Nominated for Best International Feature
Q&A with Rod Blackhurst
Content Warning – Violence and nudity
Armed with a formidable cast, Cliff (Scoot McNairy) a traveling salesman drowning under the weight of providing for his family and the myth of the American dream, finds himself on a dangerous path after a chance encounter with Ricky (Kit Harrington), a colleague from his dark past.
In Blood for Dust, Cliff (Scoot McNairy), crumbling under the weight of providing for his family, is hopeless and destitute. Left with no other options, he turns to the morally ambiguous Ricky (Kit Harington). We see the fateful friendship of the two ex-colleagues unfolding into a fanfare of violence, categorised by a thrilling concoction of greed and ambition. In this sordid world of drug-dealing and illegal weaponry, paranoia and anticipation permeate the screen.
When a simple drug-deal is escalated by Ricky into a chaotic bloodbath, Cliff is faced with the violent realities of the criminal world. Bursts of heavy action punctuate eerie landscapes, taking place mostly in barely-lit backrooms, disreputable motels and bleak, country scenes. It’s an admirably stripped-down suspense piece that allows its cast to be its strength.
Rod Blackhurst’s direction consistently shines as he absorbs us in the tightly-wound anticipation of the scenes. The film’s cinematography not only elevates the gruesome tone of the narrative, but cements it. With unnerving lingering long-shots and an haunting soundtrack, there is a deep focus on the bleak western landscapes and the hopelessness they inspire. With this mixture of brutalist visuals and sparse soundscapes, Blood for Dust engages with the ruthlessness of capitalistic survival.
This is a beautifully shot, exquisitely executed drama that journeys brazenly into the dark underbelly of the American everyman’s America.
Clementine Wilson
