Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Blue Ruin Blu-ray Movie Review

Family feud.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 21, 2014

All filmmakers, and particularly those working with a smaller budget, should take note of Blue Ruin, a perfect example of genre moviemaking done right. The picture commands the screen with powerful emotions and solidly constructed characters operating on basic premises through a darkly disturbing world of murder and doubt. The film leaves behind any false pretenses or worthless side stories and focuses instead like a laser on delivering a tight, troubling, and terrifying experience that examines the human condition through the prism of revenge and the motivations and driving forces that push men to the extreme when the bonds of family are upset by outside forces. This is raw, unapologetic, straightforward cinema at its best, a low-key powerhouse of a motion picture that confidently walks along a straight-and-narrow path, never veering off course form the opening shot to the revelatory and bloody finale.

Take aim.

Dwight (Macon Blair), a vagabond living out of his rusty Pontiac Boneville who eats out of dumpsters and occasionally breaks into vacant houses, learns one day that a dangerous man has been released from prison. The man, Wade Cleland, is believed responsible for the murder of Dwight's parents. Fearing retribution, Dwight takes matters into his own hands and murders Wade. What follows is a vengeful quest from both sides to eliminate the other and prevent future bloodshed, leading to a revelation that will shake both sides to their very cores.

The simple plot yields simple execution, and that simplicity is where Blue Ruin shines. There's not some phony big score meant to take attention away from the lack of drama and characterization. There's no flashy photography. There are no overzealous performances, no slow-motion shootouts, nothing that even approaches "excess." Instead, the film is simple and raw, a depressing examination of a difficult situation complicated by bloodlust, doubt, and fear. That the film pulls no punches with its approach reminds of and compares favorably to No Country for Old Men, that Oscar-winning film a bigger version of this in many ways considering its linear, no-frills approach to violent storytelling. Blue Ruin operates deeply within the human psyche and the drive for vengeance and by doing so proves to be one of the more frightening and firm films of the past few years.

Writer/Director Jeremy Saulnier's (Murder Party) film is as psychologically damaging as it is physically violent. The former dominates the film, while the latter only appears in brief spurts of terribly brutal bloodshed that punctuate the mounting inner terror and uncertainty that flows directly from the characters' own minds and consciences to the audience's gut. The film presents a relentlessly grim front that further punctuates the growing despair and doubt that floods the screen not only with every gunshot or drop of blood spilled but with every tear, tangible fear, and movement towards the unthinkable. This is gritty, difficult storytelling presented remarkably well, helped along by lead performances that give the impression of seasoned, hardened people who either by choice or necessity or some greater inward driving factor are forced into a no-win situation in which the very essence of man is tested, pushed to the limit, and broken in an explosion of violence that no man should ever experience or endure.

Blue Ruin Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Blue Ruin's 1080p transfer, sourced from a digital shoot, frequently looks very good. It does come with the usual upper-middle-end digital issues, such as an inherent flatness to the image and a noticeably glossy overlay, but the majority of the image satisfies HD requirements. Details, though very clean and a little smooth by nature, are suitably complex and crisply defined, from facial features and hair all the way down to the tattered surface of Dwight's Pontiac. The image is clear and robustly defined even at distance, where objects retain shape and clarity, even complicated elements like natural vegetation. Colors are nicely displayed, appearing even and bright. Red blood particularly stands nicely apart on white attire. Black levels, however, are frequently pale and flat with little depth or vitality. Skin tones, on the other hand, never struggle with a drift from natural. Light banding is also evident across the screen on one or two shots but doesn't warrant more than a cursory mention. Despite a few issues, Blue Ruin looks great on Blu-ray, particularly considering its budget roots.

Blue Ruin Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Blue Ruin arrives on Blu-ray, courtesy of Anchor Bay Home Entertainment, with a fairly robust and satisfying DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The track runs the gamut of sonic information and sends all of it into the listening area with combinable accuracy. Action effects are infrequent but crucial. Gunfire rings out precisely in every scene in which it's a sonic factor, whether heard up-close during the finale or from a greater distance during a key middle-stretch scene where the shot cracks from a distance. Support elements are nicely integrated into the track; the sounds of a carnival flow nicely into the stage early on and more natural elements like birds and insects and rolling beach waves help define several other scenes throughout. Music is even and nicely delivered; some heavier beats are deliberately muddled when heard from inside a car, for example. Dialogue plays clearly and accurately from the center. Given the quality soundtrack -- and everything else here, really -- one would never guess that the film comes from meager roots.

Blue Ruin Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Blue Ruin contains an audio commentary, deleted scenes, a camera test, and a making-of featurette.

• Audio Commentary: Writer/Director Jeremy Saulmier and Actor Macon Blair offer an assortment of small budget filmmaking insight, including technical details, shooting locations, performances, anecdotes from the shoot, music, and much more.
• No Regrets: The Making of Blue Ruin (1080p, 18:56): A look at the film's beginning, which in other revenge-oriented films represents the end. Cast and crew move on to discuss their past collaborations in amateur cinema, moving on to make larger pictures, the film's style, its themes, its tone, amassing the budget, putting together the cast and crew, visual effects, the production history, securing a spot at Cannes, and the film's success.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Extended Opening (2:33) and Limo Crash (2:25). With optional Writer/Director Jeremy Saulmier and Actor Macon Blair commentary.
• Camera Test (1080p, 3:52): From the supplement: "The following video was shot by Jeremy during a Delaware and Virginia location scout with lead actor Mark Blair and associate producer Chris Sharp in July 2012. It was designed to convey the intended tone, look and atmosphere of Blue Ruin and was used to recruit cast, crew and investors during pre-production."

Blue Ruin Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Blue Ruin represents just how effective not only smaller budget cinema can be, but how powerful to-the-point moviemaking can be. This is a relentlessly grim, laser-focused, and emotionally challenging watch, a movie that never detours and takes the path of both least and most resistance, least in terms of flash and most in terms of dramatic weight. The film compares favorably to classics like No Country for Old Men in terms of tone, structure, and style, embracing the "less is more" approach that's proven time and again to be one of cinema's finest avenues towards success. Solidified by strong performances and nearly flawless craftsmanship, Blue Ruin makes for one of the finest films of 2013. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Blue Ruin features quality video, excellent audio, and a decent little collection of bonus content. Highly recommended.