Blood Simple

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Blood Simple

R

1984

1h 37m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

113 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

"Blood Simple" was the first feature film from Joel and Ethan Coen. This is the newly restored and re-edited director's cut of the film, introduced by Mortimer Young. The stylish crime thriller premiered at film festivals in 1984. "Blood Simple" begins deep in the heart of Texas, where a jealous saloon owner hires a cheap divorce detective to kill the saloon owner's younger wife and her bartender lover. But the detective gets a better idea: he follows the two lovers, and...

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Critics Consensus

Brutally violent and shockingly funny in equal measure, Blood Simple offers early evidence of the Coen brothers' twisted sensibilities and filmmaking ingenuity.

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Jay Scott

Globe and Mail

12/06/2022

Blood Simple is entirely self-concious, and good for it.

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Adam Nayman

The Ringer

04/15/2019

What holds up best about Blood Simple, besides its vice-tight plotting and the rotten charisma of M. Emmet Walsh's evil, manipulative private eye Visser, is the sheer exuberance of the Coens's visual style.

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Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

10/08/2017

4/5

Blood Simple is a reminder that the Coens are formalist film-makers first, with keen noses for composition and taut, structured storytelling, as well as masters of black comedy.

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Jordon Searle

Loud and Clear Reviews

Oct 2

5/5

One of the most engaging crime films of all time.

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

Aug 19

4/5

A modern classic.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

01/27/2025

4/5

It’s easy to presume Joel and Ethan Coen had to grow into their exceptional attunement to the invisible forces of the universe that either jolt us awake or lull us into deceptively comforting slumber. Nope. They've been in command of that from the jump.

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Farah R

@Farah Jul 17

Blood Simple has some of the best shots I’ve ever seen. The cinematography was what kept me watching despite the plodding pace and dull storyline. Every frame was a piece of art that elevated the mediocrity of everything else. It’s worth watching for the appreciation of the Coen brothers’ cinematic eye.

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Jason H

@RT50328122 Mar 10

A great debut from the Coen brothers.

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Luca D

@JoeCamel7 Jan 18

Very suspenseful and really well shot. In terms of the writing it's a little bland. The acting is really good but I just feel like every character in the movie keeps making dumb mistakes, kind of like a B movie horror flick. It's not as layered as reviews claim but it's still a decent thriller for a movie night.

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Nick M.

@5BaggersOnly Nov 8

Solid Cohen brothers movie.

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Fritz L.

@FritzL Nov 1

MY ALL TIME FAVORITE FILM. YOU HAVE TO SEE IT MORE THAN ONCE, THE COENS MADE A BEAUTIFUL LAYER CAKE.

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Romas M

@Romas Sep 2

Greetings from Lithuania. The first film ever made by great Coen brothers was "Blood Simple" (1984). It is impossible to properly review and experience this film when watching it for a first time in 2025. It is because of a future films there directors made were far more brilliant, and many directors tried to copy or mimic their style during decades. Therefore i have seen many films with similar theme and style. And only recently watched "Blood Simple". I'm sure that if seen it for the first time in 1984, this film would have hit me way harder. "Blood Simple" is a memorable film because of its story, which is very darkly is funny. It features a first time role of future multiple Oscars winner Frances McDormand. Screenplay was very good. This film is a very slow burning kinda noir drama / thriller. It works for what its going for, but its a rough around the edges film as well.

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Synopsis

"Blood Simple" was the first feature film from Joel and Ethan Coen. This is the newly restored and re-edited director's cut of the film, introduced by Mortimer Young. The stylish crime thriller premiered at film festivals in 1984. "Blood Simple" begins deep in the heart of Texas, where a jealous saloon owner hires a cheap divorce detective to kill the saloon owner's younger wife and her bartender lover. But the detective gets a better idea: he follows the two lovers, and...

Director: Joel Coen
Producer: Ethan Coen
Screenwriter: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Distributor: USA Films
Production Co: River Road
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 7, 1984, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jul 1, 2016
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.7M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Stereo