Blood Simple
1984 · Movie · R · 97 min · ★ 7.3 · 89% critics
A seedy small-town Texas bar owner suspects his wife is cheating with an employee and hires a private investigator to confirm it. After a plan to silence them leads to escalating misunderstandings, lies, and chaotic trouble, tensions spiral out of control.
Also known as Blood Simple. · Blood Simple: The Thriller
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Streaming on HBO Max and Cinemax.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 1984
- Release date
- 1985-01-18
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Critic score
- 89/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.3/10 (1,625 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this moody neo-noir crime thriller if you like slow-burning tension and shady small-town schemes like Fargo or Miller's Crossing; Not for you if you dislike creeping misunderstandings, long stretches of low momentum, or tense situations where characters seem to make poor choices.
Pros: moody Texas atmosphere; strong lead performances; darkly tense plotting | Cons: slow stretches; dialogue can feel off; characters may act foolishly
Themes
- husband wife relationship
- boss
- texas
- lover
- employee
- money
- killer
- double cross
- extramarital affair
- shallow grave
- private detective
- hired killer
- +1 more
Awards & recognition
- Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize Award · 1985
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
Cast & crew
John Getz
as Ray
Frances McDormand
as Abby
Dan Hedaya
as Julian Marty
Samm-Art Williams
as Meurice
M. Emmet Walsh
as Private Detective
Deborah Neumann
as Debra
Raquel Gavia
as Landlady
- VB
Van Brooks
as Man from Lubbock
- SM
Señor Marco
as Mr. Garcia
- WC
William Creamer
as Old Cracker
Directed by Joel Coen