Overview
A man with nothing left to lose embarks on a violent quest for vengeance.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- grim
- austere
- tense
- late night thriller viewing
- independent film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a tightly controlled, gripping, and unusually realistic independent revenge thriller, with particular admiration for its tension and economical filmmaking.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Dwight's revenge killing triggers the Cleland family's vow to retaliate, making each violent act generate another.
Dwight is a beach vagrant who improvises his pursuit of Wade and botches the getaway, contrasting with polished action heroes.
The film places Dwight's improvised actions in quiet coastal and rural surroundings, emphasizing his isolation and precariousness.
Dwight's killing and subsequent attempts to survive are presented as messy, bodily, and improvised rather than heroic spectacle.
Films like Blue Ruin, and why
Winter's Bone
shares a stripped-down revenge narrative, morally compromised protagonist, rural American setting, and escalating family violence
Blood Simple
shares bleak neo-noir tension, ordinary people trapped in violent criminal consequences, and an austere independent style
Dead Man's Shoes
shares a grim, character-driven revenge structure, fatalistic atmosphere, and cycles of retaliatory violence
Movie Details
- Director
- Jeremy Saulnier
- Release Date
- 2014-04-25
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (1693)
Cast
- Macon Blair
- Devin Ratray
- Amy Hargreaves
- Kevin Kolack
- Eve Plumb
- Stacy Rock
- David Thompson
- Brent Werzner
- Sandy Barnett
- Sidné Anderson
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Philo, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Starz Apple TV channel, Peacock Premium Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Blue Ruin about?
- A homeless drifter's improvised quest for revenge detonates a brutal cycle of family retaliation.
- What is Blue Ruin like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Blue Ruin as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Blue Ruin violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Blue Ruin as brutal.
- What did critics think of Blue Ruin?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a tightly controlled, gripping, and unusually realistic independent revenge thriller, with particular admiration for its tension and economical filmmaking.
- Which films are like Blue Ruin?
- Films with a similar feel include Winter's Bone, Blood Simple, and Dead Man's Shoes.
- How long is Blue Ruin?
- Blue Ruin runs 90 minutes.
- Where can I watch Blue Ruin?
- In United States, Blue Ruin streams on Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Philo, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Starz Apple TV channel, Peacock Premium Plus.
