Blood Simple

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Blood Simple

R

1984

1h 37m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

114 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.

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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

Dec 6, 2022

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

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Adam Nayman

The Ringer

Apr 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)

Oct 8, 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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Jack Hawkins

HeyUGuys

Oct 6, 2026

4/5

Blood Simple is a classic noir puzzle straight out of James M. Cain, in which reversals of fortune and dark, scheming logic inch towards violence like an amoral flowchart.

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Jordon Searle

Loud and Clear Reviews

Oct 2, 2025

5/5

One of the most engaging crime films of all time.

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

Aug 19, 2025

4/5

A modern classic.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 25, 2026

Blood Simple = 4.5 star Movie!

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Ryan D

@ryandizz Aug 9, 2026

Kept you on the edge of your seat. The transitions they pulled off for 1984 were pretty good. Respect for the OG of the Coen Brother's catalog

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Farah R

@Farah Jul 17, 2026

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, 2026

A great debut from the Coen brothers.

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Luca D

@JoeCamel7 Jan 18, 2026

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, 2025

Solid Cohen brothers movie.

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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.

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

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