Criterion: Deconstructing The Coen Bros.’ ‘Blood Simple’

They never make the same movie twice. That’s my go-to when describing the cinematic works of Joel and Ethan Coen, brothers who have been making films for more than thirty years. From Oscar winners Fargo and No Country for Old Men to cult classics (The Big Lebowski) to making George Clooney a movie star (O Brother, Where Art Thou?), the Coens have moved between genres with effortless ease. Their debut feature, Blood Simple, a Texas-set neo-noir, arrived in 1984 and this week it gets a spectacular-looking Blu-ray courtesy of the Criterion Collection.

With a new 4K restoration from the original 35 mm negative, and color correction and restoration supervised and approved by Joel and Ethan Coen, as well as director of photography Barry Sonnenfeld, at Deluxe Media, this will be the best Blood Simple has ever looked since it first graced the silver screen. The release is also set to include conversational featurettes with Sonnenfeld and the Coens, plus interviews with actors Frances McDormand and M. Emmet Walsh, and an essay by critic Nathaniel Rich.

As a preview for its upcoming Criterion release, photographer Grant Delin created a video that compares scenes from the film to their original storyboards. Featuring commentary by the Coens, Sonnenfeld, and actor Frances McDormand, here you can see how meticulous the brothers were/are in terms of script and visuals.

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Blood Simple is a twisted tale of jealousy and revenge set amid the dusty back roads and neon-lit bars of Texas. Lensed by Barry Sonnenfeld, who would go on to collaborate with the Coens on Raising Arizona and Miller’s Crossing, this low-budget neonoir combines pulp pleasures with immaculately controlled compositions, offering an ideal introduction to the filmmakers’ signature aesthetic.