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Blood Simple. (1984)

R  |   |  Crime, Thriller  |  18 January 1985 (USA)
7.7
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Ratings: 7.7/10 from 63,062 users   Metascore: 81/100
Reviews: 251 user | 171 critic | 22 from Metacritic.com

A rich but jealous man hires a private investigator to kill his cheating wife and her new man. But, when blood is involved, nothing is simple.

Directors:

, (uncredited)

Writers:

,
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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
Ray
...
...
...
Samm-Art Williams ...
Meurice
Deborah Neumann ...
Debra
Raquel Gavia ...
Landlady
Van Brooks ...
Man from Lubbock
Señor Marco ...
Mr. Garcia
William Creamer ...
Old Cracker
Loren Bivens ...
Strip Bar Exhorter
Bob McAdams ...
Strip Bar Senator
Shannon Sedwick ...
Stripper
Nancy Finger ...
Girl on Overlook
William Preston Robertson ...
Radio Evangelist (voice) (as Rev. William Preston Robertson)
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Storyline

A bar-owner in Texas is certain that his wife is cheating on him and hires a private detective to spy on her. This is just the beginning of a complex plot which is full of misunderstandings and deceit. Ethan and Joel Cohen's first feature film. Written by Mark Logan <marklo@west.sun.com>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Breaking up is hard See more »

Genres:

Crime | Thriller

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

18 January 1985 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Simplemente sangre  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$42,971 (USA) (7 July 2000)

Gross:

$2,150,000 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

(original version)| (director's cut)

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

First film directed by the Coen brothers. See more »

Goofs

When Detective Visser wants to remove the knife from his right hand, he tries to do it with his left hand "reversed", but in the next shot he removes the knife with his hand in a more natural position. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Private Detective Visser: [narrating] The world is full o' complainers. An' the fact is, nothin' comes with a guarantee. Now I don't care if you're the pope of Rome, President of the United States or Man of the Year; somethin' can all go wrong. Now go on ahead, y'know, complain, tell your problems to your neighbor, ask for help, 'n watch him fly. Now, in Russia, they got it mapped out so that everyone pulls for everyone else... that's the theory, anyway. But what I know about is Texas, an' down here... ...
See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Big Lebowski (1998) See more »

Soundtracks

Sweet Dreams
By Don Gibson
Published by Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.
Performed by Patsy Cline
Courtesy of MCA Records under license from Universal Music Special Markets
See more »

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User Reviews

 
A Dark Little Gem
12 September 1999 | by (Washington, DC) – See all my reviews

The Coen Brothers first commercial film tells a noirish tale of murder, double-cross, and betrayal in small town America. A greasy small-town Texas saloon owner discovers his wife is having an affair with one of his bartenders. He hires the private detective that documented the affair to kill the couple. But the PI has different plans, and then everything starts going wrong, very wrong. The acting is great especially M. Emmett Walsh as the double-crossing PI. The direction and camera work presage the Coens subsequent work.

This movie is a treat of a rental if you can find it. It's worth looking for.


62 of 91 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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