Blood Orange

It goes to show what a clever filmmaker can do with a good story and just four actors in an isolated house.

Or maybe that should be five actors because Kacey Clarke as Isabelle is such a full-on sexy presence she almost counts as two people.

Bill (Iggy Pop), an ageing rock star lives with his beautiful young wife, Isabelle, in a secluded villa in Spain. It's a very nice place with a large, azure swimming pool. Isabelle likes to skinny dip at every opportunity, but this distracts the only other resident of the villa, David (Antonio Magro), the pool boy, His concerns over whether the pool has the correct amount of chlorine or if leaves have clogged the filter become a low priority when Isabelle drops her towel to do a few laps.

Still it's a pretty idyllic existence until Lucas (Ben Lamb) turns up. He is an ex-lover, but also Isabelle's stepson from a previous marriage, again to an older man. Dad left her all the dough and "he died happy" as she informs Lucas. However Lucas isn't happy and he broods.

Then things happen and I wouldn't spoil "Blood Orange" for anyone who hasn't seen it because just as in "Sleuth", a small number of people generate a lot of tension and plenty of surprises.

Kacey Clarke makes you believe the turbulence Isabelle causes among the men. Giving her a run for most arresting performance though is Iggy Pop as Bill.

Bill has gained insights into human nature, which he growls out from deep in his nether regions, mainly focussed on Lucas' shortcomings. I was never one to sleep out for tickets to an Iggy Pop concert, but he is perfect in this.

Apparently "Blood Orange" is a first effort from writer/director Toby Tobias. He's a name to watch out for, but this little sleeper will be hard to beat.

Yeah, baby. This is excellent.

Iggy cannot act to save his life, but it matters not.

Only five people in the entire film, it keeps chugging along with twists and turns right until the end.

Reminded me a little of Sexy Beast.

Good film.

This film had little substance. The storyline was somewhat predictable, (though the ending was a surprise) - but plot holes still left this viewer with questions.

Dialogue between characters was mostly vague one-liners, volunteered without backstory or context. In particular, attempting to create a femme fatale out of Kacey Barnfield's character fell short as any insight into who Isabella was, her psyche, her history, was absent. Her character, which had promise, was left one-dimensional and under-developed by the writing. Because little explanation was given to the relationships between characters, their interactions felt facile.

Iggy Pop played the grizzled, ageing rock star role. However, the potential depth of his character was also limited by the dialogue.

Toby Tobias, Writer and Director, says 'Blood Orange' is not what it seems and he is right. This noir film draws you in from the start and keeps you on tenterhooks as at no point can you guess what will happen next when the plot twists cleverly again till the last shot. In a stunning location with only four actors (Iggy Pop, Kacey Clarke, Ben Lamb and Antonio Magro) your sympathies change direction as the story develops. The reason for this being the truth of the characters and how they reflect our stories and lives. Life, death, love, sex, relationships, money and their impact! The main musical theme by Tim Arnold works incredibly well setting the mood and moving alongside the action. You leave deep in thought about your own life choices with the strains of Money Kills Love playing in your head!

How on earth does this movie only have two reviews (so far) on IMDb?

The casting couldn't have been better and Iggy Pop is a stand out as an old rock star. Hmmm... I wonder how that could be!

Everyone except the dopey pool boy has a plan and they unfold at a leisurely pace until the final line is spoken.

It's difficult to talk about the movie without giving the game away but I was reminded of a similar movie in both style and substance... the superb 1987 noir (yes, noir), Black Widow... and the similar movies that it spawned.

This is an 'adult' thriller... there's not much in the way of actual violence. No shouting and no infernal young people in the way. Any thinking person and fan of legato measured dramas will enjoy this.

The songs are well chosen, the photography is exquisite and there's not a second wasted.