out the stuffy introduction from Mortimer Young, head of Forever Young Films, on the restoration of Blood Simple, and the delightfully turgid audio commentary by Kenneth Loring of FYF--both fictional creations from the Coens. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray/DVD Review—Sept. 6, 2016—Criterion, 95 min., R, DVD: $29.95, Blu-ray: $39.95—Making its latest appearance on DVD and Blu-ray, 1984's Blood Simple sports an excellent transfer and a DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack on the Blu-ray release. Extras include a selected-scene discussion with cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld and directors Joel and Ethan Coen (71 min.), interviews—with author Dave Eggers and the Coens (35 min.), costar Frances McDormand (25 min.), composer Carter Burwell and sound mixer Skip Lievsay (24 min.), and costar M. Emmet Walsh (17 min.)—and a booklet featuring an essay by novelist and critic Nathaniel Rich. Bottom line: a characteristic Criterion red carpet treatment of this early Coen Brothers classic.]