Blow the Man Down (Bridget Savage Cole & Danielle Krudy, 2020): USA

Reviewed by Cate Herrell. Viewed at Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2020.

Let me tell you, this movie was one of the most intriguing films I had the chance to catch at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. The reason I chose to watch this film was purely based on the cool title and the picture (shown here) of the sisters beside the cold sea. I had no clue what I was in for, but as soon as the opening sequence began to play, I was completely dedicated to not missing a single detail. There were moments where the audience was oohing and ahhing at the screen, and Blow the Man Down (directed by Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy) draws you in right away. Watching this film will take you head on into a twisted, as well as riveting, mystery plot. 

Set in a remote fishing town on the coast of Maine, Pricilla (played by Sophie Lowe) and her sister Mary Beth (played by Morgan Saylor), stumble into a dark and complicated series of events after the passing of their mother. As we follow them in their quest of secrecy, an unsettling mystery begins to unravel itself. The cinematic opening sequence, consisting of fishermen at work while they sing the haunting title song, was beautifully shot and introduces the tone of the movie in a memorable way. The film was strongly story-boarded, something that I much appreciate, as every shot, frame, and prop was presented with intention. This story is more than just a dark mystery film, there are also feminist undertones which makes this unconventional story even more captivating. Having the women in the town run the businesses, know the secrets, and take the risks is exciting to watch. With a diverse range of characters, several dark sequences, and creative twists along the way, this movie was overall enjoyable to view. 

The acting and the ambiance are what stand out to me the most, simply because both are so excellent! I believe every character was cast perfectly. A well developed story needs very well developed characters to bring it all to life. I could feel the talent radiating out of the screen as I watched. As far as ambiance goes, the theatrical opening sequence caught my intrigue, and the feeling of suspense grows with each scene as the sisters grow more and more paranoid. The outdated, claustrophobic town adds to the eerie on-goings within, as it is clear that something fishy is going on, pun intended. Every scene moves with the proper tempo, which helps create suspense as the intense moments slow down to what feels like real time. Lastly, there is nothing more off-putting than a creepy fishing town at night… and I mean that in the best way. 

This is a must watch if you are a fan of feeling that sweet satisfaction one gets when the story falls into place after you have seen the initial side of things. In many ways this is a unique film that keeps you wanting more. It is like a great crime/mystery show wrapped up into one perfectly timed feature. I will definitely watch this movie again at some point!