I enjoyed Rebel Ridge, and quite liked Green Room, so I figurd I would take a look at another one of Jeremy Saulnier’s works, Blue Ruin. What I found was a solid, revenge drama whose violence, when it happens, is shockingly real and bloody.

Dwight (Macon Blair) has turned into a bit of a drifter, living out of his car as he continues to mourn the murder of his parents years earlier. When he is informed that his parents’ killer is being released from prison.

This sets Dwight on a path of vengeance, determined to deliver justice for his mother and father, and reclaim, he hopes, some peace of mind for he and his estranged sister, Sam (Amy Hargreaves). Unfortunately, when kills the man, it brings him into a direct confrontation with the rest of the Cleland family, and a head-long rush towards a truth he’s not ready for.

Blair’s turn as Dwight has a lot going on. It’s quiet, painful, humorous, and layered.

In fact, on the whole, Blue Ruin itself is a quiet film, the camera’s eye resting on Dwight as he stumbles determinedly towards his goal, seemingly blundering unaware as things escalate around him, and places his sister and her children in jeopardy because of his actions.

Shot with an eye to detail, location and performance, Blue Ruin is lovingly shot, and really does give a new bent on the revenge film. It doesn’t rush, and run to action beats, it’s a regular, hurt guy who just wants his perception of justice, unaware of the cost, and the truths around him.

Blair is onscreen for almost the entire runtime and he does it easily. Dwight is pained, deeply flawed, and has been struggling with his painful past for so long that he is unable to live a normal life.

This is a beautifully made film, filled with moments of shocking violence and an amazing performance by Blair. I find that I’ve enjoyed a good percentage of Saulnier’s work and find myself looking forward to whatever he does next.

If you’re looking for something unique, thoughful and filled with revenge, you it to yourself to check this one out.