Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

“Blood for Dust” is the type of generic crime thriller that not only has a forgettable title, but is something that you won’t remember watching a week later. That doesn’t mean it’s a stinker, though, and Rod Blackhurst’s strong direction and commanding performances from the cast make this slow burn indie a familiar, yet still unpredictable, ride. Traveling salesman Cliff (Scoot McNairy) is drowning in debt and struggling to take care of his family. All he wants is the American Dream, but the only things he seems to be catching are remnants in the rearview mirror. When he has a chance encounter with Ricky (Kit Harington), a colleague from a dark past he’d rather forget, Cliff joins him and American cartel boss John (Josh Lucas) for a dangerous job that promises a big payday. It’s a simple story of guns, drugs, bloodshed, and despair that’s well told. The basic script (co-written by Blackhurst and David Ebeltoft) is peppered with dialogue that’s sometimes superficial yet somehow, often profound. This is a small story about of the white American male that’s well told, with strong “Hell or High Water” vibes. The film is hauntingly beautiful, and Blackhurst nails the moody atmosphere. The cold and bleak landscapes of the snow-covered Montana badlands perfectly complement the story, lending a slice of modern Western Americana that’s rough, rugged, and grim. I enjoyed “Blood for Dust” in spite of its predictability and flaws because the things it sets out to accomplish, it does so well. By: Louisa Moore