User reviews

A neo-noir small town thriller that thrives on the performances of its young leads and veteran supporting cast, Blow the Man Down is at the very least, an interesting original story that succeeds in atmosphere and tone. Even if it doesn't feel completely whole enough to be acclaimed. It felt like Fargo-lite, and that's not entirely a bad thing.

6.8/10

...and everyone fit their role and played their part perfectly, especially the sisters and June Squibb, who is always a joy to watch.

The directing was good, but the writing/screenplay could've been better, and had plot and technical issues. The pacing was a little slow and the 90 min runtime felt like 2 hours. The singing fishermen and obnoxious score were very annoying imo. However, the cinematography and sets were great. I know the critics liked this film, and its Fargo theme, but it's not my cup of storytelling tea. It's 6/10 all going to the cast.

While sometimes it felt that a bit too much was crammed into this film, it is always engaging and held my interest. Caught it at Tribecca. Mixed emotions hit me throughout as I enjoyed some very unique components including the music and the beautiful settings, but sometimes a campiness had me feeling like I was watching Desperate Housewives. The two young actresses playing the sisters we're very strong, and held their ground with a group of very seasoned actresses. A lot to like here.

Small town crime neo-noir strikes again, this time in a way that feels fresher. A lot of people are praising "Blow the Man Down" for invoking a "Fargo" feel which I agree it does, the spirit is there, in the form of the story and what's happening to characters, ordinary and mysterious alike. Led by a strong mostly female cast, "Blow the Man Down" is an engaging ride into the neat world of a small coastal town and the unravelment of its shadier side.

Priscilla (Sophie Lowe) and Mary Beth (Morgan Saylor) Connolys are dealing with the death and funeral of their mother and the next couple days will be a storm distress not only for them but for the whole town. A murder happens, and the rest is up to You to see. Did I mention that the town is run by a bunch of old women? There's enough fun to be had with the secrets and antics of this small port town, script provides until the very end. Directors and writers Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy are walking a fine line of using familiar genre tropes and tweaking them just enough to allow some necessary freshness while never doing an overkill at it. The structure's not flawless and pacing suffers at moments, but not at a big cost. The two young leads, together with a veteran supporting cast does a great job in the acting department, with the highlight performances being brought on by Sophie Lowe and Margo Martindale in the more villainous role. If the story and characters aren't enough yet, there's also decent cinematography - the indie, low-budget kind, but one that colors the chilly atmosphere, which is further filled with mood setting creative solutions in the music department.

I say blow him down, I'm excited to see what these filmmakers bring on next, and always down for just about anything that fits the bill of a small town crime / neo-noir / americana / rural shenanigans themes in the crime genre. "Blow the Man Down" should please the like-minded. My rating: 7/10.

Everyone in Easter Cove, Maine has dark secrets, and they all unravel in a day or two - maybe for the better, maybe not. While the film captures the look and feel of a worn-out fishing village (I found the cinematography spot-on for the environment), the plot seemed a bit thin and contrived. As desperate as all the main characters were for change in their bleak lives, I had a hard time believing that they would have done the things they did, past and present. As the two sisters, Morgan Saylor and Sophie Lowe held their own with an ensemble cast of veteran character actors including June Squibb and Margo Martindale. A distracting enough way to pass an hour or so of social distancing.

This is one of the best movies I've watched all year. I had been putting it off because of the mixed reviews, especially those that were confused about the singing fisherman, the "lack of a plot," "incoherent plot," and more.

There is definitely a story and cohesive plot; you only have to pay close attention. The story started off well and grabbed my attention. It unfolds slowly, but in an interesting way, peeling back layers one-by-one, until everything's revealed and all comes together. The Singing Fishermen who appear here and there are the Greek chorus to this Greek tragedy set in Easter Cove, Maine. It is not a "gothic" film. Some understanding of the Classics would give easier insights into this film, but it's not necessary. Just pay attention.

The atmosphere and characters are very authentic. I have family in and from Maine, and I've been around the state. The cinematography and directing, in addition to the acting, are simply superb. Don't shortchange yourself by letting some of these weak reviews mislead you. This is cinematographic art at its best. Sit back and enjoy.

Now of course reading my summary line you may draw the conclusion that this is not a big deal. But you may be quite wrong about that. On the other hand, the pacing of the movie might also make you draw certain conclusion ... or make you dislike it.

