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Solid performances bolster this suspenseful cop drama about blood ties and guilt in an investigation gone wrong and a conspiracy to hide it.

Movie Review: ‘Blood’

From the opening shot of the running rivulets of sea water on a sandbar to the tide flowing out in the closing shots that bring the story full circle, the director Nick Murphy (The Awakening) works to keep this potentially banal police procedural suspenseful and tight. With incisive acting by British actors Paul Bettany (Joe), Stephan Graham (Chrissy), Mark Strong (Robert), and Brian Cox (Dad), and a screenplay by Bill Gallagher (Clocking Off, The Prisoner), Blood skews our assumptions and jars our expectations. The question is whether all the scenes hold together or a few need to be trimmed to make the film even more taut. Nevertheless, the reversals of character and the plot twists are vital, even if the family scenes drag a bit.

Bettany and Graham are Joe and Chrissie Fairburn, police detectives who carry on the traditions learned from their retired police chief Dad, Lenny Fairburn (Brian Cox). Their father’s worsening dementia still allows him to remember where he worked and how to counsel his sons, particularly the elder Joe, when at a gathering, he loudly chides him not to “F–k up” on their newest murder case.

Stephen Graham (Chrissie), Brian Cox (Lenny), and Paul Bettany (Joe) sharing remembrances.

We discover that Lenny is referring to Joe’s mucking up evidence in the prosecution of a rapist which allowed the criminal to go free to murder the young black girl who testified against him. Joe finds it impossible to sort out the guilt and inner recrimination from his mistake, especially in the face of his father’s condemnatory if spacey remarks and the brutal murder of another teen whom he, his brother, and colleague Robert Seymour (Strong) are investigating.

The film upends the usual cop plot, increasing the suspense ride. We see the investigators becoming embroiled in their own inner demons as they solve the case of the murdered teen. When Robert turns up additional evidence, their decisions and actions create a completely unexpected turn of events which prompts an additional investigation. Throughout, the audience’s emotions in favor of the the brothers Fairburn warp. The conflicts between the brothers grow shadier and the deepening tragedy of self-deception engulfs the entire police family. Only the calm, steadfast colleague Robert, quietly portrayed by the usually villainous Mark Strong, manages to keep the steady pace of the investigations moving forward. These are exceptional acting turns by Bettany, Graham, Strong and Cox, and for Strong and Bettany, marvelously counterintuitive.

With the second investigation, the director and writer have ratcheted up the film’s ironic reversals and made them intriguing. They lead us away from supporting some characters and rooting for others. There is the haunting, weird hallucination of a murder victim counseling an investigator, and the mounting tension of whether the second investigation can be solved. The final coup de grace is delivered by the senile Cox who appears to be more aware than his dementia would indicate.

Joe and Chrissie discussing their options.

Murphy ties the idea of “blood being thicker than water” into the images. The title and the symbol of blood, as incrimination, as a generational curse, as a means of expiation and redemption is woven throughout. Murphy and Gallagher also present a prominent theme through Strong’s calmly determined detective Robert as he underscores aloud to the brothers that it is hard to live with the guilt of committing murder. He points to the hackneyed irony that “confession is good for the soul.” Finally, the last tie of blood between the brothers is a blood secret that both most uphold.

Mark Strong as the discerning detective Robert Seymour: “confession is good for the soul.” Robert (Mark Strong) singling out Joe (Paul Bettany) for a casual discussion.

The film is haunting in parts, with thrilling bits and clever strikes in plot, character and casting. The back-to-back investigations surprise, and our audience empathy sheers off and redirects when Gallagher gradually turns our focus toward Robert.

The ensemble acting melds the striking character differences. It is spot-on, with Graham’s depth of characterization and an interesting portrayal by Cox with the right balance of addle-headed yet wary circumspection. Cox keeps you guessing how much Dad really remembers because his comments are pointed one moment, disjointed the next; he infuses his dialogue with great choices.

These are solid, well thought-out performances that show the painstaking consideration of the director. Added to a script that requires close attention, these elements are what make Blood an indie film worth seeing.

The film is produced by Pippa Harris, Nick Laws and Nicola Shindler, and executive produced by Stuart Ford and Jan Pace.

RLJ/Image Entertainment will distribute BLOOD in New York, Los Angeles, and top regional markets on Friday, August 9th. The film is available on VOD. Running Time is 92 Minutes. Not Rated.

About Carole Di Tosti

Carole Di Tosti, Ph.D. is a published writer, playwright, novelist, poet. She owns and manages three well-established blogs: 'The Fat and the Skinny,' 'All Along the NYC Skyline' (https://caroleditosti.com/) 'A Christian Apologists' Sonnets.' She also manages the newly established 'Carole Di Tosti's Linchpin,' which is devoted to foreign theater reviews and guest reviews. She contributed articles to Technorati (310) on various trending topics from 2011-2013. To Blogcritics she has contributed 583+ reviews, interviews on films and theater predominately. Carole Di Tosti also has reviewed NYBG exhibits and wine events. She guest writes for 'Theater Pizzazz' and has contributed to 'T2Chronicles,' 'NY Theatre Wire' and other online publications. She covers NYC trending events and writes articles promoting advocacy. She professionally free-lanced for TMR and VERVE for 1 1/2 years. She was a former English Instructor. Her published dissertation is referenced in three books, two by Margo Ely, Ph.D. Her novel 'Peregrine: The Ceremony of Powers' will be on sale in January 2021. Her full length plays, 'Edgar,' 'The Painter on His Way to Work,' and 'Pandemics or How Maria Caught Her Vibe' are being submitted for representation and production.

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