In Delaware, a mysterious man, Dwight, leads an itinerant lifestyle. He sleeps in a car near the beach. He slips into empty homes during the day to bathe. He searches the garbage for food. When he learns a prisoner in Virginia will be freed in the near future, however, he becomes a man of purpose, a man of action. He begins to drive. He tries to steal a handgun. The specific nature of the situation, what is driving our introverted hero toward an act of brutal vengeance, soon comes into focus in Blue Ruin, a dynamite, tightly wound independent suspense film. Emphasis on "suspense" because this is truly a film charged with anxiety, despair, and menace. Every scene pulsates with uncertainty and the threat of violence, intensified by the fact Dwight is both driven and out of his depth, so we are never sure how he will respond or even whether he will survive. And the impact is considerable when violence does erupt. Macon Blair is a quietly engaging lead (his screen presence reminds me of a narcotized, traumatized Zach Galifianakis), and the film tells its grind-house-indebted story of contemporary outlaws and sadistic revenge with a surprising amount of formal elegance and restraint. A gem.

A-

Blue Ruin

Terrific! This is a tense and compact revenge thriller with terrific performances and cool cinematography. Blue Ruin is an edge-of-your-seat suspense ride shown from the perspective of Dwight (Macon Blair), who after hearing a man has been released from a Virginian prison, travels to avenge the murder of his parents. Practically out of his depth, but strategically sound, Dwight's mission is filled with gritty and realistic encounters charged with peril, uncertainty and distress. An uneasy, anxious watch makes Blue Ruin one of the biggest treats of 2014.

A

So two of my Fantasy Film Festival favorites are already in your Top 5 of the year.

Ha, yes! So it seems. Although I had Blue Ruin on my list since the first trailer was released. But thanks for putting me on to De Behandeling. We have great taste!