Blood Simple (1985): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Blood Simple is a 1985 drama thriller directed by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, starring Frances McDormand and John Getz. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes and earned $4.3 million worldwide. It won 2 awards from 5 nominations, including Best Actor at the Spirit Awards 1986. Critics gave it 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 84 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 39m (99 min)
- Directors
- Ethan Coen and Joel Coen
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Circle Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Blood Simple About?
The premise of Blood Simple without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A jealous Texas bar owner hires a private investigator to kill his wife, who is having an affair with the bartender. The detective, along with his wife, complicates the plan, setting off a chain of misunderstandings and violence. As they try to cover their tracks, the situation spirals out of control, leading to a deadly game of deception and mistaken identity in the Texas landscape.
Blood Simple Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- double cross
- neo noir
- private detective
- hired killer
- texas
- deception
- directorial debut
- murder
- broken finger
- independent film
- adultery
- car
+38 more Show fewer
- u.s. car
- buick skylark
- german car
- director also editor
- philosophical conversation
- husband wife conflict
- husband wife relationship
- failing marriage
- surrealism
- chase
- escape
- boyfriend girlfriend relationship
- shot to death
- hired assassin
- blood spatter
- blood on the floor
- unintended-consequences
- detective
- dark comedy
- suspense
- private eye
- cheating wife
- united states of america
- hitchcockian
- buick the car
- bare chested man
- terror
- guilt
- fear
- impalement
- misunderstanding
- wisecrack comedy
- volkswagen the car
- murder by battery
- crucifying impalement
- crime goes awry
- premature burial
- bartender
Blood Simple Cast
Frances McDormand leads the cast, with John Getz. Directed by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen.
-
Co-director Ethan Coen -
Co-director Joel Coen
More from Ethan Coen and Joel Coen
More films directed by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, best-rated first: No Country for Old Men, Fargo, Inside Llewyn Davis and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.
Blood Simple Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Blood Simple 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 84 on Metacritic.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 94% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 88%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 84 Metascore
User score 7.7
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 72% User score
See on TMDB
Blood Simple Plot Summary
What happens in Blood Simple from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Texas bartender Ray and housewife Abby navigate a torrential nighttime downpour, discussing Abby’s troubled marriage to Ray’s boss, Julian Marty. Their emotional turmoil culminates in a passionate rendezvous at a motel. However, unbeknownst to them, private detective Loren Visser captures their intimate moments on film and delivers the incriminating evidence to Marty. When an ominous caller alerts the couple that they are being watched, Abby hastily gathers her belongings, including a gun gifted by Marty.
Full summary
The whole story of Blood Simple, scene by scene
Blood Simple Box Office
Blood Simple grossed $4.3 million worldwide. $3.9 million came from the US and Canada and $411,102 (10%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$4.3M
- US & Canada
- $3.9M
- International
- $411.1K
Blood Simple Awards & Nominations
Blood Simple won 2 awards from 5 nominations, including Best Actor at the Spirit Awards 1986.
2 wins5 nominations1 ceremony
-
Spirit Awards 1986 2 wins · 5 nominations- Won Best Actor – M. Emmet Walsh
- Won Best Director – Joel Coen
- Nominated Best Cinematography – Barry Sonnenfeld
- Nominated Best Feature
- Nominated Best Screenplay – Joel Coen
Blood Simple Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Blood Simple.
How Well Do You Know Blood Simple?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who are the main characters involved in the affair?
Cars in Blood Simple
8 cars on screen, including the 1966 Buick Skylark and the 1966 Volkswagen Sedan Typ 1.
-
1966 Buick Skylark Important role -
1966 Volkswagen Sedan Typ 1 Important role -
1976 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special Brougham Minor role -
1975 Chevrolet Camaro Minor role
Blood Simple Also Known As
31 alternative titles, including “Sang pour sang” and “Blood Simple.”.
- Also known as
-
- Sang pour sang
- Blood Simple.
- Проста кръв
- Triángulo de sangre
- Το τέλειο έγκλημα
- Bérgyilkos
- Blood Simple: The Thriller
- Просто кровь
- Sang fàcil
- Blood Simple - Blut für Blut
- Krvavo jednostavno
- Blood Simple - Eine mörderische Nacht
+19 more Show fewer
- Blood Simple - Sangue facile
- Sangre fácil
- Kansız
- Śmiertelnie Proste
- Sangue por Sangue
- 血迷宫
- Μόνο αίμα
- Zbytečná krutost
- Véresen egyszerű
- רציחות פשוטות
- 블러드 심플
- Просто кров
- Gosto de Sangue
- Et nemt offer
- 血迷宮
- Paprastas kraujas
- ブラッドシンプル
- Suvišna okrutnost
- Đơn Giản Là Máu
Seen Blood Simple?
Movies Like Blood Simple
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Blood Will Tell, In Cold Blood and Blood and Wine.
Blood Simple FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Blood Simple, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Blood Simple?
Blood Simple runs 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).
When was Blood Simple released?
Blood Simple was released on January 18, 1985.
Who directed Blood Simple?
Blood Simple was directed by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen.
More films by Ethan Coen Who is in the cast of Blood Simple?
Blood Simple stars Frances McDormand and John Getz.
How much did Blood Simple make at the box office?
Blood Simple grossed $4.3 million worldwide ($3.9 million domestic, $411,102 international).
How is Blood Simple rated?
Blood Simple has 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 84 on Metacritic and 72% on TMDB.
What awards did Blood Simple win?
Blood Simple won 2 awards from 5 nominations, including Best Actor at the Spirit Awards 1986.
Does Blood Simple have a post-credit scene?
No. Blood Simple has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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