Blue Ruin — Blue Fairy Film Blog

There's nothing better than a revenge fantasy film. Tarantino is possibly the most famous, recent, purveyor of this genre with his revival of grindhouse and exploitation films, but "Blue Ruin" is its own strange, gothic ride through Southern crime.

The film follows Dwight (Blair), who has been made an outsider after the murder of his parents, some odd years ago. Reclusive and feral, in many respects, Dwight has no qualms about exacting revenge on their killer, who has just been released from prison. With very amateur skills, and no help from anyone else, he tracks down everyone who may wish harm to his one living relative, formally taking down an entire family of killers. There's very little explanation into the backstory of how Dwight's family was ripped apart, and we don't get to know much about Dwight's character either. The film instead focuses on how cunning he is, though he is always frightened at the prospect of death, and the eventuality of a showdown between him and his pursuers.

This film is filled with memorable scenes, quick action, formidable villains, and harsh realities. It is always tense and full of extreme suspense as we watch Dwight fight against his baser instincts. Director Jeremy Saulnier has been credited with bringing this story to Cannes, and winning acclaim from pretty much every critic who has seen this film thus far. While Macon Blair delivers an extreme, beatific performance as Dwight, it is Saulnier who creates the eerie, often caustic mood that follows its characters around like a perpetual shroud. This is a must see for those checking off the best of 2014, as well as those who want to see the capabilities of indie filmmaking at its best.