Would be a shame, because this is more than decent overall. The main characters are very well painted (no pun intended) and have their work cut out for them. Depending on your morals you will judge them and their actions differently of course.

Not the best of the bunch for me, but certainly above average ... if you can dig its vibe and its pace.

There was nothing specifically wrong with it the acting was all pretty good and it felt quite atmospheric at times but at the same time it was extremely slow and not to much happened after the initial scenes. Certainly not terrible but not particularly great in my opinion either.

Great actors who played their parts very well. The three old gals, who know everything that goes on in town, work their magic up front and behind the scenes. Margo Martindale makes it worth watching. You'll know whether it's your cup of tea in the first 20 minutes. It's not a comedy-drama but the little old ladies will make you laugh throughout.

This is an entertaining film once you get past the ridiculously bad decision by the sisters in the first 10 minutes. Ms Martindale is always a joy to watch. Can't wait to see her as Bella in Mrs. America.

This slightly offbeat domestic thriller sees two young women accidentally uncover a town-wide conspiracy when they attempt to cover up a murder. It's solid stuff throughout, with its down-to-earth characters and rustic aesthetic lending a unique flavour to its more traditional thriller elements. Having said that, 'Blow The Man Down (2019)' isn't exactly traditional. It has a marked, almost realistic atmosphere that seeps into every scene, and its tangled web of small-town criminals provides a palpable sense of suspense just because you're never exactly sure how they're going to come together. The piece slows down somewhat in its mid-section and seemingly loses focus on its protagonists, but it does so only to get its other, equally important elements into the fray and comes together nicely at the end. It's an odd experience in some ways. However, it's always engaging and entertaining. 7/10

Overal Blow The Man Down isn't a bad movie. The cast is the best thing about the movie, with some good acting from almost everybody. The plot on the other hand could have been better. It isn't bad but there was room for improvement. I see people comparing it to Fargo but let's be totally clear about this, there is absolutely no comparison between the two besides the fact there is snow and a murder in both of them. Fargo is top quality, Blow The Man Down is a watchable but it's still an average movie. I don't regret watching it though but I won't watch it again for a second time.

Definitely reminded me of Fargo, sinister underlying unease and moody cinematography but the best for me was the acting. Even the hooker was exceptional. The intermediate singing, although haunting and an integral part of the movie, got on my nerves a bit though. Perhaps used it in the wrong way.

Not sure why it's getting so much hate, it doesn't deserve it. The casting is great, the lead sisters are totally believable and genuine and the twists are enjoyable. My husband and I really liked it!

This is a story from the POV of the woman. All the women. Excellent sense of place and realistic portrayal of intrigue, power, protection, and betrayal. I enjoyed every minute and would recommend.

I enjoyed parts of this because the two young women are such good actresses. This is the classic plot where someone commits a murder (although justifiable in this case) and then hides the body. Soon the nets begin to close in on them. In the process they learn things about the town they live in, especially in its early days.

As seems to be the case with most films these days, this meandered all over the place and eventually came to a very unsatisfying conclusion. The acting was very good, but the plot just wasn't coherent enough.

Not a review as much as a fan letter. Great story telling! And you didn't dumb it down which is a tribute to your directing. You gave just enough to get across the plot points without slowing the pace, The musical interludes were well timed and well placed. Good strong characters and development tho would love to have seen Mary Margret in a flashback! Retired white male here and clearly appreciate the strong feminist POV. My favorite line has to be "Hey, there's your girl." "Naw...I don't like her anymore." Keep up the Great Work!

I simply dislike films where all the characters are dumb. The only character who came close to being interesting was the one played by the great Margo Martindale. Otherwise, it was all I could do to follow this movie to its silly and implausible conclusion I gave it 3 stars simply because I love watching Ms Martindale show her acting chops even in a stinker like this

Oh, what the Coen Brothers would have done for this movie! It cries out for better shots, faster pacing and...most of all...humor. In more skilled hands, this story would have been tighter and far more interesting. Instead it's distracting and, at times, down right confusing. Terrific casting and good performances all around make this an above average film. But, oh, what might have been!

Cleverly framed by a Greek chorus chanting the ditty Blow the Man Down this is an unconventional tale of murder and mayhem. Margo Martindale performs well.