- Actors: John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya, M. Emmet Walsh, Samm-Art Williams
- Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
- Writers: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
- Producers: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Daniel F. Bacaner, Mark Silverman
- Format: PAL
- Language English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 18
- Studio: Universal Pictures UK
- DVD Release Date: 1 Jan 2001
- Run Time: 99 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004W4H4
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 12,154 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
The debut film of director Joel Coen and his brother-producer Ethan Coen, 1983's Blood Simple is grisly comic noir that marries the feverish toughness of pulp thrillers with the ghoulishness of even pulpier horror. (Imagine the novels of Jim Thompson somehow fused with the comic tabloid Weird Tales and you get the idea.) The story concerns a Texas bar owner (Dan Hedaya) who hires a seedy private detective (M Emmett Walsh) to follow his cheating wife (Frances McDormand in her first film appearance) and then kill her and her lover (John Getz). The gumshoe turns the tables on his client, and suddenly a bad situation gets much, much worse, with some violent goings-on that are as elemental as they are shocking. (A scene in which a character who has been buried alive suddenly emerges from his own grave instantly becomes an archetypal nightmare.) Shot by Barry Sonnenfeld before he became an A-list director in Hollywood, Blood Simple established the hyperreal look and feel of the Coens' productions (undoubtedly inspired a bit by filmmaker Sam Raimi, whose The Evil Dead had just been coedited by Joel). Sections of the film have proved to be an endurance test for art-house movie fans, particularly an extended climax that involves one shock after another but ends with a laugh at the absurdity of criminal ambition. This is definitely one of the triumphs of the 1980s and the American independent film scene in general. --Tom Keogh
Amazon.co.uk Review
The debut film of director Joel Coen and his brother-producer Ethan Coen, 1983's Blood Simple is grisly comic noir that marries the feverish toughness of pulp thrillers with the ghoulishness of even pulpier horror. (Imagine the novels of Jim Thompson somehow fused with the comic tabloid Weird Tales and you get the idea.) The story concerns a Texas bar owner (Dan Hedaya) who hires a seedy private detective (M Emmett Walsh) to follow his cheating wife (Frances McDormand in her first film appearance) and then kill her and her lover (John Getz). The gumshoe turns the tables on his client and suddenly a bad situation gets much, much worse, with some violent goings-on that are as elemental as they are shocking. (A scene in which a character who has been buried alive suddenly emerges from his own grave instantly becomes an archetypal nightmare.) Shot by Barry Sonnenfeld before he became an A-list director in Hollywood, Blood Simple established the hyperreal look and feel of the Coens' productions (undoubtedly inspired a bit by filmmaker Sam Raimi, whose The Evil Dead had just been coedited by Joel). Sections of the film have proved to be an endurance test for art-house movie fans, particularly an extended climax that involves one shock after another but ends with a laugh at the absurdity of criminal ambition. This is definitely one of the triumphs of the 1980s and the American independent film scene in general. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Blood Simple is a truly great noir movie. It is a movie to be savored not only for its story but for the intricate and clever cinematography that matches its dark plot and setting. The current DVD was truly an unworthy effort. This is a smokey dark movie. The many night scenes are marred by graininess. Anyone who remembers the vibrant colors and clarity that characterized the film's recent re-release director's cut in the theaters last year will be sorely disappointed with this DVD. But the biggest travesty is that it is pan and scan only. This is a a movie that uses negative spaces and the width of the screen to establish relationships and set mood. You can't just whack it off picture elements in this movie and get the emotional spectrum Blood Simple delivers. At least the British have produced a DVD. Where is Universal's print? It kills me they are nowhere in producing a worthy DVD that finally gives this film the treatment it deserves? Blood Simple was re-released last year this is the time to strike while the film is still fresh in the memory of it many fans. Sadly I do not see anything in the works. While this would be an ideal film for Director's I would settle for a good print with widescreen.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I watched this movie three times and really liked it. Coen Brother's cinematic debut is a wonderful example of how to let the pictures tell most of the story. In essence, the story is real simple: A greasy and sleazy bar owner hires an even sleazier private eye to kill his wife and her paramour. But things do not turn out quite as planned. There are enough twists and turns to keep a viewer guessing even after the movie is over. Especially, second part of the movie is a first-grade thriller with violent, bloody, suspenseful, and endless twists. The last word: an absolutely fantastic film - one of the best I have ever seen. Dark entertainment at its best!
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Great Coen Brothers film, but unfortunately a poor DVD. I was very disappointed to discover that this film is not in widescreen, but a poor 4:3 version taken from what looks like a very old and poor print. You may as well get it on VHS.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
French Region 2 Version Viewed.
You know in Greece they cut off the head of the messenger who brought bad news.
Blood Simple is directed, written and produced by Joel and Ethan Coen. Read more
Blood Simple is directed, written and produced by Joel and Ethan Coen. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Spike Owen
Poor transfer spoils a classic film
I agree with other reviewers who have critised the poor video quality of this dvd. This is such a pity because it does detract from what is an otherwise classic film. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Nigel Mc
This is a badly worn/grainy version - it spoils an interesting film
This is the 2000-released version of the film, which presents the 4:3 ratio version of the film without cropping the edges of the screen. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Miami
Don't buy this dreadful Region 2 release!!!
Pan and scan, terrible sound and picture quality.
Either buy a region 1, or get the Coen Brother's Collection 4 DVD box set which contains the only decent widescreen... Read more
Either buy a region 1, or get the Coen Brother's Collection 4 DVD box set which contains the only decent widescreen... Read more
Published on 10 April 2010 by Dr Gonzo
Bad Transfer & Wrong Ratio
The movie is absolutely classic & you have to own it if you're a film buff. This DVD, however, has 2 flaws. Read more
Published on 4 Dec 2009 by Steen Rasmussen
Blood Simple - The Coen Brothers first film
Blood Simple is the first feature film made by the Coen Brothers and it shows. There is none of the authentic characterisation that would be seen in their later films but... Read more
Published on 26 July 2009 by Justin Cox
good show
Blood Simple ", the first Coen brothers film, is a little gem of film noir, and it is obvious watching it that the Coens would go on to make some absolute classics. Read more
Published on 23 July 2009 by Treefingers
thematic art
If you got a lot out of "A Simple Plan" or "Fargo" watching this will make you realise that although the Coen Bros know how to entertain, they know how to string out a story. Read more
Published on 12 July 2009 by Harry Nicholas
a glimpse of the future
I saw this film first time round in 1984 and have only just seen it a second time. There are many echoes of Fargo and No Country For Old Men and gripping tension throughout as the... Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2008 by the scribbler
Coen's masterful debut with a shoestring budget...
Yep, Blood Simple is one of the darkest, rawest and bleakest films you will ever see. Along with "The Big Lebowski", "Barton Fink" and "Hudsucker Proxy", Blood Simple represents a... Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2007 by Serkan Silahsor
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