Straight Shootin’ and Bare Bones Are All Blood for Dust Has to Offer
Rod Blackhurst’s Blood for Dust is the uncomplicated definition of a character study. There’s nothing groundbreaking about its themes or story. The picturesque “American Dream” becomes a rural, class-crunching nightmare about staying afloat by any means necessary. Blackhurst’s horror background as co-director of Night Swim (the short) and director of Here Alone doesn’t play into the gritty textural delivery of Blood for Dust, but terror isn’t a missing ingredient. He’s mostly capable and successful behind the camera, much like the film itself—mostly capable and successful.
Scoot McNairy stars as traveling salesman Cliff, at a crossroads, downtrodden and desperate. Enter Ricky (Kit Harington), an old colleague who opens the door to his illegal operations dealing anything from firearms to narcotics. Cliff’s unfortunate circumstances—a sick child with mounting hospital bills—steer him towards Rick’s offer despite the muck-up of their last endeavor. How long can Cliff pursue financial goals by lawful means and be left struggling before Rick’s opportunity becomes his family’s best chance?
Where movies like Jim Mickle’s Cold in July and Rose Glass’ Love Lies Bleeding provide invigorated riffs on stories people would call “Fargo meets [X],” Blood for Dust bucks no trends. Blackhurst and writer David Ebeltoft couldn’t shoot straighter. Cliff is presented as a churchgoing man who busts his hump selling defibrillators for a shady company—he plays by the rules. Yet, Cliff can’t comfortably afford medical attention for his ailing offspring. Of course he turns towards criminal means. Of course he finds himself tangled in Ricky’s reckless practices. Of course Blackhurst digs into the depressing reality of Cliff’s risky business. There’s never an attempt to surprise the audience, which can make the experience rather one-note.
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