Blood Simple. 1984. USA. Directed by Joel Coen. Screenplay by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen. With Frances McDormand, John Getz, Dan Hedaya. 35mm. 99 min.
Greed. Lust. Blood. The perfect ingredients for a film with a most diabolical plot. Julian is a scuzzy Texas barkeep who hires a hitman to kill his wife Abby and her lover Ray—who also happens to be one of Julian’s bartenders. It sounds like a straightforward equation, but in a Coen brothers movie nothing is ever simple. The first feature directed by Joel Coen and produced by Ethan Coen, Blood Simple is a dark comedy with horror film piquancy. This 35mm print reflects the original release version.