Blue Ruin is a film with an interesting history. Struggling to gain funding, the writer and director Jeremy Saulnier had to eventually fund the film himself, scraping the cash from various sources. When the film became a hit at Cannes, the people who had previously turned him down were falling over themselves to get the distribution rights. Needless to say, he declined their offers!
In the U.K, it is distributed by Picturehouse, and fortunately they have two of their cinemas within walking distance of where I live, so I had the chance to see this well constructed thriller.
Macon Blair plays a hobo, Dwight, who left his home after his parents were murdered. Living in a battered car near the beach, he hears his parents killer has been released from prison. He decides to track the man down and kill him, but finds that he also has to deal with his large and violent family.
This is a violent but terrific little movie. The opening sequences, establishing Dwight’s lifestyle are virtually wordless, deftly showing the character’s day-to-day isolated life. Later, when meeting with his sister to tell her the news, he has to apologise for finding it difficult to communicate, as he isn’t used to talking.
As the film continues and the revenge saga unfolds he still struggles to articulate himself, and it is to Blair’s credit he makes Dwight a believable and sympathetic figure. I don’t want to say anything else about the plot for fear of spoilers, but needless to say things turn very bloody by the end!
In support of Balir, there are two other excellent performances. Devin Rattray, as his old school friend Ben, is good in a few key scenes towards the end of the film. Best of all though, is Amy Hargreaves as Dwight’s sister Sam; an actress I know only as Carrie’s sister in Homeland. Appearing in just a couple of scenes, she really makes her presence felt. She originally had a much bigger part but a number of her scenes were cut. That’s a shame, though I guess doing that made this a tighter film.
Saulnier has established himself as a talent to watch with this movie.
Rating 7.5 out of 10