A homeless man hunts down the man who murdered his
parents, leading to unintended consequences for two families. CRIME/DRAMA
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Blue Ruin (2013)Written and Directed by Jeremy Saulnier
Starring Macon Blair, Devin Ratray, Amy Hargreaves, Kevin Kolack, Eve Plumb, Stacy Rock, David Thompson |
Blue Ruin is a simple revenge thriller that is stripped down to its bare bones. It explores the devastation of vengeance and how the sin of murder is never washed away. It grows darker with each generation, until finally it explodes. Led by a powerfully subtle performance by Macon Blair, Blue Ruin is a secret gem hiding on Netflix that deserves to be seen, especially by fans of crime thrillers and revenge movies.
Dwight Evans (Blair) is a homeless man, living in his car and scrounging for food. His situation seems to be a chosen one, since he has family but refuses help. It's like he's paying for something. When he learns that his parents' killer is being released from prison, he hunts the guy down and stabs him to death in a bathroom. Unfortunately, he leaves evidence behind, and the man's family goes after Dwight's sister and her kids. Now, Dwight is forced to make a stand against the Cleland family in order to save the only people he's got left. It's a fairly predictable narrative, but it's told in such a smart way that you are still surprised. Macon Blair really outshines everyone in the film, playing a man broken by choice and forced to fix himself for one last ride. It feels like a true story, and I love how it organically evolves from a drama into a full-fledged thriller. Blue Ruin is a good movie that has a chance at achieving cult status if enough people discover it. It's currently on Netflix, so see for yourself. |